Career Overview
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.
Also Known As
- Lieutenant
- Patrol Sergeant
- Police Captain
- Police Sergeant
Alternate Job Titles
- Captain
- Chief Deputy
- Community Relations Police Lieutenant
- Deputy Chief Sheriff
- Deputy Sheriff
- Desk Sergeant
- Detective Chief
- Detective Lieutenant
- Detective Sergeant
- Detective Supervisor
- Harbor Patrol Chief
- Harbor Police Launch Commander
- Homicide Squad Commanding Officer (Homicide Squad CO)
- Identification and Communications Supervisor
- Identification and Records Commander
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Supervise and coordinate the investigation of criminal cases, offering guidance and expertise to investigators, and ensuring that procedures are conducted in accordance with laws and regulations.
- Prepare work schedules and assign duties to subordinates.
- Direct collection, preparation, and handling of evidence and personal property of prisoners.
- Investigate and resolve personnel problems within organization and charges of misconduct against staff.
- Explain police operations to subordinates to assist them in performing their job duties.
- Maintain logs, prepare reports, and direct the preparation, handling, and maintenance of departmental records.
- Inform personnel of changes in regulations and policies, implications of new or amended laws, and new techniques of police work.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Read and review subordinates' reports to ensure legal standards are met and there are no mistakes.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Psychology
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Active Learning
- Coordination
- Persuasion
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Leadership Orientation
- Integrity
- Dependability
- Stress Tolerance
- Self-Control
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Recognition
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- 35 millimeter cameras
- Audio recording equipment
- Automated external defibrillators AED
- Base station radios
- Biohazard suits
- Body armor
- Breathalyzers
- Bulletproof vests
- Crime scene tape measures
- Desktop computers
- Digital cameras
- Digital video cameras
- Distance measuring wheels
- Drug testing kits
- Explosive detectors
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
- Contact With Others
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $62,370 |
| Median | $105,980 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $165,050 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 153,130
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $76,290
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $93,580
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $76,310
First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $58,610
Transit and Railroad Police
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $82,320
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.