Research Day 6

Police Officers Gear

1. Baton
2. Holster
3. Handcuffs
4. Taser (not always)
5. Gun
6. Belt
7. Extra ammunition/ magazines
8. Radio(s)
9. Pepper spray
10. Knives
11. Flashlights
12. Gloves
13. Keys
14. Notebook
15. CS spray

Many officers often carry more than 20 pounds of equipment on their belts alone. Also, a typical police officer wears a uniform and has a police utility vehicle that they drive while they are on duty. Also, I learned that even when an officer is not on duty persay they are still required by law to rendure service to those citizens that they find in need of assistance.

Research Day 5

Today I read over Mrs. Doherty's "Interview" section in her blog. I did this so that I could go through a checklist of things that I should do if I am going to interview Officer Cav. I also wrote down a list of questions that I could not obtain through research becuause they are more of opinion questions. Over the next couple of days I plan to hopefully interview Officer Cav. Over the weekend I plan to formulate even morem questions for my interview.

Resarch Day 4/ Souce Notes

Question: What are the risks and sacrifices that Police Officers deal with in their line of work?

Notes:

• Police are on call 24 hours a day
• Some officers are killed in the line of duty, a serious risk that they live with everyday
• Often times officers will work on holidays and usually always work on the weekends
• Uually without overtyime officers work 8 hour days five days a week
• Serious injury and wounding is a possible risk of this job
• Upleasant duties and exposure to unpleasant situations
• Strong passion and commitment are required for this job
• This job is very hard on families as well

Summary: Today I read a story of a dangerous situation involving police that took the live of a man. Here it is:

PHOENIX -- Phoenix police said officers shot and killed Charles Fournier, 39, Thursday morning at the Phoenician Palms Apartments near 35th avenue and Dunlap.
The shooting started as a domestic violence situation at the apartment complex, police said.
Fournier was fighting with a woman when a neighbor tried to stop the fight. The neighbor convinced Fournier to move out into the parking lot of the complex, where he became agitated and stabbed the neighbor. The neighbor got away with minor injuries.
Fournier returned to look for the woman, who has family living in the apartment complex. He kicked in the door of the family's apartment, police said. Fournier was told by family members that the woman was not there.
The woman had run to a nearby business where she called for help, police said.
Fournier turned to walk down the stairs while carrying a knife at which point he was confronted by officers. Police said he was given commands to drop the knife. Fournier dropped the knife then reached into his waistband and pulled out a gun and pointed it at officers, police said.
Police said Fournier was shot by officers. CPR was performed at the scene by officers before he was transported to a local hospital where he later died, police said.
The woman was not harmed in this situation and is cooperating with the investigation. Police are still looking for the neighbor who had been stabbed by the suspect.
http://www.kpho.com/news/26156672/detail.html

This true story helps to illustrate the dangers of the occupation. Today I also learned that police work is extremely dangerous and many risks acompany this job. Police Officers are killed and wounded everyday in their line of duty. Also, I thought about how much families are affected by this line of work.

Research Day 3/ Source Notes

Question: What does the average Police Officer make yearly on salary alone/ with overtime/ other branches of police officers?
Notes:

• Police Officers earned an average of $44,000 nationwide in 2003
• The low was $26,000
• The top 10% earned around $67,000
• Supervisory officers earned a high of around $90,000
• Departments in the North and West tend to pay alot higher than those in the South.
• Usually the department pays for an officers uniforms and equipment such as firearms and handcuffs.
• Benifits to this job include health insurance and paid sick and vacation days
• Retirement plans are given after an officer has given 20-25 years on the work force.
• The retirement plan would pay half of the salary that the officer would have been making
• Pay varies greatly based on the location of your employment
• The average Police Lieutenant is paid $90,000

Summary: Overall today I learned that Police officers in Rhode Island are paid an average salary of $49,000 which is 1% higher than the national average. Also, I learned that cities offer more money than towns to a Police Officer and that overtime plays a crucial part in an officers salary. Finally, I learned that in some cases such as many last year Police officers made more than $113,000.

Additional Information: The Salary link will take you to a great website for locating salaries for any jon in any location.

Source Notes/ Research Day 2

Question: What type of education is needed to become a Police Officer/ requirments?

Notes:

• Must have high school edu.
• Related work expirience
• Psycology, Sociology, English, Law, Math, Government, History, Chemistry, and Physics are all helpful courses to take.
• Being physically fit is important
• Taking a foreign lang. (billingual officers are in high demand)
• Criminal law
• Two to four year degree in college
• Over 800 colleges offer degrees in criminal law
• Lieutenants and captains need a two to four year degree
• Special training
• Classroom instructional classes
• Knowledge about firearms, arrest, self- defense, and first aid
• Driving training

Summary: Overall, officers of the law must be mentally, physically, and emotionally strong throughout the course of their jobs. They must remain calm and focused and need to be ready to handle any situation. Police must have a proper educational degrees and physical dexterity. This job seems as if it will captivate my intrests indefinetly.

What I found useful about this source: All of the knowledge and the thoughts that it put into my head. Also, all of the questions I had that it answered.

Strategy

1.)Question: Why is this job interesting to poeple? Why would I be interested in this job?
Keywords: Interests, highpoints, opinions
Source: Interview, magazine, internet, Worldbook

2.)Question: What are some similar professions?
Keywords: similar, close, same
Source: Library books on police officers

3.)Question: After how long can an officer make an advancement in his rank?
Keywords: advancements
Source: Book
4.)Question: What type of education is required for this job?
Keywords: education, degrees, requirements
Source: none

5.)Question: How many people are in this profession?
Keywords: Poeple, number, locations/ where they work
Source: Chart or map

6.)Question: What is a police officers average salary/ above average
Keywords: money, salary, overtime
Source: none

7.)Question: What are some of the down- sides to the job.
Keywords: risks, danger, sacrifices
Source: informational page.

Research Day 1

During my research today I found a site that will answer alot of my questions. It talks about the different branches of police officers, the amount of police officers that there are, and there are several other links that are attached to this article that elaborate more on my topic. The link Police will take you to the site on World Book.

Eploratrion Activity 1

Topic: Police Officer

Why I chose this topic: I chose this topic becuase it is a job that I have always found interesting and exciting. Secondly, I chose this topic becuase my dad is a United States Marine and once entered the police academy before becoming a Correctional Officer. The final reaon why I chose this topic is becuase I want to investigate an occupation that isn't boring and doesnt require alot of deskwork.

What I already know:

• There are several different forms of police officers such as State Troopers and S.W.A.T officers.
  
• There are alot of different ranks in the ocupation of a police officer such as but not limited to a Captain and a Lieutenant.
  

Questions I have about my topic:

• What are some of the Pro's and Con's/ reasons why or why not to become a police officer.
  
• Reasons why police officers like and dislike their jobs. (interview)
  
• Some of the prerequisites that are recommended before becoming a Police Officer that may help to qualify a person more for the job.
  
• The training that is required for the job and or sacrifices that need to be made in order to work in this field.
  
• Locations at which most Police Officers work and ones at which most do not. Also, how dangerous certain areas in the country can or may be.