Expert: Loren Stevens - 3/3/2004

Question
Hi! can you give me a description of what is your work or your 8 hour day like. im iterested on this career. thank you very much.

Answer
Hello Marlon,
Well........you ask a question that is a bit difficult to answer. "What a day is like" suggests a routine, which in police work is not applicable in most cases.
I'm retired now, but whe I was working, I was the CO on an Intelligence unit. We worked: Organized Crime, Labor Racketeering, Murder for Hire, Terrorism, Dignity Protection, Political Corruption, covert operations, and special assignments.
Unlike uniform patrol, that has a relieving shift that follows each shift, in smaller units, there is essentially no relief. Ergo, you start, when the action so dictates, and you stay with it until it's over.
In a medium to large agency, there are several divisions, and subdivisions eg, Detective Bureau...Robbery section....etc.
They would have a different day than would a K-9 unit, Crime Prevention unit, Patrol, or Air Support.
GENERALLY, an investigative unit starts their day by logging in and recieving new case assignments, working old cases not yet resolved, interviewing witnesses/victims, collecting and reviewing reports germane to each case, presenting cases for prosecution , requesting lab work and other evidentiary work from their criminalistics bureau, testifying in court, releasing evidence after a case is closed etc...(Lots of ETC)
Patrol officers usually start each shift fresh, with very little left over from prior shifts. They are the "first responders" for calls for sevvice, as well as "stuff" they initiate themselves.
As you can see, there are too many variables, and subdivisions in police work to give a simple response to on your question.
I urge you to read a patrol procedures text, for insight into the primary area of police service. Then, either take a survey course, or a "general" Criminal Investigations text for that insight.
Also, there are several movies and TV programs that reasonably depict what you seek.
Hope this has been helpful,
good luck.
loren