Introduction
The New York police department exists to ensure that the constitutional rights of all residents in New York are guaranteed by preserving a safe environment that reduces fear, ensures that laws are protected and that peace is observed in the city (Stanislas 22). Regardless of their ranking, all officers are obligated to protect life and property. The New York police department conducts patrols, collects evidence, testifies in court, arrests suspects, enforces laws, completes paperwork, issues citations, and collects evidence (Crank and John 21). The objective of this paper is to detail the process that is followed to become a police officer in New York, the salary of a policeman in New York, the process of becoming a detective, the ranks that exist in the police department and the basic schooling from a detective. Finally, this paper will highlight the challenges of a police officer in the New York police department.
How to Become a Police Officer in New York
Before an individual is admitted to the police academy, they must sit an entrance exam and obtain the minimum pass mark. The jurisdiction determines the kind of exam that is administered to applicants. Some of the tests that are commonly administered include law enforcements exam, compass, and asset (Reaves 56). On passing these exams, the applicants are admitted to the police academy where they receive essential training to equip them with the necessary skills to execute their duties as police officers. Training in the academy lasts for six months where topics such as firearms training, search and seizure, physical conditioning, criminal statues, driver training and traffic laws are covered.
On graduation, the trainees are admitted to different precincts as rookie officers. Progress across the ranks is determined by the experience and performance reviews that are conducted on a periodical basis. The level of pay usually increases with a promotion, and so does the standard of potential bureaucracy and the level of responsibility (Crank and John 21). Military officers, as well as graduates of law enforcement schools, are usually considered as suitable applicants in the application in the job of a policeman.
Salary for a Police Officer in New York (NYPD)
The New York police department is considered to be the largest municipal police force in the United States of America. The total compensation given to officers comprises of base pay and payments that cover the cost of uniform and other considerations such as overtime. The base salary of rookie police officers in the New York police department is $41,975 annually. Together with other considerations and allowances, the total pay amounts to $44,744 (NYPD). The pay to a rookie increases steadily during their period at work between zero years and five and a half years. After 18 months of working with the department, a police officer is paid a base salary of $43,644 and a total compensation amount of $48,173(NYPD). After two and a half years on the job, police officers typically receive a base salary of $48,779 and a compensation package which totals to $53,819.
The base salary of a policeman in the New York police department increases annually from between $3000 and $5000. When a police officer attains the six-year mark on his job, his basic pay moves from $5,609 to $76,488 annually, which reflects an increment based on the acquired experience in the job. A policeman with an experience of five and a half years receives a compensation package that totals to $90,829(NYPD). Overtime payments are excluded from compensation packages and base salaries paid to police officers. As such, the earnings of a police officer might be more that their regular wages (NYPD). Rookie cops are entitled to 10 paid vacation days per year in their first two years in the job while police officers with five years’ experience in the service receive 27 paid vacation days.
How to Become a Detective
Detectives typically start their careers as police officers who are recruited with a high school diploma, a college degree in criminal justice, law enforcement or any other related fields (Cordner et al. 283). Several bachelor degrees and associate degree programs are available for police officers who aspire to be detectives. The available courses include human relations, forensic science, criminal law, judicial function, criminology and criminal procedure (Hess et al. 36). Aspiring detectives are also encouraged to pursue foreign languages especially if they aspire to work in precincts that are located in multicultural urban surroundings. As a matter of fact, detectives must complete their police training which includes classroom studies, physical training, first aid, and self-defense and traffic control.
Police training is necessary to equip the graduates with a succinct understanding of the law. Excellent mental and physical health is required of a detective. These attributes can be acquired by engaging themselves in physical training and consistent exercise to equip them with the capabilities to handle the dangers and the stresses of the job (Reaves 56). Moreover, detectives are encouraged to keep abreast with the latest technology and techniques to maintain a sharp mind (Crank and John 21). Perception and the attribute of observation are also considered important in solving homicides and accidents that occur on a regular basis.
Since detectives are usually chosen from current police officers, it is advisable that aspiring detectives express their interests to their superiors who will consider them for promotion if they meet the necessary requirements. It is a requirement of the New York police department that a police officer serves for a minimum period of 18 months before they are eligible to be promoted to a detective (Hallenberg 61). Some determinants of whether an individual qualifies to be promoted as a detective includes their score on agency exams, the results of their periodic performance and their position on the promotion list. Police officers with military training or additional experience have better prospects in being promoted to become detectives.
