The Job Of A Police Officer - 1716 Words

Most people can easily speculate as to which career is the most dangerous one in America. Hollywood has dramatized this career so much through their television shows, that people do not realize that this is no joke. This career is the most dangerous because it has the highest death rates of any career. The reason why the death rates are so astonishingly high is because the people who work in this career put their lives on the line to save others in need, and because they work in dire situations. This job is the one of a police officer. Though it may be the most dangerous career in America, the job of a police officer comes with many benefits, such as good pay and the satisfaction of saving lives, gradually helping to make the world†¦show more content†¦Later on, Colonial America enforced this form of work. Ferguson states that â€Å"A sheriff, appointed by the governor of a colony, enforced laws, collected taxes, and maintained public property throughout a colonyâ⠂¬  (Ferguson 143). From there on, the work of police officer became more specialized, and was divided into departments. New advancements also affected their work. New technology, firearms, restraints, and other new items to use defensively were created. The next subject to touch upon, is the job description of a police officer. The duties of an officer can vary greatly. In a smaller department, an officer may have to direct traffic, patrol, break up riots, escort a funeral procession, or issue a ticket for a violation of a law (Ferguson 144). In larger city departments, the work is more specialized. These departments are comprised of special work divisions. These divisions may include communications, firearms identification, criminal investigation, forensic science, accident prevention, fingerprint identification analysis, and administrative services (Ferguson 144). Also, in larger cities, a department will contain special units of work. These units include harbor patrol, the canine unit, vice, traffic and records control, and the rescue unit (Ferguson 144). In every department, there are specific positions to be filled. These positions include: chiefs, sergeants, captains, desk or booking officers, and many other position s.