Applicants with college training in criminal justice, military police experience, or both should have the best employment opportunities. Employment of police officers and detectives is expected to increase faster than the average through the year 2008. However, since law enforcement officers may be able to retire with a pension after 20 or 25 years of service, officers may be able to pursue a second career while still in their 40's. Turnover in police and detective positions is among the lowest of all occupations. Therefore, there is still a need to replace workers who retire, and also those who transfer to other occupations, or stop working altogether.
Layoffs are rare because retirements enable most staffing cuts to be handled through attrition.
However, associate degree graduates will gain a competitive edge and also have the knowledge and skills required to seek jobs and promotions. As society has become more safety and security conscious, there is a greater demand for law enforcement services and applicants can expect higher starting pay scales. Local job opportunities include positions as police officers, private investigators, criminal investigators, and deputy sheriffs. Sergeant Keith DeWitt Keith DeWitt began his criminal justice career as a corrections officer. But, after seven years in that field, DeWitt decided to pursue a job as a part-time officer with the Waite Hill Police Department.