First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

Overview

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives has a national median salary of $106,040 per year, with +3.3% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.

Work Values

• Independence
• Recognition
• Working Conditions

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• 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.
• Prepare work schedules and assign duties to subordinates.
• Direct collection, preparation, and handling of evidence and personal property of prisoners.
• Investigate and resolve personnel problems within organization and charges of misconduct against staff.
• Explain police operations to subordinates to assist them in performing their job duties.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment

Detailed Work Activities

• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a bachelor's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Bachelor's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a high school diploma or equivalent.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives:

Video Resources