Working Conditions for Police and detectivesPolice work can be very dangerous and stressful. In addition to the obvious dangers of confrontations with criminals, officers need to be constantly alert and ready to deal appropriately with a number of other threatening situations. Many law enforcement officers witness death and suffering resulting from accidents and criminal behavior. A career in law enforcement may take a toll on officers� private lives. Uniformed officers, detectives, agents, and inspectors are usually scheduled to work 40-hour weeks, but paid overtime is common. Shift work is necessary because protection must be provided around the clock. Junior officers frequently work weekends, holidays, and nights. Police officers and detectives are required to work at any time their services are needed and may work long hours during investigations. In most jurisdictions, whether on or off duty, officers are expected to be armed and to exercise their arrest authority whenever necessary. The jobs of some Federal agents such as U.S. Secret Service and DEA special agents require extensive travel, often on very short notice. They may relocate a number of times over the course of their careers. Some special agents in agencies such as the U.S. Border Patrol work outdoors in rugged terrain for long periods and in all kinds of weather. More information on Police and detectives from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook Overview of Police and detectives occupation Number of Police and detectives in the U.S. Salary and earnings for Police and detectives Working conditions for Police and detectives Significant points for Police and detectives Training requirements for Police and detectives Labor Information Home | Occupational data by city | Search Rainforests | Madagascar | What's new |