Suffolk County Police Officer
The role of a police officer in Suffolk County is to focus on protecting citizens as well as their property. They patrol the locations they are designated, enforce laws, responds to calls, make calls, hand out citations, and they also testify in court cases occasionally. With the level of crime increasing in the Suffolk region, there is a high demand for police officers in the county. I want to become a police officer in Suffolk County since the job will enable e to serve the community in a meaningful way and it will provide me with a steady career path.
The Compensation Package
Aside from earning a respectable wage, police officers are also subject to numerous benefits. Indeed, new police officers in Suffolk earn an average of $42,000 annually, which increases gradually $111, 506 after 12 years of service (Suffolk County Police Department, 2018); this compares favorably with other lines of work. The average annual salary in the U.S is around $33, 840. Police officers also receives several work-related benefits like a health insurance plan, a 401k plan, and career development opportunities.
Regular Shits
Police precincts do not have normal business hours as they operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week across the year. As such, one is anticipated to work on weekends, holidays, and at night. Fortunately, one can still anticipate to have regular shifts. The Bureau of labor Statistics (BLS) states that police officers usually work 8 hours each day for 5 days each week (Walker & Katz, 2011). This enables an individual to plan his/her life around his/her work to enable him to attain a work-life balance.
Work Prospects
The BLS states that law enforcement organizations have high rates of staff turnover. Since current police officers retire or change occupations, it will develop work opportunities for new officers. Indeed, as crime becomes sophisticated, the field is expected to grow exponentially (Walker & Katz, 2011). In other words, a police officer can never lack a job in the current job market.
Training
A police officer’s career is an excellent option if one wants earn training whilst working. One will most likely receive on-the-job training, along with self-defense and firearms training (Walker & Katz, 2011). There is space for advancement in this career. With knowledge and experience, one may be promoted to the role of sergeant. Police sergeants supervise police officers and coordinate security measures (Walker & Katz, 2011). It is also possible to be advanced to an administrative role like a Police Commissioner. Whereas police officers have a high rate if turnover, if one will leaves the field, he/she will be prepared for other positions centered on law enforcement.
Job Security
With the increasing amount of crime across the country, police officers will not be subject to various staff reducing measures like downsizing and retrenchment. Indeed, as stated above, employment of police officers is expected to increase over the next few years. New prison facilities are being constructed ever year to accommodate the large percentage of offenders (Walker & Katz, 2011). Due to this, novel positions and job opportunities as a police officer are becoming widely available. Such facts show that police officers are in constant demand and that the role of the police officer is ever-expanding due to the changing nature of the criminal justice system.
Overall, as a police officer in Suffolk County, I see myself collaborating with citizens to facilitate a safe environment whereby everybody can thrive. I will spend my time coming up with initiatives to increase collaboration between communities and the police department. Since a police officer needs great intuition and investigate skills, I will bring creative thinking and critical analysis to the department so that I fit into the role properly. I believe that I will be an outstanding officer since I am an honest individual with a great desire to help other people.
References
Suffolk County Police Department. (2018). Become A Police Officer. Retrieved from http://suffolkpd.org/home/becomeapoliceofficer.aspx
Walker, S., & Katz, C. M. (2012). Police in America. McGraw-Hill.