9781422274859

CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL

POLICE OFFICER AND DETECTIVE ANDREW MORKES

CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL

BECOME INVALUABLE IN THE WORKPLACE: SET YOURSELF APART MACHINERY MAINTENANCE & REPAIR PHARMACY TECHNICIAN POLICE OFFICER AND DETECTIVE WEB DEVELOPER WELDER

THE ARTS CAR MECHANIC CHEF COSMETOLOGIST DOG GROOMER FARMER MASSAGE THERAPIST PRESENTING YOURSELF

CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL

POLICE OFFICER AND DETECTIVE

Andrew Morkes

MASON CREST PHILADELPHIA MIAMI

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Copyright © 2022 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-4479-1 Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4222-4474-6 ebook ISBN: 978-1-4222-7333-3 Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress Developed and produced by National Highlights, Inc. Production: Andy Morkes Cover Design: Creative Tara Interior layout: Priceless Digital Media Publisher’s Note: Websites listed in this book were active at the time of publication. The publisher is not responsible for websites that have changed their address or discontinued operation since the date of publication. The publisher reviews and updates the websites each time the book is reprinted.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: The World of Law Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 CHAPTER 2: What Police Officers and Detectives Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 CHAPTER 3: Terms of the Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 CHAPTER 4: Preparing for the Field and Making a Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 CHAPTER 5: Key Skills and Methods of Exploration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 CHAPTER 6: Looking to the Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Series Glossary of Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Further Reading & Internet Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Educational Video Links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Author Biography & Photo Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

KEY ICONS TO LOOK FOR:

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills

SIDEBARS: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments, and much more! TEXT-DEPENDENT QUESTIONS: These questions send the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there RESEARCH PROJECTS: Readers are pointed toward areas of further inquiry connected to each chapter Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis SERIES GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS: This back-of-the-book glossary contains terminology used throughout this series Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

evidence: facts and other information that are gathered to support or disprove a belief noble: something that is of high morals or ideals police misconduct: illegal or inappropriate conduct by police officers, such as using excessive force, making a false arrest, or asking for bribes tradition: a behavior or belief that is passed down within a group or society

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CHAPTER 1

THE WORLD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT THE HISTORY OF POLICING Crime has existed since the dawn of time, when people stole livestock, engaged in fistfights (and even wars), and broke laws of all kinds. Tribal leaders enforced laws and soldiers used force, or the threat of force, to maintain order. But despite the need for law and order, it was not until 1829 that Sir Robert Peel established the first modern, nonmilitary police force in London, United Kingdom. The British police were called “bobbies” in tribute to Sir Robert’s name. In the United States, the city of Boston established the first American police force in 1838. This was followed by New York City (1845); Albany, New York, and Chicago, Illinois (1851); New Orleans, Louisiana, and Cincinnati, Ohio (1853); and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1855). By the 1880s, all major cities in the United States had municipal police forces. Pennsylvania formed the first official state police department in 1905. Soon, nearly every state had

The World of Law Enforcement

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its own department. Today, it’s estimated that there are more than 18,000 local, state, and federal police departments in the United States. China has the most police officers (1.6 million), followed by India (1.59 million), the U.S. (800,000), Russia (756,000), and Indonesia (579,000).

It’s estimated that there are 220,000 police officers in France.

BECOME INVALUABLE IN THE WORKPLACE: SET YOURSELF APART 8 CAREERS WITH EARNI G POTENTIAL: OLI OFFICER AND D TECTIVE

DID YOU KNOW?

Fingerprints have been collected and analyzed to solve crimes for more than 150 years.

POLICE OFFICERS AND DETECTIVES Police officers protect us from crime and make sure that laws are followed. Without them, our world would be less safe and we would be in constant fear. Detectives are specially trained police officers who collect and analyze evidence and try to solve murders, bank robberies, assaults, and other serious crimes. The work of police officers and detectives is demanding, stressful, and sometimes dangerous. It takes a special type of person to want to pursue a career in law enforcement. These public servants care about helping others, have exceptional integrity, and are willing to risk their lives to make the world a better place. For some police officers and detectives, a career in law enforcement is a family tradition . Ruth is one such example of a police officer, who proudly comes from a long line of law enforcement officials. Her grandfather was the police chief of her town. Her dad was a police officer and the chief of detectives. And her brother currently serves in the military police. “We have a long tradition of public service in our family. It was always drummed into me that helping and protecting others was one of life’s most noble pursuits,” she says. In addition to following family tradition, Ruth was also attracted to the good pay, benefits, and opportunities for promotion that one can earn as a police officer. “There are not too many jobs that you can get with a high school diploma in which you can earn more than $85,000 a year after five or so years on the force,” she says.

