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Date: 09/22/2025

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions.

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  • Work Activities
  • Skills
  • WorkKeys®
  • Abilities
  • Knowledge
  • Career Video
  • Pay
  • Ohio Employment Trends
  • Typical Education
  • Personality
  • Tools
  • Technology
  • Tags
  • Process prisoners, and prepare and maintain records of prisoner bookings and prisoner status during booking and pre-trial process.
  • Evaluate complaint and emergency-request information to determine response requirements.
  • Inform citizens of community services and recommend options to facilitate longer-term problem resolution.
  • Locate and confiscate real or personal property, as directed by court order.
  • Direct traffic flow and reroute traffic in case of emergencies.
  • Notify patrol units to take violators into custody or to provide needed assistance or medical aid.
  • Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
  • Drive vehicles or patrol specific areas to detect law violators, issue citations, and make arrests.
  • Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
  • Monitor, note, report, and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.
  • Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
  • Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
  • Patrol and guard courthouses, grand jury rooms, or assigned areas to provide security, enforce laws, maintain order, and arrest violators.
  • Patrol specific area on foot, horseback, or motorized conveyance, responding promptly to calls for assistance.
  • Patrol and guard courthouses, grand jury rooms, or assigned areas to provide security, enforce laws, maintain order, and arrest violators.
  • Photograph or draw diagrams of crime or accident scenes and interview principals and eyewitnesses.
  • Patrol specific area on foot, horseback, or motorized conveyance, responding promptly to calls for assistance.
  • Locate and confiscate real or personal property, as directed by court order.
  • Provide road information to assist motorists.
  • Verify that the proper legal charges have been made against law offenders.
  • Inform citizens of community services and recommend options to facilitate longer-term problem resolution.
  • Process prisoners, and prepare and maintain records of prisoner bookings and prisoner status during booking and pre-trial process.
  • Photograph or draw diagrams of crime or accident scenes and interview principals and eyewitnesses.
  • Investigate traffic accidents and other accidents to determine causes and to determine if a crime has been committed.
  • Conduct community programs for all ages concerning topics such as drugs and violence.
  • Conduct community programs for all ages concerning topics such as drugs and violence.
  • Supervise law enforcement staff, such as jail staff, officers, and deputy sheriffs.
  • Transport or escort prisoners and defendants en route to courtrooms, prisons or jails, attorneys' offices, or medical facilities.
  • Question individuals entering secured areas to determine their business, directing and rerouting individuals as necessary.
  • Question individuals entering secured areas to determine their business, directing and rerouting individuals as necessary.
  • Place people in protective custody.
  • Serve statements of claims, subpoenas, summonses, jury summonses, orders to pay alimony, and other court orders.
  • Testify in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and criminal cases.
  • Render aid to accident survivors and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
  • Monitor traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and exhibit safe driving procedures.
  • Execute arrest warrants, locating and taking persons into custody.
  • Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
  • Monitor, note, report, and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.
  • Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
  • Relay complaint and emergency-request information to appropriate agency dispatchers.
  • Monitor, note, report, and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.

