They may be called upon to testify in court when their arrests result in legal action. Candidates must be U.S. citizens, usually at least 20 years of age, and must meet rigorous physical and personal qualifications. Applicants must meet certain standards which vary from state to state. In large police departments, where most jobs are found, applicants usually must have a high school education. An increasing number of cities and states require some college training, and some hire law enforcement students as police interns.
Some police departments require a college degree.
Promotions to sergeant, lieutenant, and captain are usually made according to the candidate's position on a promotion list, as determined by scores on a written examination and on-thejob performance. Many police departments pay all or part of the tuition for officers to work toward associate or bachelor's degrees in law enforcement, police science, administration of justice, or public administration, and pay higher salaries to those who earn a degree.