What You Need to Know About Police Detective
Job Description & Duties Conduct investigations to prevent crimes or solve criminal cases.
Life As a Police Detective
- Block or rope off scene and check perimeter to ensure that entire scene is secured.
- Organize scene search, assigning specific tasks and areas of search to individual officers and obtaining adequate lighting as necessary.
- Note, mark, and photograph location of objects found, such as footprints, tire tracks, bullets and bloodstains, and take measurements of the scene.
- Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
- Provide testimony as a witness in court.
- Notify, or request notification of, medical examiner or district attorney representative.
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Skills Needed to be a Police Detective
Police Detectives state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Deputy In Charge
- Police Detective
- Police Investigator
- Station Detective
- Homicide Investigator
Is There Going to be Demand for Police Detectives?
In the United States, there were 110,900 jobs for Police Detective in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.5% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5,000 new jobs for Police Detective by 2026. The BLS estimates 7,500 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Police Detective are Nevada, Utah, and Arkansas. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Maryland, or Wyoming. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Police Detectives Make A Lot Of Money?
The typical yearly salary for Police Detectives is somewhere between $43,800 and $138,860.
Police Detectives who work in District of Columbia, Alaska, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Police Detectives in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $64,750 |
| Alaska | $118,360 |
| Arizona | $81,810 |
| Arkansas | $60,340 |
| California | $107,120 |
| Colorado | $87,280 |
| Connecticut | $90,470 |
| Delaware | $89,930 |
| District of Columbia | $122,460 |
| Florida | $76,560 |
| Georgia | $66,430 |
| Hawaii | $107,010 |
| Idaho | $73,510 |
| Illinois | $87,470 |
| Indiana | $75,150 |
| Iowa | $73,320 |
| Kansas | $62,260 |
| Kentucky | $71,300 |
| Louisiana | $65,090 |
| Maine | $70,620 |
| Maryland | $102,370 |
| Massachusetts | $101,800 |
| Michigan | $86,580 |
| Minnesota | $76,640 |
| Mississippi | $64,150 |
| Missouri | $70,860 |
| Montana | $81,210 |
| Nebraska | $73,480 |
| Nevada | $87,680 |
| New Hampshire | $80,370 |
| New Jersey | $102,600 |
| New Mexico | $77,890 |
| New York | $91,250 |
| North Carolina | $60,810 |
| North Dakota | $84,340 |
| Ohio | $75,310 |
| Oklahoma | $66,130 |
| Oregon | $93,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,730 |
| Rhode Island | $86,580 |
| South Carolina | $60,420 |
| South Dakota | $72,050 |
| Tennessee | $71,940 |
| Texas | $79,950 |
| Utah | $80,840 |
| Vermont | $83,060 |
| Virginia | $98,850 |
| Washington | $85,440 |
| West Virginia | $86,340 |
| Wisconsin | $76,590 |
| Wyoming | $81,750 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Police Detectives
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Police Detectives may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Visio
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Publisher
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Corel WordPerfect
- National Crime Information Center NCIC database
- Law enforcement information databases
- Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System IAFIS
- National Integrated Ballistics Information Network NIBIN
- SmartDraw.com SmartDraw Legal
- The CAD Zone The Crime Zone
- DesignWare 3D EyeWitness
- Crime mapping software
Becoming a Police Detective
Education needed to be a Police Detective:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Police Detectives Sector
The table below shows the approximate number of Police Detectives employed by various industries.
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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