The Complete Guide to Becoming A Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer

Chapter 1: What Does a Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer Actually Do?

Let's clear something up right away: a police or sheriff's patrol officer's job is not what you see on television. There is no hour-long car chase followed by a witty back-and-forth with your partner and a clean arrest that wraps up before the credits roll. The real job is slower, stranger, and far more varied than that. It is equal parts social worker, record-keeper, traffic enforcer, emergency responder, and public relations representative - all wrapped up in a uniform that weighs more than you expect and carries responsibilities that are heavier still.

At its core, patrol work is about being the first person on scene for whatever the public throws at you. The phone rings at the dispatch center, a call for service pops up on the computer in your patrol vehicle, and you go. Sometimes it's a burglary in progress. Sometimes it's a fender bender on the interstate. Sometimes it's a woman crying because her husband hasn't come home and she's worried. Sometimes it's a man standing on a bridge who is hurting and doesn't know what to do. You never know what the next call is going to be, and that unpredictability is the single most defining feature of the job.

Let's get specific about the core responsibilities, because this is where the myth and the reality really separate. First and foremost, you are a responder. You answer calls for service - that's the official term