Description / Duties:
     Police officers are employed to protect all citizens and enforce the laws of the city, state, and federal governments. While officers at any level of the government may enforce the laws of all other levels, some agencies focus on specific laws such as those of immigration or transportation. If employed by a larger department, the officer may be assigned to focus on a particular type of crime by being assigned to a unit. Some specialized units include drug enforcement, bomb squads, assault, or theft. Smaller departments will often not have these specialized units and officers respond to every type of crime.
     Responding to complaints or reports of criminal activity and arresting suspects is only part of the job. Unless the department is large enough to include crime scene investigators on the payroll, the police officer is responsible for controlling the crime scene and collecting evidence. Officers will also be responsible for taking statements from the victims of crime and witnesses. In larger departments, the officer may be assigned to assist detectives in other aspects of the investigation; in smaller ones, the officer performs the duties of the detective. Each officer is responsible for writing complete and accurate reports, properly handling evidence, and testifying in court when so ordered by the judge or other court official. There may also be times the officer will be called into court as an expert witness in his (her) field of expertise.
     Law enforcement is the main focus of the job, but there may be and often are other assignments. Police departments often assign officers as security at events or for high-profile visitors to their city. Still other officers will act as advisors for or be responsible for creating crime prevention programs. Officers will also respond to emergencies such as traffic or pedestrian accidents, as well as medical emergencies, to provide traffic and crowd control or first-responder emergency care if they are so trained.

Schedule:
     Most officers work a scheduled work shift which may include rotating shifts. Some departments may require occasional weekend and special assignment hours or overtime.

Requirements:
     Police officers must be physically fit and capable of performing the various duties required of their position. Most police departments require only a high school diploma for the applicant to be considered for employment. However, after the applicant has been accepted for an open position, they will be required to attend an established law enforcement academy to receive the specific education and training required for the position. Some departments may accept a degree or certificate in criminal justice or a similar field of study from an accredited college, university, or technical school in lieu of an academy; however, they will still require further training in the use of weapons.