CRJ 107: Survey of Criminal Justice Agencies Chapter 2: First Responders: Careers in Law Enforcement, Public Safety, and Related Fields
Jack Webb on Being a Cop
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The Realities of Police Work 80% paperwork, routine Dangerous, stressful 10%-20% on action calls Start out at entry-level patrol Shift work
Significant Points of Getting Jobs in Policing Consider civilian positions Military service experience Competition for high-paying state/federal jobs Large departments have most diverse opportunities Good opportunities in local departments College degree in CJ or other social science
Officers Feloniously Slain in Line of Duty: 2009 Overview In 2009, 48 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty. Thirty-two of the slain officers were employed by city police departments. Of these, nearly half (15) were with law enforcement agencies in cities with 250,000 or more inhabitants. Line-of-duty deaths occurred in 18 states and Puerto Rico. Twenty-one officers lost their lives in the South. Thirteen of the officers died in the West, 7 died in the Northeast, and 5 officers who were feloniously slain were employed in the Midwest. Victim profile The average age of the officers who were feloniously killed in 2009 was 38 years. The slain officers average length of law enforcement service was 12 years. Of the 48 officers slain in 2009, 47 were male and 1 was female. Forty-two of the victim officers were white, 3 were black, 2 were American Indian/Alaskan Native, and 1 officer was Asian/Pacific Islander. Circumstances 15 officers died in ambush situations. 8 officers died from felonious attacks during arrest situations. 8 officers died during traffic pursuits/stops. 6 officers died answering disturbance calls. 5 officers died during tactical situations (barricaded offender, hostage taking, etc.). 4 officers died while investigating suspicious persons/circumstances. 2 officers were killed while transporting or maintaining custody of prisoners.
Assignments 35 officers who were slain in 2009 were assigned to vehicle patrol. 2 of the slain officers were off duty but were acting in an official capacity. 11 officers were assigned to other duties, such as special assignments or undercover, when they were murdered. Weapons Most officers slain in 2009 (45 of the 48) were killed with firearms. Of those killed with firearms, 28 were killed with handguns. (A breakdown of the types of weapons used in these slayings is provided in Table 27.) 2 officers were killed with their own weapons. 9 officers attempted to use their weapons; 12 officers fired their weapons. 19 officers were slain with firearms when they were 0-5 feet from the offenders. Body armor Most of the officers feloniously killed in 2009 (36 of the 48 officers) were wearing body armor at the time of their murders. Of the 33 officers who were wearing body armor and killed with firearms: 12 suffered wounds to the front of the head. 7 were wounded in the front upper torso. 6 were shot in the neck/throat. 5 were shot in the side of the head. 2 were shot in the rear of the head. 1 officer was shot in the back.
Months, days, and times of incidents More officers (8) died from felonious assaults that occurred in April than in any other month. 13 officers were involved in fatal assaults that occurred on Saturday, more than on any other day of the week. More officers (13) were fatally injured in assaults that happened from 8:01 p.m. to midnight than at any other time period. Profile of alleged known assailants In 2009, 41 alleged offenders were identified in connection with the 48 law enforcement officers feloniously killed. Of those offenders, the following characteristics are known: The average age of the alleged offenders was 32 years old. The average height was 5 feet 10 inches tall, and the average weight was 181 pounds. 39 of the alleged offenders were male; 2 were female. 24 of the alleged offenders were white and 17 were black. 33 of the 41 offenders had prior criminal arrests. 13 of the alleged offenders were under judicial supervision at the time of the incidents. 2 of the alleged offenders were intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol at the time of the fatal incidents.
Officers Accidentally Killed in Line of Duty: 2009 Overview In 2009, 47 law enforcement officers died as the result of accidents that occurred in the line of duty. Law enforcement agencies in 29 states reported that officers from their jurisdictions died in the line of duty as a result of accidents in 2009. Of the 47 officers accidentally killed, 15 were employed by city police departments, 21 were employed by county agencies, 10 were employed by state agencies, and 1 was employed by a federal agency. Victim profile The average age of the officers who were accidentally killed in 2009 was 35 years. In 2009, the average length of law enforcement service of the 47 officers accidentally killed in the line of duty was 9 years. Of the 47 officers who were accidentally killed, 44 were white and 3 were black. All 47 officers were male.
Circumstances Thirty-four of the 47 officers who were accidentally killed in the line of duty in 2009 died as a result of automobile accidents. Six officers were struck by vehicles, 3 officers died in motorcycle accidents, and 4 officers died during other types of accidents. Of the 6 officers struck by vehicles, 3 were executing a traffic stop or roadblock, and 3 officers were directing traffic or assisting motorists. Two officers were accidentally shot as a result of crossfire or other firearm mishap. Regional and outlying area breakdowns Of the 47 officers accidentally killed in the line of duty in 2009: 21 officers were employed by law enforcement agencies in the South. 12 officers were employed by law enforcement agencies in the West. 8 officers were employed by law enforcement agencies in the Midwest. 6 officers were employed by law enforcement agencies in the Northeast. Months, days, and times of incidents Months In 2009, agencies reported the most accidental deaths (9) in January. Days More officers (10) were fatally injured in accidents on Thursday in 2009 than on any other day of the week. Times Twenty-five officers were fatally injured in accidents that occurred between the hours of 12:01 p.m. and midnight, and 22 officers were killed in accidents between 12:01 a.m. and noon.
Police Career Considerations Danger Stress Communicable Diseases
Policing as a Profession: The Need for Higher Education Two-year degree required in Minnesota Couple education + experience for federal employment Minimum high school diploma 1% departments require bachelor s degree Views on education differ.
Policing as a Profession: What Kind of Education Will You Need? Promotion to middle management Promotion to upper-level management Entry level
Some Local Agencies You May, or May Not Have Heard Of. Municipal Police Special District Police Township Police Marshal Constable
County Law Enforcement Agencies County Police Sheriff Coroner Conservation Police
State Law Enforcement Agencies: Iowa Department of Public Safety State Patrol Fire Marshal Department of Public Safety Division of Criminal Investigation Division of Narcotics Enforcement
Other State Law Enforcement Agencies
Federal Law Enforcement Agencies F.B.I. D.E.A. B.A.T.F.E. U.S.M.S. B.O.P.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Organizational Chart
Salary Averages for Law Enforcement: Bureau of Labor Statistics- Occupational Outlook Handbook (2010-2011)
Most Local Law Enforcement Agencies Are Small: Half Employ Fewer Than Ten Officers Training Narcotics Possible Specializations SWAT Special Investigations
Civilian Law Enforcement Positions Emergency Dispatch Reserves Code Enforcement Supports Law Enforcement Agency
The Text Also Mentioned.. Office of Emergency Management Emergency Medical Services Fire/Rescue