Police Patrol Officers identify with the Strong Interest Inventory® Realistic Theme. The men and women who participate in this job family tend to be reliable and rugged. There is also a secondary association with this field with both the Enterprising and Conventional Themes. These aspects connect with these individuals assertive and systematic nature. Individuals that enter this field hold a high regard for the integrity and stress tolerance that is both required and often seen as synonymous with the work style found among Police Patrol Officers. The Strong Interest Inventory is designed specifically to help individuals pursue a career which will be fulfilling for them, by analyzing and assessing their interests in a broad range of areas. Careers in the Realistic Theme Category involve being physically active and using one’s body to achieve a goal. Individuals who score high in this category also enjoy solving specific problems or understanding how and why things work in particular ways. Such individuals generally enjoy working alone or in small groups.
Police Patrol Officers patrol their designated area to regulate traffic, enforce laws, prevent crime, and make arrests of violators. In general, they are responsible for preserving the peace and assuring public safety, as well as responding to emergencies, promoting good community relations, and protecting people and property. They make note of any suspicious activities, and identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts, including traffic violations. They take photographs, record interviews, or document crimes, as well as relay information to emergency dispatchers or medical personnel. If they are monitoring traffic conditions, they issue citations or warnings, or reroute traffic to unaffected areas. If they are involved in more criminal activities, they may testify in court or compare behaviors and evidence to determine if a crime has actually been committed. On a more routine level, Police Patrol Officers serve as official escorts, for instance for funeral processions. They inspect public establishments to make sure that they are in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
Read Below for Police Officer’s Salary, Projected Job Openings and More!
Police Patrol Officers use many different kinds of tools and technology. Breathalyzers, handcuffs, radar-based surveillance systems, and fingerprint equipment are among the most common, but they also use binoculars, body armor, bulletproof vests, and weapons when confronting suspects. They use medical equipment, such as first aid kits, defibrillators, narcotic test kits, and other basic medical equipment, as well as biohazard suits and protective gloves and safety glasses to protect them from potentially harmful agents. When Patrol Officers move over uneven terrain, they may use all-terrain vehicles, snow scooters or snow mobiles, and jet skis. In extreme situations, they use riot batons, helmets, shields, shot guns, and other weaponry. In addition, Police Patrol Officers document and report their actions and findings. They do this using integrated automated fingerprint identification software (IAFIS), the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), and Spillman Technologies Records Management, as well as computer aided composite drawing software like EyeWitness and The Crime Zone. Map creation software like ESRI ArcVIew are also important, as is Microsoft Office Suite and Email software interfaces. In addition to these technical skills, Police Patrol Officers are required to have a strong background knowledge in public safety, law and government, and psychology, since they work so much with people. They have to deliver quality customer service. They should posses strong negotiating skills in order to deescalate situations smoothly. Furthermore, they need to make difficult decisions quickly in high-stress situations, and have the ability to think critically about situations and notice seemingly small issues that may reveal great insights about crimes. Because they often work with groups, Patrol Officers must understand and obey orders in a timely fashion, and have strong written and oral communication skills in English and in other relevant community languages, especially Spanish. Most Police Officers have a high school diploma, but generally they attend police academies rather than universities for further accreditation.
Police Officers’ salaries can be very competitive. In California, for instance, high-ranked Officers’ salaries can be over $125,000 annually. Even low-ranked Officers’ salaries are well above the national average, at nearly $60,000 per year. In Texas, Police Officers’ salaries are closer to the national average, often averaging closer to $60,000 with the best-paid Officers nearing $80,000. Employment rates are highest in Utah and Kentucky, with expected employment of Patrol Officers projected to rise over 20% before 2024. Most other states are still expected to increase employment up to 15%, with employment rates only expected to fall significantly in New Jersey.
Below are some employment trends for Police Patrol Officers:
- Median Police Officer’s Salary: $30.36 hourly, $63,150 annually
- Employment: 687,100 employees
- Projected growth (2018-2028): Average (4% to 6%)
- Projected job openings (2018-2028): 52,900
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Gain access to your best-fit careers, occupational preferences and interests with these career based Strong Interest Inventory® Assessments:
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MBTI® Career Report + Strong & MBTI Combined Career Report + Strong Profile
Use these reports to find a fulfilling career that matches with your personality and interests, and develop a plan for achieving that career.
