Police Detective
Other Titles
Agent, Criminal Investigator, Detective, Detective Sergeant, Investigator, Narcotics Detective, Narcotics Investigator, Police Detective
Provide testimony as a witness in court.
Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse.
Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.
Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it.
Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
Prepare charges or responses to charges, or information for court cases, according to formalized procedures.
Obtain evidence from suspects.
Examine crime scenes to obtain clues and evidence, such as clothing, or weapons.
Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed.
Obtain summary of incident from officer in charge at crime scene, taking care to avoid disturbing evidence.
Note, mark, and photograph location of objects found, such as footprints, tire tracks, bullets and bloodstains, and take measurements of the scene.
Examine records and governmental agency files to find identifying data about suspects.
Take photographs from all angles of relevant parts of a crime scene, including entrance and exit routes and streets and intersections.
Secure persons at scene, keeping witnesses from conversing or leaving the scene before investigators arrive.
Provide information to forensic investigators concerning the source of an item of evidence and tests to be performed.
Videotape scenes where possible, including collection of evidence, examination of victim at scene, and defendants and witnesses.
Analyze completed police reports to determine what additional information and investigative work is needed.
Prepare and serve search and arrest warrants.
Question individuals or observe persons and establishments to confirm information given to patrol officers.
Participate or assist in raids and arrests.
Organize scene search, assigning specific tasks and areas of search to individual officers and obtaining adequate lighting as necessary.
Summon medical help for injured individuals and alert medical personnel to take statements from them.
Notify command of situation and request assistance.
Block or rope off scene and check perimeter to ensure that entire scene is secured.
Notify, or request notification of, public pathologist or public prosecutor representative.
Note relevant details upon arrival at scene, such as time of day and weather conditions.
Maintain surveillance of establishments to obtain identifying information on suspects.
Monitor conditions of victims who are unconscious so that arrangements can be made to take statements if consciousness is regained.
Coordinate with outside agencies and serve on interagency task forces to combat specific types of crime.
Schedule polygraph tests for consenting parties and record results of test interpretations for presentation with findings.
Observe and photograph narcotic purchase transactions to compile evidence and protect undercover investigators.
Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Complex Problem Solving→ Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Reading Comprehension→ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness→ Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Judgment and Decision Making→ Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Writing→ Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning→ Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Time Management→ Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Coordination→ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Persuasion→ Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Service Orientation→ Actively looking for ways to help people.
Instructing→ Teaching others how to do something.
Learning Strategies→ Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Negotiation→ Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Systems Analysis→ Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Systems Evaluation→ Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization→ Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Documenting/Recording Information→ Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public→ Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships→ Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Interacting With Computers→ Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Processing Information→ Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment→ Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others→ Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Thinking Creatively→ Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Analyzing Data or Information→ Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others→ Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards→ Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings→ Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Performing General Physical Activities→ Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Scheduling Work and Activities→ Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Training and Teaching Others→ Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Assisting and Caring for Others→ Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Developing Objectives and Strategies→ Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Developing and Building Teams→ Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material→ Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates→ Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Performing Administrative Activities→ Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
Coaching and Developing Others→ Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
Check physical condition of people or animals.
Interview people to gather information about criminal activities.
Examine crime scenes to obtain evidence.
Prepare investigation or incident reports.
Prevent unauthorized individuals from entering restricted areas.
Record information about suspects or criminals.
Analyze crime scene evidence.
Document legal or regulatory information.
Process forensic or legal evidence in accordance with procedures.
Record crime or accident scene evidence with video or still cameras.
Examine records or other types of data to investigate criminal activities.
Detain suspects or witnesses.
Use databases to locate investigation details or other information.
Communicate situation details to appropriate personnel.
Observe individuals' activities to gather information or compile evidence.
Serve court ordered documents.
Apprehend criminal suspects.
Direct criminal investigations.
Request emergency personnel.
Block physical access to restricted areas.
Maintain surveillance of individuals or establishments.
Record information about environmental conditions.
Collaborate with law enforcement or security agencies to share information.
Collaborate with outside groups to develop programs or projects.
Inductive Reasoning→ The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Speech Clarity→ The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Written Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Fluency of Ideas→ The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Far Vision→ The ability to see details at a distance.
Category Flexibility→ The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Flexibility of Closure→ The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Perceptual Speed→ The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Selective Attention→ The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speed of Closure→ The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
Visualization→ The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Finger Dexterity→ The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Manual Dexterity→ The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Originality→ The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Time Sharing→ The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
Law and Government→ Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Public Safety and Security→ Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Language→ Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Psychology→ Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Customer and Personal Service→ Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Clerical→ Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Education and Training→ Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Administration and Management→ Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Computers and Electronics→ Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Sociology and Anthropology→ Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
Communications and Media→ Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Telecommunications→ Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Database user interface and query software -- Crime statistics database; Automated Fingerprint Identification System; Crime Information database
Desktop publishing software -- e.g., Microsoft Publisher; Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign; QuarkXPress; Scribus
Graphics or photo imaging software -- Computer aided composite drawing software; Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop; Microsoft Visio; Digital Image Management Solutions Crime Scene
Internet browser software -- e.g., Windows Explorer; Google Chrome; Firefox
Map creation software -- Crime mapping software; Geographic information system GIS software
Office suite software -- e.g., Corel WordPerfect; Microsoft Office
Presentation software -- e.g., Google Slides; Microsoft PowerPoint; Corel Presentation;
Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Google Sheets; Microsoft Excel; Quattro Pro
Word processing software -- e.g., Google Docs; Microsoft Word; WordPerfect
Alcohol analysers→ Breathalyzers
Automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles→ Automated external defibrillators AED
Binocular light compound microscopes→ Compound light microscopes
Biological evidence collection kits→ Blood collection kits; Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA collection kits
Bullet proof vests→ Bulletproof vests
Desktop computers
Dictation machines→ Voice dictation equipment
Digital camcorders or video cameras→ Digital video cameras
Digital cameras
Emergency medical services first aid kits→ First aid kits
Fingerprint equipment→ Suspect fingerprinting equipment
Fingerprint latent print kits→ Fingerprint evidence kits
Flares→ Road flares
Footprint lifters→ Electrostatic dust lifters; Impression casting kits
Footwear covers→ Footwear protectors
Gas generators→ Power generators
Goggles→ Safety goggles
Hand sprayers→ Pepper spray
Handcuffs→ Metal handcuffs; Plastic handcuffs
Handguns→ Semiautomatic pistols; Service revolvers
Hazardous material protective apparel→ Biohazard suits
Infrared lamps→ Infrared light sources
Lasers→ Laser light sources
Masks or accessories→ Filter masks
Measuring wheels for distance→ Distance measuring wheels
Metal detectors
Military rifles→ Police rifles
Narcotic test kits→ Drug testing kits
Notebook computers→ Laptop computers; Mobile data computers
Personal computers
Physiological recorders→ Polygraphs; Voice stress analyzers
Police vehicles→ Police patrol cars
Protective gloves
Radarbased surveillance systems→ Radar speed readers
Riot batons→ Side-handle batons
Riot helmets
Riot shields
Rulers→ Crime scene rulers
Still cameras→ 35 millimeter cameras
Surveillance video or audio recorders→ Audio recording equipment; Digital tape recorders
Two way radios
Ultraviolet UV lamps→ Ultraviolet UV lights
Enterprising→ Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Investigative→ Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Social Orientation→ Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Independence→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Working Conditions→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Recognition→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.