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Working Conditions
Local, county, and state police agencies employ Detectives. Working conditions differ widely according
to the size, location, organization, and jurisdiction of the police agency. During investigations, consid-
erable time is spent in office work such as reviewing files, gathering data, evaluating and preparing
reports, meeting with other Police Officers, and making telephone inquiries. A good deal of time is also
spent away from police offices working in a variety of locations and in all kinds of weather: reporting to
crime scenes, questioning suspects and witnesses, conducting surveillance and stakeouts, and making
arrests. Detectives drive unmarked police vehicles. They may work alone or with partners. Their basic
work schedule is rotating shifts of five days a week, eight hours a day, including weekends and holidays.
At times they work long, irregular hours; a considerable amount of overtime may be necessary during the
investigation of certain cases. As with other Police Officers, Detectives are on call at all times and may
be recalled to duty during periods of emergency. Although detective work is a challenging career, there
are times when it is tedious, routine, and frustrating. Furthermore, detectives are often exposed to the risks
of bodily injury and death during the course of criminal investigations.
In most police agencies, Detectives receive fringe benefits including some or all of the following: paid
vacation, sick leave, and holidays; overtime pay; life, medical, and disability insurance; tuition-assistance
or -refund programs for college studies; and retirement pension. In some departments, Detectives can
retire after 20 years of service if they are in the 50-to-55-year age bracket. Other departments have
different standards in which Detectives may retire after 20 years of service regardless of age.
Training and Promotion Opportunities
After successfully completing their training, new Detectives remain on probation. They are assigned to
work with experienced investigative personnel who provide practical guidance and assistance under
actual field conditions. After demonstrating the ability to perform this job on an independent basis, newly
hired Detectives are permanently assigned.
Advancement prospects for Detectives are governed by work performance as well as by the personnel
practices and size of the agency. Promotional opportunities are usually good and are made according to
merit system or civil service regulations. Detectives are, as a rule, eligible for promotion after satisfactory
service for a specified period of time, say two to four years. When skills are developed through training,
experience, and further education, it is possible to compete for the position of Sergeant, the first step in
the promotion ladder. Subsequently, qualified candidates can compete for such positions as Lieutenant,
Captain, and other high-level jobs known in different parts of the country by various titles such as
Inspector, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel.
County Positions
County law enforcement is another aspect of local law enforcement. The jurisdiction of county law
enforcement officers varies greatly from state to state, but it generally includes all areas that are not the
domain of municipal or town law enforcement departments except for areas patrolled by the state police.
The county law enforcement officer can work close to home with a minimum of extended travel. The
amount of daily travel is dictated by the size of the county and the officer's specific assignment. The
county law enforcement officer need not fear relocation nor uprooting of his or her family.
