What Type of Cop Should I Be

One press picks a kind of police officer to look into, with what that officer does.

What Type of Cop Should I Be

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  1. K-9 handlerWorks alongside a police dog trained for jobs such as locating missing people.

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How it works

Thinking about a badge but not sure which one? The list runs from patrol officer to game warden, with officers who work on horseback, by boat, in schools and at airports.

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Where the jobs are

Of about 824,200 police and detective jobs in 2025, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics counts 693,200 police and sheriff’s patrol officers, 120,500 detectives and criminal investigators, 6,200 fish and game wardens and 4,400 transit and railroad police.

Patrol comes first

Most special jobs start on patrol. The bureau says officers typically work as patrol officers for a certain number of years before they are appointed to a special unit, such as mounted or motorcycle, and that detectives typically begin their careers as police officers.

  • Too young to apply? Some departments run cadet programs, the bureau notes: cadets do clerical work and attend classes until they reach the minimum age.

Questions and answers

What are the different types of police officers?

By agency, US police work for municipal departments, county sheriff’s offices and county police, state police and highway patrols, and federal agencies. Some forces cover one kind of place instead: a campus, an airport, a railroad, a park or a transit system.

What do you need to become a police officer?

At least a high school diploma or equivalent, the bureau says; some departments and federal agencies ask for college. Candidates usually must be at least 21, graduate from their agency’s training academy and then complete a period of on-the-job training.

Which police jobs are outdoors?

Fish and game wardens patrol fishing and hunting areas. Law enforcement rangers work in national park sites, marine patrol officers on rivers, lakes and harbors, and mounted and bicycle officers in places police cars cannot reach.

Do you need a degree to be a game warden?

Fish and game wardens typically need a bachelor’s degree, the bureau says, in a field such as wildlife science, biology or natural resources. Federal Wildlife Officers and some state-level wardens typically do not.

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All 39 kinds of police officer

Local patrol 14

  • Beat officer Patrols one assigned territory, called a beat, often on foot or by bicycle.
  • Bicycle officer Patrols by bicycle where cars cannot go, such as pedestrian zones and public parks.
  • City police officer Works for a police agency under the control of a city or other local government.
  • Constable Holds an office whose duties vary from place to place, even within one US state.
  • County police officer Serves a police force with primary jurisdiction over an entire county.
  • Field training officer Is an experienced officer who trains and evaluates new ones.
  • K-9 handler Works alongside a police dog trained for jobs such as locating missing people.
  • Motorcycle officer Rides a police motorcycle, which gets through crowded streets more easily than a car.
  • Mounted officer Patrols on horseback; the added height lets the officer see, and be seen, over a wider area.
  • Patrol officer Has general law enforcement duties: patrols a regular area and answers calls.
  • Police pilot Flies police aircraft, used for traffic control, search and rescue, and air patrol.
  • Reserve officer Serves part time in the reserves of a regular police force, as a volunteer or for pay.
  • Sheriff’s deputy Enforces the law under a county’s sheriff, whose office often also guards the courthouse.
  • Tribal police officer Is a police officer hired by a Native American tribe.

Traffic and highways 5

  • Collision reconstructionist Investigates and analyzes a vehicle collision to work out its causes.
  • Commercial vehicle enforcement officer Checks trucks against safety rules at the roadside or at weigh stations.
  • Highway patrol officer Oversees and enforces traffic safety on the roads and highways of a state.
  • State trooper Is a sworn member of a state police agency or state highway patrol.
  • Traffic officer Enforces traffic laws and directs traffic.

Detectives and investigators 4

  • Detective Gathers facts and collects evidence for cases: conducts interviews and examines records.
  • Forensic artist Makes art for cases, such as composite drawings; often a second duty for a police officer.
  • Internal affairs investigator Investigates possible misconduct by members of the investigator’s own police force.
  • Special agent Is an investigator or detective for a federal, military, tribal or state agency.

Transit, schools and other places 8

  • Airport police officer Covers patrol, traffic flow and the response to emergencies at an airport.
  • Bailiff In the US, the everyday word for an officer who keeps order in a courtroom during a session.
  • Campus police officer Is a sworn officer employed by a college or university to protect the campus and its people.
  • Capitol police officer Provides security for state agencies, especially the state legislature.
  • Park police officer Polices park areas, mostly in cities, as part of a full-service police agency.
  • Railroad police officer Protects a railroad’s property, equipment, personnel, passengers and cargo.
  • School resource officer Is a sworn officer based in schools, who also mentors students and gives presentations.
  • Transit police officer Patrols transportation hubs, such as subway stations, and protects passengers and employees.

Wildlife, parks and water 4

  • Fish and game warden Enforces fishing, hunting and boating laws and teaches the public the laws of the outdoors.
  • Law enforcement ranger Is a uniformed federal officer who enforces the law inside national park sites.
  • Marine patrol officer Patrols coasts, rivers, harbors or lakes by boat and looks after the safety of water users.
  • Police diver Is usually a police officer who dives for rescues and to search for evidence under water.

State and federal 4

  • Air marshal Travels on commercial aircraft as an undercover officer.
  • Border Patrol agent Is a federal agent whose job may mean working outdoors in rugged terrain and all kinds of weather.
  • Customs officer Enforces customs laws on the goods that travelers bring into a country.
  • Military police officer Belongs to the law enforcement arm of a military, which usually enforces military law.