Police Patrol Officers

Career Description: Patrol assigned area to enforce laws and ordinances, regulate traffic, control crowds, prevent crime, and arrest violators.

Industry: Protective Service

Other Job Titles for Police Patrol Officers:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
• Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
• Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
• Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
• Render aid to accident victims and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
• Testify in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and criminal cases.
• Evaluate complaint and emergency-request information to determine response requirements.
• Patrol specific area on foot, horseback, or motorized conveyance, responding promptly to calls for assistance.
• Monitor, note, report, and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.
• Investigate traffic accidents and other accidents to determine causes and to determine if a crime has been committed.
• Photograph or draw diagrams of crime or accident scenes and interview principals and eyewitnesses.
• Monitor traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and exhibit safe driving procedures.
• Relay complaint and emergency-request information to appropriate agency dispatchers.
• Issue citations or warnings to violators of motor vehicle ordinances.
• Direct traffic flow and reroute traffic in case of emergencies.
• Inform citizens of community services and recommend options to facilitate longer-term problem resolution.
• Provide road information to assist motorists.
• Process prisoners, and prepare and maintain records of prisoner bookings and prisoner status during booking and pre-trial process.
• Inspect public establishments to ensure compliance with rules and regulations.
• Act as official escorts, such as when leading funeral processions or firefighters.
• Question individuals or observe persons and establishments to confirm information given to patrol officers.
• Notify, or request notification of, medical examiner or district attorney representative.
• Note relevant details upon arrival at scene, such as time of day and weather conditions.
• Participate or assist in raids and arrests.
• Videotape scenes where possible, including collection of evidence, examination of victim at scene, and defendants and witnesses.
• Coordinate with outside agencies and serve on interagency task forces to combat specific types of crime.
• Maintain surveillance of establishments to obtain identifying information on suspects.
• Notify command of situation and request assistance.
• Schedule polygraph tests for consenting parties and record results of test interpretations for presentation with findings.
• Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse.
• Observe and photograph narcotic purchase transactions to compile evidence and protect undercover investigators.

Emerging Tasks

• Coordinate or conduct instructional classes or in-services, such as citizen police academy classes and crime scene training for other officers.
• Identify, compare, classify, and file fingerprints using systems such as AFIS or the Henry Classification System.
• Interview victims, witnesses, suspects, and other law enforcement personnel.
• Maintain records of evidence and write and review reports.
• Serve as technical advisor and coordinate with other law enforcement workers or legal personnel to exchange information on crime scene collection activities.
• Submit evidence to supervisors, crime labs, or court officials for legal proceedings.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• adhere to government aviation regulations
• analyze existing evidence or facts
• apply appropriate physical restraint
• apprehend or arrest suspect or perpetrator of criminal act
• communicate details in protective services settings
• compile biological data for criminal investigations
• conduct legal searches or investigations
• cooperate with court personnel or other law enforcement agencies
• direct human or vehicle traffic
• drive automobile, van, or light truck
• enforce laws, ordinances, or regulations
• ensure correct grammar, punctuation, or spelling
• follow aviation emergency procedures
• follow infectious materials procedures
• follow law enforcement methods or procedures
• follow police or emergency radio regulations
• follow traffic laws
• gather physical evidence
• identify firearms or weapons
• inspect facilities or equipment for regulatory compliance
• interview crime witnesses or victims to obtain descriptive information
• investigate complaints, disturbances, or violations
• issue citation or warning for violation of laws
• judge terrain conditions for vehicle or equipment operation
• maintain firearms proficiency
• maintain flight records or logs
• make decisions
• make presentations
• make public presentations on law enforcement issues
• manage community relations for law enforcement agency
• manage detailed records or files in law enforcement setting
• monitor aircraft operation to detect problems
• monitor traffic conditions or motorists
• operate cameras
• operate emergency fire or rescue equipment
• operate helicopters
• operate navigation technology or equipment
• operate vehicles in law enforcement or security setting
• oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
• patrol or guard area or premises
• pilot aircraft
• prepare records of prisoner bookings or status
• prepare reports
• reach conclusions quickly in law enforcement situations
• read maps
• read navigation charts
• recognize physical or emotional abuse
• recognize public safety hazards
• relay information to proper officials
• respond to in-flight data
• review facts to determine if criminal act or statue violation is involved
• ride horses during law enforcement work
• sustain attention in air traffic emergencies
• testify in court for accident and criminal cases
• use aircraft safety regulations
• use arrest, search, or seizure legal statutes
• use conflict resolution techniques
• use emergency medical procedures
• use firearms
• use first aid procedures
• use hazardous materials information
• use intervention techniques
• use interviewing procedures
• use knowledge of geographic coordinates
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use local or regional geographical knowledge to transportation
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use rescue procedures
• use surveillance techniques
• use traffic control procedures
• use two-way radio or mobile phone
• use visual flight procedures

Overall Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.

• n/a

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 10.81%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 70,098
• Employment (2006): 648,418

• Correctional Officers and Jailers
• Criminal Investigators and Special Agents
• Fire Inspectors
• Fish and Game Wardens
• Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
• Municipal Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors
• Private Detectives and Investigators
• Security Guards
• Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs
• Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer