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What is a police sergeant and how to become one
A police sergeant monitors and trains officers under his/her command. Police in rank the ranks of detective and officer are under the sergeant's command. The sergeant also fulfills the duties of a police officer by enforcing the law and arresting criminals.
A sergeant's day may involve handling personnel issues within the ranks, presiding over meetings, drafting shift rotations, patrolling the streets, and preparing work and performance reports. The sergeant may also attend briefings with higher-ranking police officers and report the news to subordinates. Like all law enforcement officials, sergeants protect, serve, and uphold the law.
To become a police sergeant, you need a high school diploma or GED. You also need to attend a police academy and possess three years of experience as a police officer.
What general advice would you give to a police sergeant?
Dr. Durmus Alper CAMLIBEL Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Avg. Salary $65,562
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 3%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.37%
Asian 1.78%
Black or African American 11.00%
Hispanic or Latino 15.55%
Unknown 3.93%
White 66.36%
Genderfemale 9.78%
male 90.22%
Age - 47American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 47Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Police sergeant career paths
Key steps to become a police sergeant
Explore police sergeant education requirements
Start to develop specific police sergeant skills
Skills Percentages Patrol 32.40% Public Safety 7.80% Emergency Situations 5.35% Law Enforcement Agencies 5.13% Field Training 3.42% Complete relevant police sergeant training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New police sergeants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a police sergeant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real police sergeant resumes.Gain additional police sergeant certifications
More About CertificationsPolice sergeant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific police sergeant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for police sergeants include Certified Security Supervision & Management (CSS) and Board Certification in Criminal Trial Law.
Research police sergeant duties and responsibilities
- Plan, manage, develop, implement and revise the training FTO program, as needed.
- Collaborate with federal and state agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF, IRS and SBI.
- Perform data entry into NCIC system, protection from abuse database, and automate incident memo systems.
- Provide keen oversight to multiple divisions, including animal control, records, communications, training, and docket detention.
Prepare your police sergeant resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your police sergeant resume.
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Choose from 10+ customizable police sergeant resume templates
Build a professional police sergeant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your police sergeant resume.
Apply for police sergeant jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a police sergeant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first police sergeant job
Are you a police sergeant?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average police sergeant salary
The average police sergeant salary in the United States is $65,562 per year or $32 per hour. Police sergeant salaries range between $48,000 and $89,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do police sergeants rate their job?
Police sergeant reviews
Nobody listens to me because we are friends, now they are putting me a the position to charge them
It’s hard
I enjoy the freedom I’m allowed.
How political the job has become. There isn’t a correct way to do your job. Almost everyone wants to get you fired. It’s annoying.
I truly enjoyed my time on the regional swat team. Although I was not an operator, I was assigned to the team as a certified FBI Negotiator. This further enhanced my people skills which will make me an asset to any company.
If I had to pick one thing, it would be working holidays and weekends which took me away from my children.
Updated January 8, 2025