The World of Law Enforcement

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A police officer writes a speeding ticket for a driver.

You don’t have to come from a long line of police officers to be successful in the field. Many young people watch the work of police officers and decide that they want to help improve their neighborhoods when they grow up. That’s how Tariq, a police officer for ten years, describes what encouraged him to become the first person to work in law enforcement in his family. “I grew up in a high-crime area in the inner city,” he recalls. “There were many great people inmy community, but drugs and gangs had a stranglehold onmy neighborhood. There were certain areas you couldn’t walk through because of the gangs, and I remember having to occasionally dodge gunfire on the way home from school. A friend of mine was even killed by gang crossfire.” Tariq was bothered by all the violence in his area. “I remember thinking to myself, How can we live in one of the most powerful countries in the world, but people in certain neighborhoods

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are afraid to leave their homes? From the time I was a teenager, I vowed that I would someday become a police officer and help make my neighborhood a better place. And that’s exactly what I did.”

Police work is dangerous at times, but also rewarding.

DECIDING TO PURSUE A CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT Choosing a career is one of the biggest decisions that you’ll make in life. Making the right choice will influence what type of job duties you’ll have, how much money you’ll make, where you’ll live, and other specifics in your life.

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If you’re thinking about a career in law enforcement but are unsure, ask yourself the following questions: • Do I like helping others? • Do I have good problem-solving and critical-thinking skills? • Am I looking for a career in which I will be respected and looked up to in the community? • Am I seeking a career that is never boring and in which no day is ever the same? • Am I willing to risk injury, and possibly death, as I carry out my duties? • Am I looking for a career that is good paying, offers generous benefits, and does not always require a college degree? • Am I looking for a career inwhich there is currently a shortage of workers and many new job opportunities? If you answered yes to these questions, there’s a strong chance that a career as a police officer or detective is a good match for your interests and skills. As you consider a career in law enforcement, talk to police officers and detectives about their jobs, join school law enforcement clubs or police cadet programs offered by law enforcement departments, and participate in other activities that help you to learn more about careers in policing. The more information you have, the easier it will be to make a decision.

DID YOU KNOW?

There have been many stories in the news lately about the public’s loss of respect for police officers due to high-profile incidents of police misconduct . But a survey conducted in thirty-five countries by the global education charity Varkey Foundation found that the public ranked the career of police officer as the fifth most respected occupation out of fourteen popular careers.

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THE COLLEGE QUESTION Many people see college as the best, if not the only, way to find a stable, well- paying career. This is part of the reason that in 2018, nearly seven out of every ten students in the United States who graduated from high school went on to attend college, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDL). But unlike many occupations, you do not have to earn a college degree to be eligible to attend the police academy. Although some departments require that applicants have at least a two-year college degree, many only require a high school diploma.

Police officers patrol Times Square in New York City.

So should you earn a college diploma to better prepare yourself for a career in law enforcement? The answer varies for each person. A college diploma will be useful if you want to get promoted or work in a special unit, but you don’t need one to take advantage of these opportunities. Some people want to get to work as a police officer as soon as possible and don’t want to be saddled with a lot of college debt (money owed to a person, company, or organization).

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The Wall Street Journal reports that students who graduated from college with debt have average debt of $37,712. This much debt can take more than a decade to pay off! Dan, a police officer in a suburb of Boston, is an example of someone who wanted to get right to work after high school and not be stuck paying off student loans for years. During high school, he served as a police aide, helping to direct traffic at public events and otherwise assisting officers. As graduation neared, Dan considered attending a four-year college to pursue a criminal justice degree. “But then I saw how much college would cost,” he recalls. “About $25,000 a year, including room and board! I realized that I didn’t want to graduate with a large amount of debt. I also was ready to get to work right away.” Dan looked for departments that did not require a college degree as part of the application process and applied to a few of them. “Within six months—and lots of tests later—I was in the police academy, on the way to a career that paid me $72,000 a year within three years on the force.” Whatever you decide, you should think carefully about your decision. Going to college, skipping college and going right into the academy, or even choosing to obtain law enforcement experience in the military is a big life step. Gather as much information as you can so you know what you’re getting into. Regardless of your decision, if you’ve based your choice on the facts and your own personal preferences, you can’t go wrong.

POLICE OFFICERS IN ACTION

Police officers often help stop mass shootings, rescue people from burning buildings, and resuscitate those who have stopped breathing, but Niles (Illinois) Police Department Officer Brian Zagorski recently found another way to help someone: He gave him his shoes. Zagorski was on patrol and saw a homeless man struggling to walk, so he pulled over to do a well-being check.

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