Police officers are on the front line of public safety. They are entrusted with protecting public life and property, preventing crime, providing first response to emergencies and taking enforcement action when necessary. Police misconduct attorney naperville is a police misconduct lawyer. This website is dedicated to giving information to the public about the profession of policing and also to provide assistance to victims of police misconduct.
Police officers are responsible for ensuring peace and order in their jurisdiction and have limited enforcement powers in relation to jurisdictions outside their assigned area. They have a duty to prevent crime and enforce the law. Police officers may stop civilians and ask for identification or other documentation for verification of identity (this is often called Terry stops) if they are suspicious about illegal activities, such as drug possession or involvement in criminal gangs.
Everything You Need To Know About Police :
1. Becoming a Police Officer –
In order to be a police officer, in most cases the applicant must be at least 18 years old, a US citizen and have a high school diploma or GED. In some states, an associate’s degree is required. The minimum age for officers in some parts of the country is 21. Some departments may require that applicants possess or be eligible for state licensing/permit in order to carry a firearm on duty. Applicants must have good moral character as well. Physical fitness is also a factor.
2. Police Officer Job Description :
Police officers are subject to disciplinary action, including termination, if they commit certain acts such as a felony in the line of duty, participate in criminal activity even when off duty, or abscond with funds. Other serious offenses such as abuse of authority and wrongful use of force can result in suspension or dismissal from the department. The department may also deny employment to candidates who have been arrested for certain crimes (misdemeanors only) after undergoing an investigation by the police department and a background check. Once hired, however, police officers are committed to serving their departments for life unless they resign due to misconduct or resign to pursue other career goals.
3. Police Officer Salaries :
According to the National Law Review, the median income for police officers in the United States is $45,350 (annual) with a wage range from around $24,000 to $78,000. There are some departments that pay far more than others as well. The highest paid police officer in the United States earned at least $100,000 for his or her job as of May 2016 according to Salary Guide.com.
There are also many departments where officers can make between $40,000 and $60,000 a year with some above that amount based on department policy. Average salaries generally go up from city to city and from precinct to precinct as well.
4. Bonuses for Law Enforcement :
Police officers can also earn extra income through allowances or bonuses that some departments offer. Sometimes, these bonuses are large sums of money and can be thousands of dollars. Other times, they are small sums that are doled out on a monthly basis.
Bonuses can be based on the number of arrests an officer makes in a month or simply to offer the officer an incentive to stay within the department after their probationary period is over. Bonuses may also be offered in cases where an officer is working under difficult circumstances such as in a dangerous district (for example) and still meets his or her performance quotas.
5. Police Officer Jobs in the Military :
Some police officers who are on active duty with the military can get credit for part of their time spent on active duty so they can count it as time spent toward their pension. This is called “creditable service.” You can also get credit for your time spent in the National Guard or Reserves which will help you to get a job when you get out of the military.
The National Law Review says that once an officer finds work, it may be easier to find work at other departments because of the work history and training acquired through their military experience. The median age for police officers in the United States is 37 years old, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
6. Police Officer Training :
Police training programs vary from department to department depending on their needs and jurisdictions as well. Some departments have mandatory training for all applicants at the start of the hiring process that lasts anywhere from nine months to a year, depending on the department’s needs.
Some other departments may offer police academy training for new employees or may also require that officer’s candidates complete an unpaid internship before graduating from the academy program. The National Law Review says that one of the most important aspects of police training is mental and physical conditioning because officers are required to perform physically demanding tasks such as confronting people in stressful situations and also having to stay alert while they are on patrol.
