Also called: Police Commander, Watch Commander
A mid-level police commander who runs a shift, a precinct, or a specialized division.
Lieutenants and captains manage dozens to hundreds of officers, handle staffing, review use-of-force reports, and take command at major incidents. They've usually worked their way up from patrol over 10-15 years.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 12 years after high school. Promotion through ranks by exam; bachelor's often required for command.
Ways in: On-the-job training, 4-year college. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Criminology.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). First-line supervisors of police (approx.).
Low risk for 10 years. AI scheduling and report review save hours; commanding major scenes and managing officers stay human.
Classes: Government / Civics, Psychology, Speech and Debate, Team sports captaincy.
Official data: O*NET occupation 33-1012.
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