Work Activities

Work Activities

  • Process prisoners, and prepare and maintain records of prisoner bookings and prisoner status during booking and pre-trial process.
  • Evaluate complaint and emergency-request information to determine response requirements.
  • Inform citizens of community services and recommend options to facilitate longer-term problem resolution.
  • Locate and confiscate real or personal property, as directed by court order.
  • Direct traffic flow and reroute traffic in case of emergencies.
  • Notify patrol units to take violators into custody or to provide needed assistance or medical aid.
  • Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
  • Drive vehicles or patrol specific areas to detect law violators, issue citations, and make arrests.
  • Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
  • Monitor, note, report, and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.
  • Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
  • Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
  • Patrol and guard courthouses, grand jury rooms, or assigned areas to provide security, enforce laws, maintain order, and arrest violators.
  • Patrol specific area on foot, horseback, or motorized conveyance, responding promptly to calls for assistance.
  • Patrol and guard courthouses, grand jury rooms, or assigned areas to provide security, enforce laws, maintain order, and arrest violators.
  • Photograph or draw diagrams of crime or accident scenes and interview principals and eyewitnesses.
  • Patrol specific area on foot, horseback, or motorized conveyance, responding promptly to calls for assistance.
  • Locate and confiscate real or personal property, as directed by court order.
  • Provide road information to assist motorists.
  • Verify that the proper legal charges have been made against law offenders.
  • Inform citizens of community services and recommend options to facilitate longer-term problem resolution.
  • Process prisoners, and prepare and maintain records of prisoner bookings and prisoner status during booking and pre-trial process.
  • Photograph or draw diagrams of crime or accident scenes and interview principals and eyewitnesses.
  • Investigate traffic accidents and other accidents to determine causes and to determine if a crime has been committed.
  • Conduct community programs for all ages concerning topics such as drugs and violence.
  • Conduct community programs for all ages concerning topics such as drugs and violence.
  • Supervise law enforcement staff, such as jail staff, officers, and deputy sheriffs.
  • Transport or escort prisoners and defendants en route to courtrooms, prisons or jails, attorneys' offices, or medical facilities.
  • Question individuals entering secured areas to determine their business, directing and rerouting individuals as necessary.
  • Question individuals entering secured areas to determine their business, directing and rerouting individuals as necessary.
  • Place people in protective custody.
  • Serve statements of claims, subpoenas, summonses, jury summonses, orders to pay alimony, and other court orders.
  • Testify in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and criminal cases.
  • Render aid to accident survivors and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
  • Monitor traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and exhibit safe driving procedures.
  • Execute arrest warrants, locating and taking persons into custody.
  • Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
  • Monitor, note, report, and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.
  • Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
  • Relay complaint and emergency-request information to appropriate agency dispatchers.
  • Monitor, note, report, and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.

Skills

  • Operations Analysis

    Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.

  • Operations Monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.

  • Equipment Maintenance

    Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.

  • Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • Learning Strategies

    Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.

  • Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.

  • Negotiation

    Bringing people together to solve differences.

  • Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • Installation

    Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.

  • Judgment and Decision Making

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.

  • Systems Analysis

    Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.

  • Management of Financial Resources

    Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.

  • Troubleshooting

    Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.

  • Technology Design

    Making equipment and technology useful for customers.

  • Operation and Control

    Using equipment or systems.

  • Equipment Selection

    Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.

  • Active Listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • Service Orientation

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • Management of Personnel Resources

    Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.

  • Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.

  • Social Perceptiveness

    Understanding people's reactions.

  • Coordination

    Changing what is done based on other people's actions.

  • Systems Evaluation

    Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.

  • Time Management

    Managing your time and the time of other people.

  • Repairing

    Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.

  • Reading Comprehension

    Reading work-related information.

  • Quality Control Analysis

    Testing how well a product or service works.

  • Complex Problem Solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • Programming

    Writing computer programs.

  • Mathematics

    Using math to solve problems.

  • Science

    Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.

  • Critical Thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • Active Learning

    Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.

  • Management of Material Resources

    Managing equipment and materials.

WorkKeys®

Applied Math
4
Workplace Documents
5
Graphic Literacy
4

Abilities

  • Manual Dexterity

    Holding or moving items with your hands.

  • Wrist-Finger Speed

    Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.

  • Written Expression

    Communicating by writing.

  • Category Flexibility

    Grouping things in different ways.

  • Response Orientation

    Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.

  • Perceptual Speed

    Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • Finger Dexterity

    Putting together small parts with your fingers.

  • Spatial Orientation

    Knowing where things are around you.

  • Oral Comprehension

    Listening and understanding what people say.

  • Far Vision

    Seeing details that are far away.

  • Dynamic Flexibility

    Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.

  • Speed of Limb Movement

    Quickly moving your arms and legs.

  • Stamina

    Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.

  • Dynamic Strength

    Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.

  • Night Vision

    Seeing at night or under low light.

  • Hearing Sensitivity

    Telling the difference between sounds.

  • Speech Clarity

    Speaking clearly.

  • Speed of Closure

    Quickly knowing what you are looking at.

  • Reaction Time

    Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.

  • Number Facility

    Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.

  • Depth Perception

    Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.

  • Visualization

    Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

  • Multilimb Coordination

    Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • Rate Control

    Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.

  • Near Vision

    Seeing details up close.

  • Problem Sensitivity

    Noticing when problems happen.

  • Originality

    Creating new and original ideas.

  • Extent Flexibility

    Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.

  • Oral Expression

    Communicating by speaking.

  • Information Ordering

    Ordering or arranging things.

  • Gross Body Coordination

    Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.

  • Speech Recognition

    Recognizing spoken words.

  • Auditory Attention

    Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.

  • Selective Attention

    Paying attention to something without being distracted.

