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First-Line Supervisors of Police & Detectives

Also called: Police Sergeant, Police Captain, Police Lieutenant, Sergeant

What they do:
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.
On the job, you would:
  • Supervise and coordinate the investigation of criminal cases, offering guidance and expertise to investigators, and ensuring that procedures are conducted in accordance with laws and regulations.
  • Maintain logs, prepare reports, and direct the preparation, handling, and maintenance of departmental records.
  • Explain police operations to subordinates to assist them in performing their job duties.

Knowledge

Safety and Government
  • law and government
  • public safety and security
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Business
  • management
  • customer service
Math and Science
  • psychology

Skills

Basic Skills
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Social
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions
  • understanding people's reactions

Abilities

Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
  • notice when problems happen
  • use rules to solve problems
Attention
  • pay attention to something without being distracted
  • do two or more things at the same time
Visual Understanding
  • quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
leading, making decisions, and business.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Integrity
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Self Control
  • Leadership
  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Data base user interface and query software
  • Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System IAFIS
  • National Crime Information Center NCIC database
Graphics or photo imaging software
  • Computer aided composite drawing software
  • DesignWare 3D EyeWitness
Word processing software
  • Corel WordPerfect software
  • Microsoft Word

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
high school diploma or
associate's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Below Average Outlook
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
$77,890
per year, on average
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about first-line supervisors of police and detectives.