What does a law enforcement specialist do?
In the military, a law enforcement specialist is in charge of preventing and investigating crimes within the military bases. Although the extent of their responsibilities highly depends on their area of assignment, it usually includes patrolling different places, responding to distress and other emergencies, conducting interviews on witnesses and suspects, and monitoring security systems. There are also instances when they must keep guard of facilities and properties. Moreover, as a law enforcement specialist, it is essential to be proactive and alert in dealing with different situations due to the nature of the job.
Law enforcement specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real law enforcement specialist resumes:
- Develop and manage firearms training programs, including weapons selection and qualification standards.
- Provide security via law enforcement patrol and investigate violations of military and federal law and traffic accidents.
- Complete non-commissioned officers training and necessary certifications for law enforcement patrol, honor guard and desk sergeant duties.
- Provide tactical operations, port readiness, weapons familiarization and qualifications, coastal security, anti-terrorism, and force protection.
- Provide additional security for ceremonies, bank escorts, VIP visits, local festivals, and special events.
- Provide successful dignitary and VIP security.
Law enforcement specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 16% of Law Enforcement Specialists are proficient in Physical Security, Patrol, and Field Training. They’re also known for soft skills such as Empathy, Leadership skills, and Physical strength.
We break down the percentage of Law Enforcement Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Physical Security, 16%
Directed security operations to include the supervision of Physical Security, Force Protection, Electronic Security Systems and Plans and Programs.
- Patrol, 13%
Prepared emergency response plans, and disaster preparedness for police personnel assigned to Patrol Borough Manhattan South.
- Field Training, 9%
Conducted basic training classes for personnel and planed, coordinated, and executed field training and lab exercises.
- Data Entry, 7%
Maintained Beneficiary Database * Data Entry of Group Policies * Verification/Updates of Biographical Information * Mail Distribution
- Public Safety, 6%
Supervised and managed 30+ personnel in public safety and law enforcement operations.
- Emergency Calls, 5%
Patrolled sectors of base, responded to routine, urgent and emergency calls from Police Dispatch Office.
Most law enforcement specialists use their skills in "physical security," "patrol," and "field training" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential law enforcement specialist responsibilities here:
Empathy. One of the key soft skills for a law enforcement specialist to have is empathy. You can see how this relates to what law enforcement specialists do because "police officers need to understand the perspectives of a variety of people in their jurisdiction and be willing to help the public." Additionally, a law enforcement specialist resume shows how law enforcement specialists use empathy: "provided briefings on physical security to u.s. embassy staff with limited understanding of security programs. "
Leadership skills. Another essential skill to perform law enforcement specialist duties is leadership skills. Law enforcement specialists responsibilities require that "police officers must be comfortable with being a highly visible member of their community, as the public looks to them for help in emergencies." Law enforcement specialists also use leadership skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "attended nco leadership school and received training on how to properly, and effectively manage personnel. "
Physical strength. This is an important skill for law enforcement specialists to perform their duties. For an example of how law enforcement specialist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "police officers must be strong enough to physically apprehend suspects and to assist people in precarious situations." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a law enforcement specialist: "served as instructor within the physical techniques division and trained law enforcement agents and officers. ".
Communication skills. For certain law enforcement specialist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "communication skills." The day-to-day duties of a law enforcement specialist rely on this skill, as "police and detectives must be able to speak with people and to express details in writing about an incident." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what law enforcement specialists do: "monitor their operation of communication links, and maintain continuity support for law enforcement request. "
Good judgment. A commonly-found skill in law enforcement specialist job descriptions, "good judgment" is essential to what law enforcement specialists do. Law enforcement specialist responsibilities rely on this skill because "police and detectives must be able to determine the best way to solve an array of problems." You can also see how law enforcement specialist duties rely on good judgment in this resume example: "conducted over 200 traffic stops in order to promote good order and discipline of drivers on the base. "
The three companies that hire the most law enforcement specialists are:
- Liberty Healthcare9 law enforcement specialists jobs
- Amazon5 law enforcement specialists jobs
- Aftermath Services3 law enforcement specialists jobs
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Compare different law enforcement specialists
Law enforcement specialist vs. Patrolman
A ranger is responsible for protecting and conserving natural resources and environmental conditions. Rangers coordinate with environmental institutions and landowners to identify land conservation strategies to prevent destructible threats of wildfires and calamities. They also monitor the operations within the forests and parks, evaluating efficient development through scientific methodologies and research studies. A ranger creates reports of cost estimates for conservation efforts, authorizing various land operations upon inspection to mitigate the risks of pollution and other hazardous circumstances.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between law enforcement specialists and patrolman. For instance, law enforcement specialist responsibilities require skills such as "treasury," "field training," "data entry," and "emergency calls." Whereas a patrolman is skilled in "non-emergency calls," "federal laws," "state laws," and "safety hazards." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Patrolmen tend to reach similar levels of education than law enforcement specialists. In fact, patrolmen are 1.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Law enforcement specialist vs. Officer candidate
Community service offers or CSO support in crime response, investigation, and prevention where police powers are not necessary. The community service officers assist the police officers in terms of upholding order and law in the community. They provide citizens with customer service, community outreach, and patrol. It is their job to implement city codes and other non-criminal police associated duties. They provide non-EMS in-home and on-site assistance to the citizens. Also, they respond to non-criminal complaints, building checks, and more.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that law enforcement specialist responsibilities requires skills like "treasury," "physical security," "patrol," and "field training." But an officer candidate might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "platoon," "combat," "leadership," and "physical fitness test."
In general, officers candidate achieve similar levels of education than law enforcement specialists. They're 2.0% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Law enforcement specialist vs. Ranger
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from law enforcement specialist resumes include skills like "treasury," "physical security," "field training," and "data entry," whereas a ranger is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "reservations," "natural resource management," and "hand tools. "
Rangers typically earn similar educational levels compared to law enforcement specialists. Specifically, they're 3.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Law enforcement specialist vs. Community services officer
Even though a few skill sets overlap between law enforcement specialists and community services officers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a law enforcement specialist might have more use for skills like "treasury," "physical security," "field training," and "data entry." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of community services officers require skills like "parking enforcement," "rehabilitation," "criminal justice," and "animal control. "
Community services officers reach similar levels of education compared to law enforcement specialists, in general. The difference is that they're 2.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of law enforcement specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