Set yourself up on the path to a career that fits with your MBTI® personality type as well as your interests and preferences. With these three reports, you’ll discover the ideal career for who you are at a base level, offering you a future of satisfying and fulfilling employment. Read about each report below.
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Download sample Strong & MBTI® Combined Career Report Plus Strong Profile
Download sample Strong Interest Inventory® Profile Report
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Strong Interest Inventory® & MBTI® Combined Career Report + Strong College Edition Profile
Choose a college major that works best with your interests, and then plan a rewarding career to follow your college career.
You’ll start college off right with knowledge on applying your interests and preferences to college majors and receive a detailed depiction of how your ideal career will mature if you work toward success. With the Strong Interest Inventory® & MBTI® Combined Career Report and the Strong College Edition Profile, you’ll set yourself up for success throughout college and into your career after graduation.
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Strong Interest Inventory® & MBTI® Combined Career Report + Strong Profile
Use knowledge about your interests, preferences and personality type to start your optimal career and formulate a plan to achieve your dream job.
With the information obtained about yourself from your MBTI® personality type and your Strong Interest Inventory® Report, you’ll learn about how your personality, as well as your interests and preferences, can be used in your life and career to provide fulfillment and happiness. Discover occupations that work with what you like and enjoy, and learn how your personality influences your mental processes and preferences.
Download sample Strong Interest Inventory® & MBTI® Combined Career Report Plus Strong Profile
Download sample Strong Profile
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Strong Interest Inventory® & MBTI® Combined Career Report + Strong College Edition Profile
Choose a college major that works best with your interests, and then plan a rewarding career to follow your college career.
You’ll start college off right with knowledge on applying your interests and preferences to college majors and receive a detailed depiction of how your ideal career will mature if you work toward success. With the Strong Interest Inventory® & MBTI® Combined Career Report and the Strong College Edition Profile, you’ll set yourself up for success throughout college and into your career after graduation.
Download sample Strong Interest Inventory® & MBTI® Combined Career Report + Strong College Profile
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Strong Interest Inventory® Interpretive Report
Delve deeper into what your interests, hobbies, favorite topics, and locations can mean for your career and personal life with the help of this extensive and personalized Strong profile.
Your Strong Interest Inventory® Interpretive Report starts with the same foundational information found in the Strong Interest Inventory Profile, but goes even further into analyzing your likes and dislikes by offering you a detailed look at how following your interests and preferences can help you lead a more fulfilling, satisfied life. The report presents you with the closest matched occupations for people with your interests, an in-depth breakdown of certain areas matched to your Strong Interest Inventory test results, and insight into your likes and dislikes.
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Strong Interest Inventory® Profile
Mold your future success by choosing a career that accurately reflects your interests, preferences, favorite topics as well as your likes and dislikes with the help of this profile.
Direct your future based on what you like and enjoy, providing you with a happier, more fulfilling life and career. The Strong Interest Inventory® Profile uses an extensive analysis of your interests and preferences to guide you towards a career that best suits who you are on a personal level. Depending on your likes and dislikes compared to others in specified fields, you may find a fulfilling career previously unthought-of, helping guide you down the road to success and happiness.
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Strong Interest Inventory® & Skills Confidence Profile + Strong Interpretive Report
Discover your interests and preferences as well as your confidence in your abilities to use these interests to your advantage.
Your strengths, interests, and preferences, when understood and well known, can lead you toward a successful and satisfying career. With this custom package, you’ll learn which occupations, strengths, and skills work best with your likes and dislikes and how confident you are in your ability to fulfill the needs of certain occupations, allowing you to formulate a career path that you’ll enjoy for years to come with the help of the Strong Interest Inventory test.
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iStartStrong™ Report
Plan your future career based on your interests and preferences, leading you down the path to a successful work and personal life.
Use your interests, preferences, and favorite subjects and leisure activities to assess which career or career field works best with who you are and what you like. Through the web-interactive and thorough iStartStrong™ report, you’ll get set off on the right foot toward finding a career that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
Explore our Strong Interest Inventory® Blog Pages:
- Strong Interest Inventory Realistic Theme Explained
- Strong Interest Inventory Artistic Theme Explained
- Strong Interest Inventory Investigative Theme Explained
- Strong Interest Inventory Social Theme Explained
- Strong Interest Inventory Enterprising Theme Explained
- Strong Interest Inventory Conventional Theme Explained
Assessment Categories
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and 2012-2022 employment projections Onetonline.org