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Career Details : Police Detectives

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Description

Conduct investigations to prevent crimes or solve criminal cases.

Experience

A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Tasks

  • Examines scene of crime to obtain clues and gather evidence.
  • Investigates establishments or persons to establish facts supporting complainant or accused, using supportive information from witnesses or tangible evidence.
  • Interviews complainant, witnesses, and accused persons to obtain facts or statements; and records interviews, using recording device.
  • Schedules polygraph test for consenting parties and records results of test interpretations for presentation with findings.
  • Testifies before court and grand jury and appears in court as witness.
  • Prepares assigned cases for court and charges or responses to charges, according to formalized procedures.
  • Reviews governmental agency files to obtain identifying data pertaining to suspects or establishments suspected of violating laws.
  • Observes and photographs narcotic purchase transaction to compile evidence and protect undercover investigators.
  • Records progress of investigation, maintains informational files on suspects, and submits reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
  • Arrests or assists in arrest of criminals or suspects.
  • Maintains surveillance of establishments to attain identifying information on suspects.

    Related Careers

    Important Abilities

    General Work Activities

    Important Skills

    Frequent Work Context

    • Job-Required Social Interaction
    • Frustrating Circumstances
    • Consequence of Error
    • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
    • Importance of Being Sure All Is Done

    Related Majors

    Major Add to MyFSA
    Administration of Justiceadd Administration of Justice to MyFSA
    Criminal Justice/Law Enforcementadd Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement to MyFSA
    Law Enforcementadd Law Enforcement to MyFSA
    Pre-educationadd Pre-education to MyFSA
    Pre-electrical Engineeringadd Pre-electrical Engineering to MyFSA
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