What You'll Do

  • Explain police operations to subordinates to assist them in performing their job duties.
  • Inform personnel of changes in regulations and policies, implications of new or amended laws, and new techniques of police work.
  • Supervise and coordinate the investigation of criminal cases, offering guidance and expertise to investigators, and ensuring that procedures are conducted in accordance with laws and regulations.
  • Investigate and resolve personnel problems within organization and charges of misconduct against staff.
  • Train staff in proper police work procedures.
  • Maintain logs, prepare reports, and direct the preparation, handling, and maintenance of departmental records.
  • Monitor and evaluate the job performance of subordinates, and authorize promotions and transfers.
  • Direct collection, preparation, and handling of evidence and personal property of prisoners.
  • Develop, implement, and revise departmental policies and procedures.
  • Conduct raids and order detention of witnesses and suspects for questioning.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0/5
Active Listening 4.0/5
Speaking 4.0/5
Critical Thinking 4.0/5
Monitoring 4.0/5
Social Perceptiveness 4.0/5
Management of Personnel Resources 4.0/5
Active Learning 3.88/5
Coordination 3.88/5
Persuasion 3.88/5
Instructing 3.88/5
Writing 3.75/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.

Common styles

Leadership Orientation, Dependability, Integrity, Stress Tolerance, Self-Control

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Written Comprehension 4.0/5
Oral Expression 4.0/5
Problem Sensitivity 4.0/5
Written Expression 3.88/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.88/5
Inductive Reasoning 3.88/5
Information Ordering 3.75/5

Technologies & Tools

Computer aided composite drawing software Computer aided dispatch software Corel WordPerfect Office Suite Crime mapping software DesignWare 3D EyeWitness Email software Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System IAFIS Law enforcement information databases Microsoft Access Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP Microsoft Excel Microsoft Internet Explorer Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Visio Microsoft Word National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database National Integrated Ballistics Information Network NIBIN Scheduling software

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Leadership Orientation (High importance: 5.0/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.95/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.95/5)
  • Stress Tolerance (High importance: 4.78/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 4.75/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Captain Chief Deputy Community Relations Police Lieutenant Deputy Chief Sheriff Deputy Sheriff Desk Sergeant Detective Chief Detective Lieutenant Detective Sergeant Detective Supervisor Harbor Patrol Chief Harbor Police Launch Commander Homicide Squad Commanding Officer (Homicide Squad CO) Identification and Communications Supervisor Identification and Records Commander Investigation Division Commanding Officer (Investigation Division CO) Lieutenant Motorized Squad Commanding Officer (Motorized Squad CO) Patrol Captain Patrol Commander Patrol Police Sergeant Patrol Sergeant Police Captain Police Chief Police Chief Deputy Police Commanding Officer (Police CO) Police Deputy Chief Police Lieutenant Police Patrol Lieutenant Police Reserves Commander Police Sergeant Police Shift Commander Police Superintendent Police Supervisor Port Warden Post Commander Precinct Captain Precinct Commanding Officer (Precinct CO) Precinct Police Captain Precinct Police Lieutenant Precinct Police Sergeant Safety Supervisor Shift Supervisor Traffic Division Commanding Officer (Traffic Division CO) Traffic Lieutenant Traffic Sergeant Traffic Supervisor Uniform Force Captain Vehicle Maintenance Unit Commanding Officer (Vehicle Maintenance Unit CO)

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.