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Question
What is a tyipical day for a police officer.
DJP,
Thanks for the question.
Not really sure where to start, it is a pretty broad question.
1. Some areas of the country as well as what city you reside in could make a big difference in the volume of service or assignments you perform on a daily basis.
2. Different police officers have different duties or responsibilities. Some are investigators, accident reconstructionist, traffic enforcement, dispatchers, crime scene technicians, evidence custodians, swat team members, boat officers, trainers, and etc.
3. Most do a lot of paperwork for various reports, answer calls for service from the public, give demonstrations at schools or public events, safety presentations, arrest wanted criminals, write traffic tickets, attend training sessions, attend court, testify in court, roll fingerprints, process evidence and/or crime scenes, and the list could go on and on and on.
Try to find a law enforcement agency that will let you participate in a ride-a-long program and it will give you some good insight of what really goes on.
Good luck and best wishes!
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Answers by Expert:
William Payne
Expertise
South Carolina general law enforcement career information. South Carolina Criminal & Traffic Laws. Field Training Manager, Court Systems, Police Recruiting & Hiring, Personnel/Employee Evaluations, Non-Lethal Weapons & Use of Force.
Experience
Retired after 24-1/2 years experience as a Municipal Police Officer. 19 years as a Sergeant. I guest instructed at the State of South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. I am a Community Policing Instructor, Field Training Officer, Instructor-Trainer in the Monadnock Expandable/PR-24 Batons, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Law Enforcement Driving Instructor, O.C. Spray Instructor, Taser Instructor, and liaison for State Accreditation Standards. I also serve as an Adjunct Instructor for Park University, where I teach in the Criminal Justice Administration Degree Program.I am currently Director of Security for a major hospital system in South Carolina.
Organizations
South Carolina Law Enforcement Officer's Association.
Education/Credentials
South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy
Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration, Park University.
Master of Arts Degree in Management, Webster University.
Master of Arts Degree in Human Resources Development, Webster University.
Datamaster Operator, Monadnock PR-24/M.E.B. Instructor-Trainer, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Field Training Manager, Certified Basic Investigator, Certified in Homicide Investigations.
Awards and Honors
Beaufort County, South Carolina, Police Officer of the Year, 1990.
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