This article is for anyone interested in the police profession. If you are wondering what it takes to become a police officer as well as the features of this job like benefits, pension plans and salary, you should read this article.
It's a job that requires alertness. You can't expect almost anything because your working days are all different. You are called to work with different types of people. You can face stressful and dangerous situations. So, you have to be able to manage your stress well.
The main mission of police officers is to serve and protect the community. By preventing crimes, arresting suspects and criminals, collecting evidence for court, filing reports, conducting interrogations and giving tickets, they contribute to the success of their mission.
Considering the fact that you can hold different positions within a police organization, the days are very different for every officer. On the other hand, as everyone starts as a patrol officer, it is interesting to paint the portrait of a typical day of a patrol officer. First of all, patrol officers have to patrol the city in which they work for. They try to prevent crime and be visible for the community. After when they receive a call, they must respond to emergencies. They go to the location of the call, meet the victim or the suspect and try to solve the problem. Patrol officers also give tickets and arrest suspects. At the end of each intervention, they write reports of their interventions. Reports are used to police officers, so they are able to justify their actions. Reports can also be used in court. Patrol officers may also be called to testify in court. Police officers do not have an identical day. It is not a routine job since they are called upon to do different things every day.
Police officers can work for municipalities, cities, or different provinces. There are other types of police like railway and military police. If you work for a municipality or a city, you will start your day at the police station. After, depending on the position you hold, police officers can work in many places. For example, patrol officers spend most of their time in their car, outside or in contact with the public while investigators will spend a lot of time at the station in their office.
To be able to become a police officer, you must integrate the "ENPQ" which is the National Police School of Quebec and follow the Police Officer program. This program last fifteen weeks. This is the training to become a policeman-patrolman. For 450 hours of lessons, you learn in depth the different parts of this profession.To be accepted in this program you must meet several admission criteria. For example, being a Canadian citizen, holding firearm's certification, holding a DEC in Police Technology or an AEC, passing the psychometric test, passing the physical tests, passing the medical test and not having a criminal record. Once you graduate from the "ENPQ", you can apply to be a police officer anywhere in Quebec.
The salary of police officers varies according to their position and the city they work for. However, the average base salary starts at $40,000 per year. After a few years, the average salary for a patrol officer is $84,000 per year (plus applicable bonuses). If you have a position in a specific squad such as an investigator or a lieutenant, the salary will be different.
As the job of police officer is constantly changing and faces new challenges regularly, police officers often have to attend training at the "ENPQ" in order to be up to date. They sometimes receive specialists in order to improve their knowledge and their methods. They must also have their firearm's training. Then, although it is not a necessity, police officers must give some importance to the practice of physical activity because it is a job that requires good physical shape in order to perform well in all types of situations.
The police profession is considered a dangerous profession. As the police works in contact with the public, they may be called upon to intervene with any type of person. Both criminals and normal citizens. They can intervene in dangerous and stressful situations were certain people could be armed, dangerous or aggressive. It is also a job that can create a lot of stress for police officers. Some events they witness can traumatize them and create psychological problems for them.
It is unlikely that the profession of policeman will be completely replaced by robots because it is a profession that requires several abilities and in which there are different branches. For example, there are lieutenants and commanders who deal more with personnel management and administration. These are things that robots could hardly do because it requires some understanding and logistics. Also, the patrol officer is called upon to analyze certain situations and to show empathy in several calls. As the robot is not endowed with critical judgment and feelings, the interventions would not be very sincere and honest. The patrol policeman can as well face unexpected situations that require the use of force and for which a robot could not be prepared. However, certain parts of the job could be replaced. For example, the more formal part where there is less space for interpretation could be done by robots. For example, giving tickets or reciting certain laws to suspects.
Depending on the age you joined the police, you can fully retire with some police forces after 25 years of service. So, at 55 if you started at 20. Other polices forces like Montreal require 30 years of service to have access to a retirement without penalty.
As you may have read, being a police officer requires a lot of physical and moral quality. On the other hand, it is not a job where you can easily get bored. The different situations a police officer faces can be stressful and dangerous. But, if you have the will to help and to surpass yourself, this job could be for you.
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Date: still relevant
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Rationale: to inform or educate
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Rationale: to inform or educate
Authority: government
Date: still relevant
Accuracy: probably true
Relevance: relevant for this document
Sources: cites sources