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DO YOU HAVE A CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT?

OBJECTIVE: CADETS WILL DEVELOP AN EXPLORE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS AND POSSIBLE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSION. Is a Career in Law Enforcement for you?
If you want to to do something worthwhile, like give something back to your community, then a career in the law enforcement could be for you. A job in the law enforcement, put simply, will be to reduce crime and the fear of crime. Achieving this will mean: meeting daily challenges accepting responsibility working as a team gaining the respect of your community and much more besides!

There are many different ways you can contribute in the law enforcement. Below you will find out in much more detail the vast range of skills sets a law enforcement professional needs to do his or her job. Read on, and based on your own skills and interests, try to determine your place in law enforcement.

Discussion: Have your instructor discuss the skills needed to be a police officer and what skills you have or hope to gain in order to be an officer of the law. From computer wiz to youth counselor to communications technician crime -fighters come in many sizes and skill-sets. There are a variety of law enforcement jobs available to those who pass the police exam and make it through police academy training. If you have a specialized skill, chances are there is a special unit of the law enforcement community that is right for you. Some police officers specialize in such diverse fields as chemical and microscopic analysis, training and firearms instruction, or handwriting and fingerprint identification. About 10 percent of local and special law enforcement officers perform jailrelated duties, and around 4 percent work in courts.

Others work with special units such as horseback, bicycle, motorcycle or harbor patrol, canine corps, special weapons and tactics (SWAT) or emergency response teams. Some law enforcement jobs are more difficult to obtain and more dangerous than others, but all are rewarding in their own way. DIVISIONS, UNITS & SQUADS: A TEAMWORK APPROACH TO POLICING A Police organization is organized according to operational tasks. The following is a list of divisions within a police department. Each police department is divided differently. Some will have far fewer divisions, while others may have many more than are listed here. Have your instructor disuss the functions of the Divisions or Squads listed below.
Police Officer Could you join your local police force and make a difference in your community? Find out what life is really like on the beat. You must be a person who thrives on challenges, and are willing to work hard to learn the skills necessary for this difficult but critical role. Don't doubt that this can be a tough and unpredictable job, but it is also an extremely rewarding position. Every day when you put on your uniform and go to work, you will be making life safer and more secure for your friends and neighbours, and making your town a better place to live. Nothing is more valuable than that. Through our comprehensive training course you will learn to: protect the public from violence provide a reassuring presence in the community support victims of crime and offer help to those who have witnessed crimes investigate complex crimes using a mixture of cutting-edge technology and time-proven traditional methods

Patrol At the center of police law enforcement is patrol. This involves movement of uniformed police personnel, on foot or in vehicles, through designated areas. In most departments, at least half of all police personnel are assigned to patrol. Officers on patrol have a variety of duties that include: interviewing and interrogating suspects; arresting lawbreakers; controlling crowds at public gatherings; enforcing laws regulating public conduct; intervening in

personal, family, and public disputes; issuing warnings and citations; and providing miscellaneous services to members of the public. Staff Functions Staff functions are activities performed by police officers to help administrators organize and manage the police agency. Personnel recruitment, selection, and training, planning, finance, employee services, public relations and use of civilian personnel are examples of staff work. Crime Laboratory Because solutions to many crimes are found through the application of physical and biological sciences, the crime laboratory is of great value to law enforcement officers. If you've ever watched television's CSI, you know the painstaking efforts taken by the various DNA, fingerprinting, blood and other analysts and how important they are to establishing a suspect's guilt or innocence. Transportation Police mobility is crucial to crime prevention and quickly and efficiently responding to emergencies. Police officers must have the capability to move safely and swiftly to meet their responsibilities. Communications Communications in a police agency are the lifeline of the organization. Most police department communication systems have three parts: the telephone system, command and control operations, and radio communications. Intelligence Information is gathered to keep police officials attuned to happenings in their jurisdictions by providing insight into community conditions, potential problem areas, and criminal activities. Internal Affairs Another auxiliary staff service is internal discipline. Transparent discipline and accountability are vital to maintaining any police agency's integrity with employees, elected leaders and the public. Internal discipline, also known as internal affairs or professional standards, involves objective investigation of citizen and officer complaints related to police department services and personnel. Coroner's Liaison Unit Unit works with the Coroners Office and assists in identification of deceased victims. Financial Crimes Unit Investigates all crimes dealing with:

ATM fraud Credit card fraud Forgery Scams Counterfeitting (birth certificates, driver's licences and other important documents, even works of art. Counterfeitting US currency is a federal crime and those investigations will also likely involve the FBI and/or the Secret Service.) Welfare fraud Cell phone fraud Identity Theft Racketeering Money laundering Telemarketing fraud Cyber (computer) crime Tax Evasion/fraud Embezzlement Securities fraud Pyramid schemes

