Have you ever thought about a police officer’s job, with its difficulties and challenges? It’s a very specific job because of many reasons. Let’s take a closer look at this profession.

When we ask ourselves a question: “OK, so what does a police officer do?”, there are many possible answers. They have to be in touch with a dispatcher and react to emergency calls, they patrol their assigned areas, they watch for disturbances on the road and give speeding tickets or warnings if needed, they are present at crime scenes, where they take statements from witnesses to help investigations. The job is furthermore more dangerous, because among police officer’s duties there is also arresting criminals. Whatever they do, one thing is sure: they have to write a report!

It’s important to know that there are many types of police and detectives. There are detectives and criminal investigators whose job is to collect data and evidence related to criminal cases. They are usually responsible for serious crimes. Then, there are FBI agents. Sometimes, we call them “special agents”. They investigate criminal cases that violate federal law. Fish and game wardens patrol fishing and hunting areas and are responsible for enforcing fishing, hunting and boating laws. They also educate the public. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers are the biggest group. They enforce general laws and are easy to recognise thanks to their uniforms. Last but not least, there are transit and railroad police who protect property, employees and passengers by patrolling train yards, and for example subway stations.

So, how many police officers and detectives are there? There were about 795 thousand of them in 2020. As I said before, the biggest group were police and sheriff’s patrol officers. Their job is to ensure order and safety, respond to emergency calls, and conduct regular patrols. They are needed in many areas to provide safety for the citizens.

No matter what position you hold, this job is very demanding, both physically and mentally. You have to deal with everyday stress and stay alert and ready through your entire shift, and many times also after it ends. You can’t just ignore someone breaking the law when you see it. When you work at crime and accident scenes, you see people’s suffering and it’s never easy. This is something that a person can’t get used to. Despite all of this, many officers say that this job is very rewarding, because they can really help people.

When I said that it was a difficult job, I wasn’t lying. Police and sheriff's patrol officers and transit and railroad police get injured or ill significantly more often than people in other occupations. Why? Because they have to fight with aggressive people like criminals and also they are involved in high risk situations. This is why it’s important for them to be prepared for the job wearing a uniform, a utility belt, and a ballistic vest.

Do you think that it’s possible to have a part‑time job as a police officer? Maybe, there is an option like that, but if you want to be a police officer you have to be prepared to work full time, or even work overtime. It’s not a 9 to 5 job as there are shifts to provide the public with safety and protection around the clock. If you are an FBI agent, you have to work at least 50 hours a week and prepare yourself to be ready for duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Now we know that it’s a demanding and challenging but also rewarding job, so it’s time to ask ourselves the following question: is it worth it? It turns out that the median annual wage was $66,020 in May 2021. What does that mean? The median wage means that half the workers earned more than that amount of money and the other half earned less. When we take a look at a median annual wage for all the occupations, we see that it's lower than that of the police force.

If you feel inspired and want to become a police officer in the future, here’s what you need to do! There are some criteria you have to meet to become a police officer in the United States of America. You have to be at least a 21‑year‑old U.S. citizen with a clean record and some important skills I am going to talk about in a moment. As for education, a high school diploma is a must, however some federal agencies and departments require some courses, training, or a college degree. It all depends on the specific job. Work experience in a related occupation is also required for some jobs like detectives or FBI special agents.

Certificates and diplomas are important, but not enough. There are some skills that are also welcome but hard to prove. Police officers and detectives must be able to communicate with people, understand them and their perspective as well as see all the possible ways to solve a problem and be able to choose the best one. They must also feel comfortable in the role of a leader. A good eye and ability to anticipate people’s reactions are also important assets, not to mention physical shape and strength, because as I said before, this is a very demanding job!

After learning all the facts about being and becoming a police officer in the U.S., what do you think: would you like to be a police officer in the future? Why? Why not? Think about it and answer the question. Thank you for your attention.