About This Career

Directly supervises and coordinates activities of members of police force.

This career is part of the Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security cluster Law Enforcement Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Supervises and coordinates the investigation of criminal cases, offering guidance and expertise to investigators, and ensuring that procedures are conducted in accordance with laws and regulations.
• Prepares work schedules and assigns duties to subordinates.
• Investigates and resolves personnel problems within organization and charges of misconduct against staff.
• Directs collection, preparation, and handling of evidence and personal property of prisoners.
• Maintains logs, prepares reports, and directs the preparation, handling, and maintenance of departmental records.
• Explains police operations to subordinates to assist them in performing their job duties.
• Informs personnel of changes in regulations and policies, implications of new or amended laws, and new techniques of police work.
• Trains staff in proper police work procedures.
• Disciplines staff for violation of department rules and regulations.
• Monitors and evaluates the job performance of subordinates, and authorizes promotions and transfers.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
• Exposed to hazardous situations involving possible injury such as cuts, bites, stings, and minor burns more than once a month
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Overtime work
• Rotating shift work
• Weekend work