Ranks of the Police
The New York police department ranks its officers from the highest to the lowest. The rank is as follows: chief of department, bureau chief, assistant chief, deputy chief, inspector, deputy inspector, captain, lieutenant, sergeant, detective, police officer, probationary police officer and the recruit officer (Gaines et al. 93). The captain who is also the chief of the department together with the bureau chief, assistant chief and the deputy chief are responsible for executing administrative functions of the Bureau, the units, the squads and the precincts (Eterno 62). Their responsibilities are mainly supervisory since they ensure that all duties are properly performed by the police officers.
The police commissioner communicates directly to the captain who gives special duties, orders and assignments which he then passes down the chain of command. Lieutenants are responsible for supervising daily functions in units, squads, and bureaus (Hess et al. 36). A lieutenant could be a control officer, a platoon commander or an operations coordinator. They work as supervisors at scenes and are responsible for directing the processing of arrests and the holding of prisoners. A sergeant executed the duties of a field supervisor and is in charge of all patrol officers. Their supervisory role is at an operational level which ensures that they investigate police operations and police misconduct (Crank and John 21). The responsibilities of a detective vary based on the unit they are assigned. Homicide detectives perform different duties that a narcotics detective. Detectives perform functions that include conducting surveillance, making arrests and testifying, collecting evidence, interviewing suspects and witnesses and conducting investigative work.
Schooling Needed for One to Become a Detective
The agency that a detective would like to work for determines the qualifications that they are required to have. At a basic level, aspirants who want to police detectives must have a GED or a high school diploma. Some precincts require the detectives to have bachelor’s degree which could range in the field of psychology, human service, criminology, and criminal justice (Sousa 78). The education of a police detective prepares students to be leaders and equips them with problem-solving skills. Candidates who aspire to be detectives must first undergo police training implying they should be over the age of 20. In addition, detectives are required to have a clean criminal record, be physically fit, and pass background tests and drug screenings.
The training for police detectives takes place in training academies where they are taught about first aid, the law, and firearms. Once promoted to be a police detective, they normally have the option of pursuing advanced positions in law enforcement (Hess et al. 36). Detectives are equipped with skills to help them manage the crime scene, to conduct surveillance, to adequately report cases and to foster harmonious relations with the media. Interview and interrogation skills, as well as courtroom testimony, is also taught to the detectives to equip them for their jobs.
Challenges of being a police officer
Police officers face some challenges in executing their duties. Some problems are psychological; others are emotional while others are physical. Police officers attached to precincts with high crime rates are likely to discharge their weapons and use them in engaging brutal gangs. In such instances, the police officer could get shot and incur serious injuries (Johnson 162). Even in cases where police officers do not get injured, they sustain emotional scars which result in depression, nightmares and excessive stress that could cause them to lead to alcoholism. The failure by police officers to adopt currents technology is also a challenge that impedes the efficient execution of their responsibilities (Conser et al 69). In some precincts, police officers do not have the proper understanding of how to use newly acquired sophisticated equipment; this leads to avoidable errors.
Excessive bureaucracy and inadequate supervision is also another problem that faces police officers. At times, personal concerns of police officers take too long to be addressed due to the long chains of command. Interference and lack of sufficient information are common among police officers who investigate cases with other agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). This typically leads to unsolved cases (Johnson 172). Underfunding is also common in the New York police department resulting in a shortage of necessary equipment that is needed to solve a crime and increase efficiency. Police officers have complained of inadequate wages and poor working conditions that result from working for long hours with minimal pay as compared to public servants in other departments.
Conclusion
The New York police department is established with the responsibility of maintaining law and order and enforcing the law in New York City. Due to its broad mandate, the New York police department has established procedures and training processes to equip their police officers and their detectives with the necessary skills to solve the challenges that face the residents of the different cities of New York. The department continually provides support to its police officers and detectives by regularly upgrading their salaries according to the provided guidelines and by ensuring that police officers serving with the unit work in suitable conditions.
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