Police Officer

I. JOB SUMMARY

 Main Topic: Human Geography
Secondary Topic: Places and Region

Overview: A police officer’s job is to protect the people and property of the community they are working in. They patrol areas that they are assigned to, respond to incoming emergency calls, enforce laws, make arrests, write citations and occasionally testify in court cases. A geographer would make a good police officer because they are knowledgeable on the community and region they are assigned to serve. They also would be aware of race and ethnicity differences and how this is important in law enforcement. Those geographers most interested in this work might include those with knowledge of GIS topics with an emphasis on demographics and crime.

Geographers at work: GIS Specialists, Human Geographers 

Recommended College Courses: Regional Geography, Cultural Geography, Geographic Information Systems  

Skills: Human geography; site awareness; crime mapping using GIS 

Occupation Group: Protective Service

Learn more about Police Officers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Labor:
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm