Trades
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

Police Officer

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers protect lives and property. They also enforce laws and ordinances, regulate traffic, and arrest violators
Police Officer
Why Should You Consider This Career?

1. Police officers protect the public. 2. Serve the community. 3. Work with a team

TYPICAL SALARY
$80k
That's $3,300 per bi-weekly paycheck
CAREER OUTLOOK
Growing
That's 2000 new jobs in Utah per year (30% growth)
Less Physical                                         More Physical
—————|————
Less Training                                          More Training
—————|————
More Structure                                     Less Structure
—————|————
ALTERNATIVE JOB TITLES:
Deputy, Deputy Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff (Generalist)-Bailiff, Law Enforcement Officer, Patrol Officer, Peace Officer, Police Officer, Police Patrol Officer, Public Safety Officer, State Trooper

Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions.

At A Glance in US
2028 JOB GROWTH
Wage loader
398,000 (35%)
SALARY RANGE
This is some text inside of a div block.
AVG. JOBS / YEAR
398,000 (35%)
TIME TO JOURNEYMAN
398,000 (35%)
ALTERNATIVE JOB TITLES:
Deputy, Deputy Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff (Generalist)-Bailiff, Law Enforcement Officer, Patrol Officer, Peace Officer, Police Officer, Police Patrol Officer, Public Safety Officer, State Trooper
A Typical Day Icon

Your Typical Day:

  • Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
  • 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.
  • Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
  • Render aid to accident victims and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
  • Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
  • Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
  • Monitor, note, report, and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.
  • Testify in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and criminal cases.
  • Drive vehicles or patrol specific areas to detect law violators, issue citations, and make arrests.
  • Monitor traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and exhibit safe driving procedures.
wage icon

Wages in the US:

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$
52.42
Per Hour Base Income
$TBD
Total Compensation
Your Responsibilities Icon

Your Responsibilities

  • Apprehend criminal suspects.
  • Respond to emergencies to provide assistance.
  • Maintain public order or security.
  • Prepare investigation or incident reports.
  • Administer first aid.
  • Investigate accidents to determine causes.
  • Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
  • Communicate situation details to appropriate personnel.
  • Maintain surveillance of individuals or establishments.
  • Patrol properties to maintain safety.
Your Knowledge Icon

Knowledge You Will Learn

  • Public Safety and Security

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. 94/100

  • Law and Government

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process. 93/100

  • English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. 79/100

  • Psychology

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. 74/100

  • Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. 70/100

  • Education and Training

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. 68/100

  • Administration and Management

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. 60/100

  • Telecommunications

Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems. 59/100

  • Administrative

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology. 58/100

  • Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. 53/100

Tools of the Trade Icon

Tools of the Trade

  • Police vehicles
  • Handguns
  • Two way radios
  • Handcuffs
  • Surveillance video or audio recorders
  • Notebook computers
  • Biological evidence collection kits
  • Mobile medical services first aid kits
  • Masks or accessories
  • Teletype input devices
  • Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles
  • Radarbased surveillance systems
  • Still cameras
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Tape measures
  • Footprint lifters
  • Police or security shotguns
  • Bullet proof vests
  • Night sticks
  • Flatbed trailers
  • Acoustic ear muffs or defenders
  • Mobile resuscitator or aspirator kits
  • Military rifles
  • Sound measuring apparatus or decibel meter
  • Rescue ships or boats
  • Snowmobiles or snow scooter
  • Hand sprayers
  • Diving instruments or accessories
  • Body armour
  • Traffic signals
  • Rulers
  • Flares
  • Alcohol analyzers
  • Goggles
  • Biometric identification equipment
  • Weapon or explosives detectors and supplies
  • All terrain vehicles tracked or wheeled
  • Fingerprint equipment
  • Riot batons
  • Narcotic test kits
  • Fingerprint latent print kits
  • Digital camcorders or video cameras
  • Ultraviolet UV lamps
  • Measuring wheels for distance
  • Lasers
  • Binoculars
  • X ray radiography examination equipment
  • Global positioning system GPS receiver
  • Speed stoppers
  • Hazardous material protective apparel
  • Riot helmets
  • Safety glasses
  • Riot shields
  • Metal detectors
  • Digital cameras
  • Protective gloves
  • Personal motorized watercraft
  • Desktop computers
  • Personal computers
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