Skills and Abilities – Discover Policing

Community policing is an important aspect of a police officer's career. Many agencies today hire in the spirit of service, not in the spirit of adventure. In other words, agencies are looking for individuals who are drawn to and exhibit characteristics in line with the service element of policing over the prospect of excitement and adventure. And rightly so -- analysis of calls for service shows the vast majority of calls to which officers respond are not crime related.

Required Skills to Become a Police Officer

Core Competencies for Modern Policing

The following skills and knowledge prepare new officers and career officers to effectively address today's challenges in the communities they serve.

Community policing and problem-solving principles
Interpersonal and communication skills
Scenario-based, situational decision making
Crisis intervention
Procedural justice and impartial policing
Trauma and victim services
Mental health awareness
Analytical research and technology
Languages and cultural responsiveness

The field values and fosters individuality, recognizing the different perspectives and experiences that each person contributes. It is beneficial to recruiting efforts for the police to be representative of the communities they serve.

Opportunities to Grow These Competencies

Developing these skills comes with experience and exposure. Below are some ways to get started.

Volunteer or intern. Volunteering or interning with your local police department is a great place to start. Many police departments welcome volunteers or interns for a wide variety of tasks, such as administrative support, victim advocacy support services, translations, and more. However, volunteering or interning with any community service organization can provide you with some of the skills and abilities needed to be an effective community policing officer. More on volunteering and interning.

Gain work experience. Almost any type of work experience can help you develop the skills needed to be an effective police officer. Whether it’s serving as an intern or working in customer service-related fields, such as retail or food service, your ability to interact with others and think on your feet, will help you in policing. Work experiences in your community will help you better understand the dynamics of the community you may serve and improve your ability to show courtesy and respect to others in the work setting. These jobs will also help you to understand the surrounding environment and culture.

Take related courses. This could be through educational courses focused on communication or critical thinking. Understanding listening strategies and how to communicate with the various populations you will come in contact with is incredibly valuable. Critical thinking takes practice and will help you to develop better problem-solving abilities.