Exploring Careers in Law Enforcement: Assignments for Police
Officers In the field of policing, there are a wide variety of
positions that police officers can hold during their careers.
Many factors influence whether an individual police officer will
hold one position throughout their career or many different
positions. The leading factor influencing a police officer's
career is the desire of the officer to achieve the skills
necessary to be placed in a new position. Additionally, factors
such as time in rank and the size of the police department
impact the opportunities available to police officers. Following
is an outline of the many positions available within law
enforcement. The most common method of patrol for decades has
been the automobile. The patrol vehicle offers mobility and
covers a large geographical area or beat. The automobile offers
a fast response in emergency situations and can carry important
equipment like fire extinguishers, additional ammunition,
computers, radar units, and informational