What Do Police Patrol Officers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life

Police Patrol Officers

Police Patrol Officers patrol assigned area to enforce laws and ordinances, regulate traffic, control crowds, prevent crime, and arrest violators.

Salary
$70000
Becoming One
Medium
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job Description

Job Description

Police Patrol Officers patrol assigned area to enforce laws and ordinances, regulate traffic, control crowds, prevent crime, and arrest violators. They also identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.

Other tasks include:

  • 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.
  • 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.

We asked Police Patrol Officers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

Job satisfaction

65%

How meaningful is this job

81%


65% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 81% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.



Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Police Patrol Officers record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities. They monitor, note, report, and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.

A typical day for a Police Patrol Officer will also include:

  • Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
  • Monitor traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and exhibit safe driving procedures.
  • Issue citations or warnings to violators of motor vehicle ordinances.
  • Relay complaint and emergency-request information to appropriate agency dispatchers.
  • Patrol specific area on foot, horseback, or motorized conveyance, responding promptly to calls for assistance.

We asked some Police Patrol Officers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? 67% said yes
How important is it to work in a team in this job? 69% said very important
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? 89% said yes
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? 90% said yes
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? 80% said yes
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? 89% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Police Patrol Officers also testify in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and criminal cases. They may also investigate traffic accidents and other accidents to determine causes and to determine if a crime has been committed.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Police Patrol Officers Process prisoners, and prepare and maintain records of prisoner bookings and prisoner status during booking and pre-trial process. They might also Render aid to accident victims and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.

In addition, they Photograph or draw diagrams of crime or accident scenes and interview principals and eyewitnesses.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Provide road information to assist motorists.

To some Police Patrol Officers, it is also their responsibility to Direct traffic flow and reroute traffic in case of emergencies.


Working life

Working hours

More than 40 hours per week

Working schedule

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Police Patrol Officer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Do Police Patrol Officers work in an office-style work environment?

Never
32%


Once a week
19%


Do Police Patrol Officers work outdoors?

Every day
77%


Once a week
17%



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career

The Builders and The Entrepreneurs

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.



Learn more about Police Patrol Officers

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Related to Police Patrol Officers Job Description

Police Patrol Officers job description, what do Police Patrol Officers do, typical day for Police Patrol Officers, what is it like to work as a Police Patrol Officer, how many hours do Police Patrol Officers work, day to day work of a Police Patrol Officer

Additional resources

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm
https://www.bja.gov/
http://www.theiacp.org/
http://www.dhs.gov/


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