Posts Tagged ‘civilian police jobs’

Jun 1107

Being a cop is not for everyone: Other Cool Jobs in Law Enforcement

Suppose you are interested in law enforcement but really don’t see yourself as a police officer.  That’s ok. For a number of reasons, serving as a sworn officer isn’t for everyone, (and it’s great you realize this BEFORE you go through the academy.) 

But fear not!  There are plenty of civilian (non-sworn, non-gun toting) career opportunities out there.  Sure you’re familiar with call takers and dispatchers, but here are some lesser known but really cool civilian careers in policing.

Crime Analyst.  In a nutshell, these folks turn the volumes of data collected by police agencies into actionable information by command and patrol officers.  Crime analysts don’t analyze crime scenes – a common misconception – but rather crime data and statistics, looking for patterns and trends.  They also used computerized maps to track the locations of crimes, suspects, and watch for emerging “hot spots.”  IACA is a good source of info on the profession and jobs in the field.

 IT Professionals. Law enforcement is a field that is becoming more and more tech savvy.  While at its core, policing is about connecting with people and obtaining information, modern technology has made storing, accessing, and searching that information much easier – or complex, depending on your perspective.  Many agencies, especially larger ones, have information technology professionals as full time employees responsible for managing the array of databases and computing equipment.

 Planner.  Law enforcement planners can fill a variety of roles in a police department.  Commonly you’ll find planners attached to the chief’s office with responsibilities like research, grant writing and monitoring, budgeting, and accreditation.  

Investigator. Oh yes, you read that right.  Some agencies hire civilians for routine investigations, from minor traffic accidents to car burglaries. Civilian investigators may also assist sworn detectives by conducting follow-up investigations, interviewing victims, witnesses, and suspects, and processing paperwork.   Here’s a sample job description from Los Angeles County.

 Victims’ Services.  Unfortunately, for every crime, there’s a victim.  For violent crimes, there are often “secondary victims,” or relatives of victims who need emotional support and procedural guidance as their case is investigated and prosecuted.  That’s where victims’ services folks come in.  Not an easy job but surely a rewarding one.

I’ve only named a handful here.  For more information on civilian jobs in law enforcement, visit our site.

Jun 1004

Policing with an Analytic Edge: Inside Crime Analysis

Photo Courtesy of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

In order to effectively advance community policing, adept law enforcement agencies recognize that analysis is a key ingredient to success. Law enforcement personnel examine many aspects of the crime being targeted: locations, demographics, social problems, trends over time, crime report statistics, policing patterns. Crime analysts evaluate data with the aim of developing information and communicating it to help police understand, prevent and solve crime.

Law enforcement generally uses three distinct types or levels of crime analysis: tactical, strategic and problem analysis.

  • Tactical analysis supports short-term planning and response and is primarily interested in crime control activities.
  • Strategic analysis supports long-term planning and seeks to understand complex organizational issues.
  • Problem analysis focuses on identification of and response to persistent community problems.

Other types of analysis include administrative crime analysis and police operations analysis.

Crime analysts can become a driving force behind developing a deeper understanding of problems and possible solutions to them. Crime analysis is a key component of community policing. Recent studies have recognized that crime analysts spend a great deal of time responding to tactical analysis inquiries. While it is important to report crime trend data on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis, the true essence of community policing is to focus on the underlying problems that affect a community.

There is an essential difference between crime analysis and crime mapping. Crime mapping is the use of software programs to plot data on a map. Crime analysis is the synthesis of all information related to a crime problem or trend. This information can include maps, histograms, qualitative data from police reports, calls for service data, interviews, and any other piece of relevant information. The crime analyst gathers all the data and studies it to gain a better understanding of the problem and possible solutions.

SOURCE: The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (the COPS Office)

For additional publications and links on this topic, visit the COPS Office Resources on Crime Analysis page.

May 1019

Inside Public Safety Telecommunications

Today we’re pleased to present a guest post from Anndora Lee, a 19-year veteran dispatcher with the San Rafael (CA) Police Department. 

 When asked what she does for a living, she sometimes replies, “I tell cops where to go.”  While that’s true, it’s only a small part of a dispatcher’s job. Read her story, and go inside public safety telecommunications.

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My name is Anndora and I am a dispatcher for the San Rafael (CA) Police Department located in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.  I have a BS in Emergency Management with a minor in Public Safety Telecommunications.  I also teach at a local California POST accredited Dispatch Academy.

Dispatcher – More than the title suggests

I’ve been in this field for 19+ years and have loved almost every minute of it.  There have been dull moments, filled with seemingly never-ending paper work, to thrilling, edge-of-your-seat calls. 

While our official job title is “911 Police Communications Dispatcher,” my cohorts and I are more than our title suggests.  To callers, we can be a babysitter, armchair psychologist, surrogate parent, a calming voice in the middle of chaos and a lifeline to safety.  To officers, we are a wealth of information, a lifeline to their safety, a friend, a resource, and someone that is there when the going gets tough. This job can be a challenge – it can be thankless and is not for everyone…BUT this job is fulfilling, and can be fun and exciting.

Making shift work work

Communications Centers are staffed 24 hours a day and seven days a week, so we’ve all worked weekends, holidays, and had to cancel plans at the last minute.  Generally, dispatchers work a variety of shifts lasting eight, 10, 12 or more hours at one sitting.  It’s not uncommon for a new dispatcher to be stuck on a less desirable shift while senior dispatchers have weekends off or a more desirable shift.  Luckily, San Rafael does things a little differently.  We rotate schedules every six months, and we usually know our schedules years in advance.  We also have the option of trading our assigned shifts amongst ourselves, which keeps most of us happy.

Job requirements

The job requirements, training, salary, and responsibilities for a Communications Dispatcher vary depending on state, region, and agency.  California requires each Public Safety Dispatcher to attend a 120-hour training academy, usually within their first year of hire and then requires 24 hours of continuous education every two years. 

While I have only worked at one agency, I know dispatchers from throughout the state of California.  We are a proud, dedicated, and passionate group.  Most of us love what we do and wouldn’t change a thing about our career choices.

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Thanks, Anndora!  For more about San Rafael Police Department check their website, or connect with the department through Twitter, YouTube and on their blogsite.