Vol.8 October 2022-Becoming a Peace Officer

Have you ever wondered what type of security related job opportunities are out there? One career, which we get many inquiries about, is a Peace Officer. Never heard of it, or have but don’t know what it is? You are not alone. Here is the definition of a Peace Officer: The term Peace Officer means a person designated by law who is authorized to exercise peace officer powers when acting pursuant to his or her special duties. Persons designated as peace officers include probation officers, constables of a town or village, and public safety officers to name a few. 

Great, now that we know the working definition of a peace officer how does one go about becoming one? One of the first things to consider is how much education you need. It’s determined that 37.8% of peace officers have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, 7.6% of peace officers have master's degrees. Even though some peace officers have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED. 

Peace officers spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. During this time, new peace officers learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer.  

When you decide to become a peace officer, it’s important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most peace officer jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role: 

• Develop and manage firearms training programs, including weapons selection and qualification standards. 
• Perform emergency extractions of hostile and combative persons refusing to comply with lawful orders issue by law enforcement personnel. 
• Train in CPR and other immediate care for self and others. 

• Patrol campus grounds; maintain surveillance at a fix post via the use of CCTV's. 
• Experience in command central where CCTV cameras are monitored, and general information is relayed to the public and co-workers. 
• Correspond with police officers and emergency medical personnel to handle crisis conditions effectively and defuse situations safely. 

Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 37,500 job opportunities across the U.S. This may be a great option for security guards who want to expand their horizons and challenge themselves in a career with a lot of potential. Whichever career path you decide, make sure it is something you not only find interesting but have the time and resources to achieve. Good Luck!