How You Can Expect Your Career as a Police Officer to Advance
Going into law enforcement is a great career path for many reasons. One of the most overlooked ones being the potential for good police officers to climb the chain of command. For police forces to be effective, it’s vital to have a proper working command structure. Officers who have proven themselves on the job can move their way up the ranks. While not every police career path is identical, it is still useful to consider a general timeline of what you can expect career advancement will look like for you. Your First Year After you’ve made it through the academy, you will work your first year as a patrol officer. This year will present a wealth of learning opportunities, as you will be expected to make decisions on your own. Understand that you will probably be on probation during your first year, and your supervisor will be watching you closely to assess whether you’re doing your job right. Specialty Positions: Lateral Moves While departmental policies certainly vary, you can expect to...