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Police detective vs commanding officer

The differences between police detectives and commanding officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a police detective has an average salary of $52,087, which is higher than the $40,452 average annual salary of a commanding officer.

The top three skills for a police detective include patrol, law enforcement agencies and criminal cases. The most important skills for a commanding officer are logistical support, emergency situations, and combat.

Police detective vs commanding officer overview

Police DetectiveCommanding Officer
Yearly salary$52,087$40,452
Hourly rate$25.04$19.45
Growth rate3%-
Number of jobs74,95855,602
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4646
Years of experience--

Police detective vs commanding officer salary

Police detectives and commanding officers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Police DetectiveCommanding Officer
Average salary$52,087$40,452
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $71,000Between $33,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between police detective and commanding officer education

There are a few differences between a police detective and a commanding officer in terms of educational background:

Police DetectiveCommanding Officer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeBusiness
Most common collegePennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State University

Police detective vs commanding officer demographics

Here are the differences between police detectives' and commanding officers' demographics:

Police DetectiveCommanding Officer
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 87.4% Female, 12.6%Male, 86.6% Female, 13.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 1.8% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 1.8% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between police detective and commanding officer duties and responsibilities

Police detective example responsibilities.

  • Plan, manage, develop, implement and revise the training FTO program, as needed.
  • Complete applications for arrest, subpoenas, search and seizure warrants, etc.
  • Serve criminal and civil subpoenas, confer with attorneys and assist in the preparation of cases for trial.
  • Maintain and repair department issue firearms.
  • Conduct investigations ranging from disorderly persons offenses to homicide.
  • Network with co-workers to improve initial investigation techniques in the patrol division.
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Commanding officer example responsibilities.

  • Lead precinct to the largest percentage decrease in crime of all 76 NYC precincts.
  • Facilitate strategic planning efforts and public-private partnerships to maximize results in accomplishing DHS and USCG missions.
  • Coordinate and manage logistical combat support services, engineering support, and security escorts to bases/units locate within the region.
  • Orchestrate the day to day demands, managing deficiencies/opportunities and prioritization of unit operations throughout specific target areas within NYC.
  • CAPTAIN GEORGE``JOE"PAITL, USCG (Ret . )
  • Used CCTV to continuously monitor customer, staff, and parking lot areas.
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Police detective vs commanding officer skills

Common police detective skills
  • Patrol, 11%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 9%
  • Criminal Cases, 9%
  • Local Laws, 7%
  • Evidence Collection, 6%
  • Criminal Law, 6%
Common commanding officer skills
  • Logistical Support, 12%
  • Emergency Situations, 9%
  • Combat, 8%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 7%
  • Direct Oversight, 5%
  • Coast Guard, 5%

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