A law enforcement officer is responsible for upholding the laws of his or her country, as well as the laws of the jurisdiction in which he or she works. It’s possible that you’ll be in charge of more than one set of laws. A city police officer, for example, will enforce local ordinances, state laws, and federal laws. A patrol officer, a special agent, or a detective are all examples of law enforcement officers.
A law enforcement officer can also work for a number of different organizations. The local police department or county sheriff’s office will often be the most visible of these organizations. At the federal level, law enforcement personnel are also required. Law enforcement jobs are available in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Marshals Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the United States Secret Service, among others, in the United States.
The patrol officer is the most common type of law enforcement officer seen. As far as police jobs go, this is likely to be the most hands-on, as well as the one with the most public interaction. These officers are in charge of responding to initial reports of crimes or incidents, as well as patrolling traffic and keeping the peace. They are usually in charge of some routine investigations as well. They are frequently the officers who issue citations or participate in arrests.
If the investigation involves a major crime, a detective is likely to take over. This officer will typically have criminal investigation experience as well as specialized training in evidence collection, scene security, and conducting interviews. This person is usually one of the key witnesses at a trial, documenting how evidence was collected, discussing chain of custody issues, and other such matters. This job requires a law enforcement officer to be extremely thorough.
Forensics testing is another area where law enforcement careers can lead. Officers who work in this field have received additional training. While they are not always thought of as officers, some have been duly sworn in and have all of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that come with the job. A person in this field is in charge of a specific aspect of the investigation, such as conducting tests on collected items in a sterile, controlled environment.
Despite the large number of people involved in law enforcement, each type of officer serves a specific purpose. A federal law enforcement officer is responsible for enforcing federal laws. A city cop is more concerned with state and local laws, but he or she cannot ignore federal laws entirely. Officers from various agencies collaborate as needed to develop a comprehensive crime-fighting strategy.