A police force is an organization of persons whose job it is to prevent crime, detect criminal acts, maintain public order and security, protect people and property, investigate crime, defuse crises and perform other duties concerned with the maintenance of law and order. Police services may be part of a military force or independent in their authority. Their structure, names and ranks vary greatly by country.
Police officers must have excellent verbal communication skills to interact with a variety of people daily including witnesses, victims, suspects and other police officers. They also must be able to read non-verbal cues such as body language, gestures and facial expressions. In addition, police officers are required to have excellent analytical skills to identify and solve problems.
In many countries, a regular officer who becomes a detective holds higher rank than the average uniformed officer. However, in some forces, like the New York and Philadelphia Police Departments, detectives have equal status with uniformed officers.
Many police officers are under significant stress due to the nature of their jobs. Proactive coping strategies that include counseling and peer support programs can help to alleviate and prevent police officer stress. However, cultural and societal barriers can inhibit an officer’s access to these resources. Counseling that incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be particularly effective for officers. This type of therapy helps officers to learn how to recognize unhealthy thinking patterns and behaviors, as well as how to confront their fears rather than avoid them.