VICE Squad The Unit responsible for the monitoring, tracking and enforcement against all illegal gambling activities. Homicide Squad Investigates murders. Youth Services Unit Youth Services Unit is responsible for: The prevention and investigation of youth violence in and around schools. The investigation of property crime involving youth. Dealing with street entrenched youth. Assisting School Liaison Officers. Divisions or Squads Internal Investigations K-9 Unit (Dog Squad) Media Liaison Mounted Unit Polygraph Unit Reserve Police Force (Auxiliary Police) Robbery Squad School Liaison Team Vice and Drugs Section Victim Services Unit

8 HOT CAREERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT The law enforcement field is thriving. After a decade of declining crime rates, crime in every category is on the rise across the country. Advances in technology and a post-September 11 emphasis on homeland security have fueled a demand for a new breed of law enforcement professional equipped to meet the changes in national security. Below is an overview of several rewarding law enforcement careers that are in demand in todays securityconscious society. 1. FBI Agent FBI agents use intelligence to protect the nation from threats and to bring to justice those who violate the law. With almost 35,000 individuals on its payroll, the FBI reports a critical need to hire new Special Agents and support personnel to carry out the FBI's mission. Support personnel include intelligence analysts, language specialists, scientists, information technology specialists, and other professionals. 2. Police Officer Police officers work in partnership with the public to reduce crime and enforce federal, state and local laws. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, increased crime and a more security-conscious society are contributing to the rising demand for police services while generous salaries and benefits are attracting more people to the profession. Individuals with college training in police science, military police experience, or both, have the best opportunities. 3. U.S. Marshal U.S. Marshals are the nation's primary fugitive hunting organization and capture more federal fugitives each year than all other national law enforcement agencies combined, according to the United States Marshal Service. Deputy U.S. Marshals are charged with some of the most unique and exciting duties known to law enforcement. As a nationwide agency, the Marshals Service seeks qualified men and women capable of carrying out a broad range of law enforcement and administrative responsibilities. 4. Forensic Scientist Forensic scientists use cutting-edge scientific techniques to preserve and examine evidence and develop investigative leads in connection with civil and criminal proceedings. Often, forensic analysts specialize in areas such as DNA analysis or firearm examination. As developments in technology increase the role of forensic science in the court room, the demand for forensic scientists will continue to grow.

5. State Trooper State Troopers, also called highway patrol officers or state police officers, enforce motor vehicle laws and regulations on the nations highways. Skilled state troopers are in high demand due to a growing shortage in many states including Oklahoma, Louisiana, Nevada, Georgia and North Carolina. Increasing numbers of retiring troopers, state budget cuts and rising educational standards are a few of the reasons for the shortage. 6. Customs Agent U.S. Customs Agents work for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The CBP's priority mission is preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States. Customs Agents are also charged with facilitating international trade, collecting import duties and enforcing U.S. trade laws. The CBP employs more than 41,000 employees to manage, control and protect the nations borders and is actively recruiting for a number of openings in many locations around the country. 7. Secret Service Agent Founded in 1865, the United States Secret Service is one of the most elite law enforcement organizations in the world. As one of the oldest federal law enforcement agencies in the country, the Secret Service has dual missions of protection and investigation: the Secret Service protects the president, vice president, heads of state and other VIPs and investigates financial and securities-related violations of the law. The Secret Service is currently seeking highly qualified men and women from diverse backgrounds and is holding job fairs and employment testing at several locations across the country. 8. Game Warden Fish and game wardens are wildlife law enforcement agents who enforce fishing, hunting, and boating laws. They patrol hunting and fishing areas, conduct search and rescue operations, participate in undercover operations, report on the condition of fish and wildlife in a specific area, supervise the activities of seasonal workers, investigate complaints and accidents, and aid in prosecuting court cases. Wardens employed by the federal government are known as special wildlife agents. New jobs are being created in this field through attrition and retirement and an increase in parks and green space which require wildlife management.
What's in it for you? There's so much to gain from a career in law enforcement:

In return for your hard work you will: have a rewarding job where no two days are ever the same be constantly challenged and always learning be valued for your contribution to your community be well paid and have an excellent benefits package have continual opportunities for advancement Sound interesting? Then follow the links on this website to learn more about what it takes to become a police officer, and the opportunities available. Discussion: Have you ever thought about a career in law enforcement? What area of law enforcement interests you? Why?