O*NET-SOC 33-3051.00

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.

Preparation

ItemValue
Preparation zoneZone 3 – Medium preparation needed
What O*NET says the zone requiresPrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required
Broad occupation in O*NETTrue (Yes)
Skills listed for this occupation6
Abilities listed for this occupation6
Tasks listed for this occupation5
Interest scores given for this occupation6

Skills

The 6 skills with the highest importance values in this occupation's records.

SkillO*NET elementImportanceDate
Active Listening2.A.1.b3.8808/2022
Social Perceptiveness2.B.1.a3.8808/2022
Speaking2.A.1.d3.8808/2022
Active Learning2.A.2.b3.7508/2022
Critical Thinking2.A.2.a3.7508/2022
Coordination2.B.1.b3.6208/2022

The importance value is what each record itself carries on O*NET's importance scale; the date is the date in each record.

Abilities

The 6 abilities with the highest importance values in this occupation's records.

AbilityO*NET elementImportanceDate
Oral Comprehension1.A.1.a.14.508/2022
Problem Sensitivity1.A.1.b.34.508/2022
Deductive Reasoning1.A.1.b.44.2508/2022
Inductive Reasoning1.A.1.b.54.2508/2022
Oral Expression1.A.1.a.34.1208/2022
Speech Clarity1.A.4.b.53.8808/2022

The importance value is what each record itself carries on O*NET's importance scale; the date is the date in each record.

Tasks

The tasks O*NET records for this occupation, with the type, respondent count and date each record carries.

TaskTypeIncumbents respondingDate
Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.Core12908/2022
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.Core12908/2022
Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.Core12908/2022
Render aid to accident survivors and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.Core12908/2022
Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.Core12908/2022

Work interests

The interest scores O*NET gives this occupation, on the six interest types.

InterestScoreDate
Realistic5.3711/2023
Conventional4.3511/2023
Enterprising4.0911/2023
Social3.4311/2023
Investigative2.7511/2023
Artistic1.0711/2023

More occupations in preparation zone 3

Source: O*NET 29.1 Database (Occupation Data, Job Zones, Skills, Abilities, Task Statements, Interests), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Data fetched 2026-10-31. See about and sources.