Police Officer

About the Role

Police officers patrol assigned areas, respond to emergency and non-emergency calls, enforce laws, investigate crimes, make arrests, write reports, and engage with the community to maintain public safety and order.

A typical shift begins with a briefing at the station where officers learn about recent crimes, wanted individuals, and priority areas for the day, then head out in a patrol car to cover their assigned neighborhood. Throughout the shift, they respond to a wide range of situations: traffic accidents, domestic disputes, thefts, noise complaints, and welfare checks on vulnerable residents. Between calls, they patrol streets, check in with businesses, and watch for anything unusual.

A Day in the Life

• 6:30 AM Roll call briefing – Gather with the shift team to review overnight incidents, descriptions of wanted individuals, active warrants, and priority areas for the day.
• 7:30 AM Patrol assigned area – Drive through the assigned neighborhood, check for hazards or suspicious activity, and greet community members along the route.
• 9:00 AM Traffic enforcement – Monitor a high-accident area, pull over speeding drivers, issue citations, and check license and registration details.
• 12:00 PM Lunch and report writing – Take a meal break while logging the morning's calls and traffic stops into the records management system.
• 1:00 PM Respond to a domestic call – Arrive at a reported disturbance, separate the individuals involved, interview each person, and determine next steps.
• 3:00 PM Welfare check – Visit a residence after a concerned family member's request, assess the person's safety, and arrange medical or social services if needed.
• 5:30 PM Court appearance – Report to the courthouse to testify about an earlier arrest or incident if called by the prosecution.
• 7:00 PM Shift debrief – Return to the station, inspect the patrol vehicle, hand off any open matters to the incoming shift, and log off.

Responsibilities

• Patrol assigned areas to prevent and detect crime.
• Respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for service.
• Enforce local, state, and federal laws.
• Investigate crimes, gather evidence, and make arrests.
• Write detailed reports on incidents and activities.
• Testify in court as needed.
• Engage with the community to build trust and promote public safety.
• Perform welfare checks and provide assistance to vulnerable residents.
• Monitor traffic, issue citations, and investigate accidents.

Tools & Technologies

• Databases & Data Tools
  • Microsoft Access
  • Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS)
  • Law enforcement information databases
  • National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database
  • National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN)
• Office Suites
  • Microsoft Office
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
• Spreadsheets
  • Microsoft Excel
  • IBM Lotus 1-2-3
• Email
  • Microsoft Outlook
• Presentations
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
• Process & Diagramming
  • Microsoft Visio

Pay

Median salary: $76,000 per year.

Salary distribution:

• 10th percentile: $48,000
• 25th percentile: $59,000
• 50th percentile (Median): $76,000
• 75th percentile: $97,000
• 90th percentile: $115,000

Most professionals earn between $59,000 and $97,000.

Pay by State

• California: $115,000 (Range: $76,000 - $151,000)
• Washington: $103,000 (Range: $76,000 - $123,000)
• Illinois: $102,000 (Range: $56,000 - $119,000)
• Alaska: $100,000 (Range: $69,000 - $136,000)
• Colorado: $96,000 (Range: $66,000 - $111,000)
• New York: $93,000 (Range: $53,000 - $117,000)
• Hawaii: $89,000 (Range: $75,000 - $114,000)
• New Jersey: $89,000 (Range: $57,000 - $134,000)
• District of Columbia: $88,000 (Range: $66,000 - $116,000)
• Oregon: $88,000 (Range: $68,000 - $113,000)
• Pennsylvania: $86,000 (Range: $50,000 - $112,000)
• Minnesota: $83,000 (Range: $60,000 - $105,000)
• Delaware: $83,000 (Range: $62,000 - $105,000)
• Connecticut: $83,000 (Range: $61,000 - $103,000)
• Arizona: $79,000 (Range: $60,000 - $100,000)
• Wisconsin: $79,000 (Range: $55,000 - $93,000)
• Nevada: $79,000 (Range: $63,000 - $102,000)
• Massachusetts: $79,000 (Range: $60,000 - $106,000)
• Maryland: $77,000 (Range: $58,000 - $109,000)
• Rhode Island: $77,000 (Range: $55,000 - $89,000)
• Utah: $77,000 (Range: $59,000 - $99,000)
• Ohio: $77,000 (Range: $49,000 - $104,000)
• Texas: $76,000 (Range: $52,000 - $99,000)
• Florida: $76,000 (Range: $53,000 - $118,000)
• North Dakota: $76,000 (Range: $59,000 - $92,000)
• Michigan: $74,000 (Range: $49,000 - $91,000)
• Iowa: $74,000 (Range: $57,000 - $96,000)
• Nebraska: $72,000 (Range: $50,000 - $96,000)
• Indiana: $72,000 (Range: $53,000 - $94,000)
• Montana: $70,000 (Range: $52,000 - $88,000)
• New Hampshire: $68,000 (Range: $54,000 - $89,000)
• Idaho: $66,000 (Range: $49,000 - $93,000)
• Maine: $65,000 (Range: $55,000 - $84,000)
• Wyoming: $65,000 (Range: $49,000 - $81,000)
• Virginia: $65,000 (Range: $50,000 - $97,000)
• Vermont: $64,000 (Range: $47,000 - $89,000)
• New Mexico: $63,00