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Protective Services33-3051.00Specialization

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

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.

$72,280
Median Pay
Less than 6 months
Training
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Law Enforcement Officers

Career Overview Video

AI Impact Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 3/6: balanced factors means AI will assist but humans remain essential

🟡AI-Augmented

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
Medium+1

25% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Stable+1

+3% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Moderate+1

EPOCH score: 18/25

Total Score3/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09
View full methodology →

Key Responsibilities

  • 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 survivors and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
  • Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
  • Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
  • 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.
  • Relay complaint and emergency-request information to appropriate agency dispatchers.
  • Monitor traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and exhibit safe driving procedures.

Education & Training

Typical Entry Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Time to Job Ready

1-3 years

Based on Job Zone 3. For formal education duration only, see education_duration.

Technology Skills

CAD dispatch systemsRecords managementMicrosoft OfficeMobile data terminalsBody camera systemsReport writing

Key Abilities

Oral ComprehensionProblem SensitivityDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningOral ExpressionWritten ComprehensionSpeech ClarityInformation OrderingNear VisionFar Vision

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Find jobs and training programs for police and sheriff's patrol officers- Median salary: $72K/year

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Compensation Details

$45,200
10th Percentile
$72,280
Median
$111,700
90th Percentile

Based on 646,310 employed workers

Also Known As

Accident Prevention Squad Police OfficerAlcohol Law Enforcement Agent (ALE Agent)Animal CopBorder GuardBorder Patrol AgentBorder Patrol OfficerCampus Police OfficerCanine Deputy (K-9 Deputy)Canine Handler (K-9 Handler)Canine Police Officer (K-9 Police Officer)

Data from O*NET 30.1 and BLS Occupational Employment Statistics

O*NET Code: 33-3051.00