Expert: Chris Wagoner - 8/1/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi. I have a question about what really is a police officer and what do they do? I've always loved watching cop shows and forensic shows. I'm only 13 and I know that is young to be thinking about jobs and stuff but it just interests me. I was thinking about maybe getting a major in criminal justice when I'm in college, but didn't know if the job would be good for me, considering i don't know how to use a gun, and i'm scared of getting shot.(would they teach you how to use one?). So, if you can answer the question that would be great. Thank you!

ANSWER: Hi Amanda!

Wow thats a lot of good questions! And your doing a bit of looking ahead and thats very good! Good for you!

What does a police officer do? Well pretty much we help people in trouble, arrest bad guys for breaking the law, we try to keep order when things get out of hand. You get to meet new people everyday, and its exciting at times!

As for school, you should consider college, Criminal Justice is good, but not the only on you can get. You don't have to know how to use or shoot a gun, we will teach you that. In fact recruits that don't know how to use a gun are easier to teach good shooting too than those that already know how.

Everyone is scared of being shot, but that is something we teach you to show you how to be as safe as you can, and we give you a lot of equipment to help you stay safe.

Whats important is you stay out of trouble, no drugs, no police trouble, and get decent grades and graduate from highschool. You can get yourself disqualified for things you do when your a teenager so be careful.

Read this "How to get hired, what will DQ you, and what not to do!!" one of my earlier post here. http://policecommander.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-to-get-hired-what-will-dq-you-an

That will fill you in on almost everything you need to know. Also you may want to check your local police departments and sheriff's office for the "Law Enforcement Explorer Program". Its part of the Boy Scouts (but for girls also!) and you spend a lot of time working with the police as part of the Explorer's. Go here to find a post near you: http://www.learningforlife.org/exploring/lawenforcement/index.html I was one for years before becoming a police officer and loved it!

Well be well and stay out of trouble!!


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the response! I just have another question. If you want to become an investigator like a homicidal or suicidal of just a regular investigator, do you have to be a police officer or something else before you can become it, like a detective? Or can you just apply for it? Also i've tried Google-ing what an investigator does, like the real stuff and not on tv, but nothing comes up. Can you help? Thanks!

Answer
Hi Amanda,

Yes you have to be a regular police officer before you can be and investigator. Most police departments require 2-3 years minimum.

Investigators do all kinds of things. They investigate any kind of crime you can think of, and there are many different types of investigators.

Here is a list of just some (not all)of the additional units available in the police department:

Aviation Unit
Bicycle Patrol
Bomb Squad
Canine Unit
Child Protective Investigations Section
Contractor Licensing and Fraud Unit
Crime Scene and Crime Lab
Crime Stoppers Unit
DUI Unit
Economic Crime Unit
Evidence Unit
Marine Unit and Dive Team
Mass Transit Unit
Motorcycle Unit
Mounted Patrol
Regional Investigations Division
School Resource Deputy Unit
SWAT Team
Victim Services Unit

So you see there are many other specialty units you can get into.

Good luck and be safe. And I commend you for thinking of Law Enforcement as a career.