Department

Patrol Officers
People depend on the police officer to protect their lives and property. Law enforcement officers, can be Local, State, or Federal special agents, they perform their duties in a variety of ways, depending on the size and type of their Departments. In most jurisdictions, they have to exercise authority when necessary, whether on or off duty. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, about 65% of State and local law enforcement officers are uniformed personnel.
Uniformed police officers who work in municipal police departments of various sizes, small communities, and rural areas have general law enforcement duties including maintaining regular patrols and responding to calls for service. They may direct traffic, investigate a burglary, or give first aid. In large police departments, officers usually are assigned to a specific type of duty.
Many urban police agencies are becoming more involved in community policing, a practice in which an officer builds relationships with the citizens of local neighborhoods and the public to help fight crime.
Police agencies are usually organized into geographic districts, with uniformed officers assigned to patrol a specific area, such as part of the business district or outlying residential neighborhoods. Officers may work alone, but in large agencies they often patrol with a partner. While on patrol, officers attempt to become thoroughly familiar with their patrol area and remain alert for anything unusual. Suspicious circumstances and hazards to public safety are investigated or noted, and officers are dispatched to individual calls for assistance within their district. During their shift, they may identify, pursue, and arrest suspected criminals, resolve problems within the community, and enforce traffic laws.
Some police officers specialize in such diverse fields as chemical and microscopic analysis, training and firearms instruction, or handwriting and fingerprint identification. Others work with special units such as bicycle, canines, or emergency response teams. Regardless of job duties or location, police officers at all levels must write reports and maintain records that will be needed if they testify in court.

Detective Unit
Detectives investigate crimes and arrest suspected criminals. Some of the duties involved are examining the crime scene for evidence.   They search and identify offenders, interview witnesses and victims about the crime and help prepare and give evidence for court.
They can execute search warrants to recover evidence and property from crimes. Also obtain information about criminals and record it.
The Detective needs to have skills in problem-solving, analyzing information and prepare written and verbal reports.   The Detective must also have skills in communication, people skills and human behavior, which also include being able to negotiate and resolve conflict with people.   

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