  • Flexibility of Closure

    Seeing hidden patterns.

  • Time Sharing

    Doing two or more things at the same time.

  • Written Comprehension

    Reading and understanding what is written.

  • Inductive Reasoning

    Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.

  • Memorization

    Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.

  • Arm-Hand Steadiness

    Keeping your arm or hand steady.

  • Control Precision

    Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

  • Deductive Reasoning

    Using rules to solve problems.

  • Static Strength

    Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.

  • Fluency of Ideas

    Coming up with lots of ideas.

  • Mathematical Reasoning

    Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.

  • Trunk Strength

    Using your lower back and stomach.

  • Gross Body Equilibrium

    Keeping your balance or staying upright.

  • Explosive Strength

    Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.

  • Visual Color Discrimination

    Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.

  • Sound Localization

    Noticing the direction that a sound came from.

  • Peripheral Vision

    Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.

  • Glare Sensitivity

    Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.

Knowledge

  • Mathematics

    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

  • Physics

    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.

  • Sales and Marketing

    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

  • Building and Construction

    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

  • Economics and Accounting

    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

  • Design

    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • Chemistry

    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

  • Therapy and Counseling

    Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

  • Fine Arts

    Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

  • Sociology and Anthropology

    Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • English Language

    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • Administrative

    Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

  • Engineering and Technology

    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

  • Production and Processing

    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

  • 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.

  • Biology

    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

  • Foreign Language

    Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

  • Geography

    Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.

  • Philosophy and Theology

    Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.

  • Personnel and Human Resources

    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

  • Mechanical

    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • Food Production

    Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Medicine and Dentistry

    Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

  • Transportation

    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

  • 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, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

  • History and Archeology

    Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.

  • Telecommunications

    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Career Video

Additional videos and more information available on CareerOneStop

Pay

  • Typical Salary
  • $104,430
    $77,050
    $49,390
    Ohio
    US
    $115,280
    $76,290
    $47,640
  • Typical Hourly Wage
  • $50
    $37
    $24
    Ohio
    US
    $55
    $37
    $23

Ohio Employment Trends

  • Currently Employed 24,840
  • Yearly Projected Openings 1920

Typical Education

Personality

Realistic: People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.They do well at jobs that need:
  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Attention to Detail
  • Leadership

Tools

  • Acoustic ear muffs or defenders
  • Alcohol analyzers
  • All terrain vehicles tracked or wheeled
  • Binoculars
  • Biological evidence collection kits
  • Biometric identification equipment
  • Body armour
  • Bullet proof vests
  • Desktop computers
  • Digital camcorders or video cameras
  • Digital cameras
  • Diving instruments or accessories
  • Fingerprint equipment
  • Fingerprint latent print kits
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Flares
  • Flatbed trailers
  • Footprint lifters
  • Global positioning system GPS receiver
  • Goggles
  • Hand sprayers
  • Handcuffs
  • Handguns
  • Hazardous material protective apparel
  • Lasers
  • Masks or accessories
  • Measuring wheels for distance
  • Metal detectors
  • Military rifles
  • Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles
  • Mobile medical services first aid kits
  • Mobile resuscitator or aspirator kits
  • Narcotic test kits
  • Night sticks
  • Notebook computers
  • Personal computers
  • Personal motorized watercraft
  • Police or security shotguns
  • Police vehicles
  • Protective gloves
  • Radarbased surveillance systems
  • Rescue ships or boats
  • Riot batons
  • Riot helmets
  • Riot shields
  • Rulers
  • Safety glasses
  • Snowmobiles or snow scooter
  • Sound measuring apparatus or decibel meter
  • Speed stoppers
  • Still cameras
  • Surveillance video or audio recorders
  • Tape measures
  • Teletype input devices
  • Traffic signals
  • Two way radios
  • Ultraviolet UV lamps
  • Weapon or explosives detectors and supplies
  • X ray radiography examination equipment

Technology

  • Data base user interface and query software
  • Electronic mail software
  • Geographic information system
  • Graphics or photo imaging software
  • Helpdesk or call center software
  • Internet browser software
  • Map creation software
  • Office suite software
  • Operating system software
  • Presentation software
  • Process mapping and design software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Word processing software

Tags

  • InDemand occupations are considered a priority by the state of Ohio.
  • Apprenticeships are available for this occupation. These programs can help you get hands-on experience and build your skills.
Need help on researching occupations and careers? Download the Guide to Researching Occupations (PDF).

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