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a specified number of years (three to five in most police agencies). Promotions are made according to the
officer's position on a promotion list, which is determined by scores on a written, competitive
examination as well as ratings of on-the-job performance. The first promotional level for uniformed
Police Officers is the position of Sergeant. Thereafter, they are eligible to compete for other positions such
as Lieutenant, Captain, or higher command positions, the titles of which vary among police agencies
throughout the country. A Police Officer might instead opt for lateral promotion into the Detective
division. The officer would then begin as a Police Detective and move up the ranks to Detective Sergeant,
Detective Lieutenant, Detective Captain, and even beyond as merited by education, performance, and
scores on competitive examinations.
POLICE DETECTIVE
Duties of the Job
Police Detectives, key members of the police law enforcement team, conduct investigations to prevent
crime, to protect life and property, and to solve criminal cases, which can range from misdemeanors to
homicide. As a rule, crimes are initially investigated by uniformed Police Officers who are dispatched
to crime scenes to apprehend suspects, question witnesses, and preserve evidence. If arrests are not made
or the crime remains unsolved, Detectives take over the criminal investigation. Working in plainclothes,
Detectives assigned to a case report to the scene, where possible, and determine the nature of the incident,
the exact location and time of the occurrence, and the probable reason for the crime. They obtain reports
from uniformed Police Officers; question witnesses, victims, and suspects if they have been apprehended;
and arrange for official statements to be given at a police station or headquarters. In addition, they search
the area carefully to detect clues and to gather evidence for use in the investigation. Detectives then direct
Evidence Technicians to examine the scene to locate and lift latent fingerprints and to photograph the
scene and any evidence obtained for eventual use in preparing the case for court. In some police
departments, Detectives trained in fingerprinting and photography perform these duties themselves.
In seeking solutions to crimes, Detectives use all the resources of the police agency such as ballistics
experts, police chemists, laboratory technicians, computers, and speedy communication systems. Once
all the available information has been compiled, they analyze the results to determine the direction the
investigation will take. Detectives study the files and records of suspects, if any, evaluate police
laboratory findings, and prepare detailed reports including descriptions of evidence, names and state-
ments of witnesses and victims, circumstances of the crime, and statements made by suspects. In an
attempt to develop leads, copies of fingerprints found at the crime scene may be transmitted to the State
Crime Information Center (S.C.I.C.) and the National Crime Information Center (N.C.I.C.) for compari-
son with those found at scenes in other localities. Information may also be given to police artists in their
own departments or in state and local law enforcement agencies for use in preparing composite sketches
of suspects. Members of police patrol units are advised about crimes occurring in various areas and about
the methods of operation used by perpetrators. In many instances, Police Detectives question informants
on their knowledge of a crime or on their information about the personal habits, associates, characteristics,
and aliases of crime suspects.
As evidence begins to develop, court-approved wire tapping or electronic surveillance methods may
be used to gather data pertinent to the investigation. Detectives conduct surveillance of suspects on foot
or in vehicles to uncover illegal activities; they participate in stakeouts at specific locations to gather
evidence or prevent commission of crimes. When all investigative efforts have been made, each Detective
prepares a written progress report of the case assigned and submits it to the Detective Sergeant or other
superior officer for criticism and suggestions. At this point, the Detective usually plans what action is to
