The role of a police officer is a significant and challenging one as these professionals serve society and maintain law and order in a state. A career in this field comes with several perks like job and financial security and other benefits. If the domain of civil service excites and attracts you, you may be a perfect candidate to become a police officer.
Moreover, the availability of different roles and responsibilities for aspiring police officers is an added attraction to pursuing a career as a police officer.
In this post, we will discuss how to become a police officer and other details related to this career.
How to join the Police Force?
To join the police force and become a police officer you need to follow a path of getting qualifications, training, and maintaining dedication. If you are looking for answers to “How do I become a police officer”, the below steps will help you find your way:
· Complete your 10+2 – The first step towards fulfilling your dream of becoming a police officer is to complete your 10+2 from a recognized board. 10+2 is the basic qualification for entry into the police force at a lower rank such as constable.
· Pursue a bachelor’s degree and clear it – Pursue your bachelor’s degree to become eligible for an officer post like sub-inspector and above. 21 years is the minimum age to apply for an officer post in the police department. You can take exams like SSC (Staff Selection Commission) or IPS (Indian Police Services) to qualify for officer positions.
· Clear physical and mental evaluations – Physical and mental health evaluation is important to apply for an officer post in the police force. These evaluations test your overall health, physical fitness, and eyesight along with evaluating the candidate’s mental ability.
· Age and Nationality – All the candidates applying for different positions in the police department must be Indian citizens within the age group of 21 to 32 years.
· Clear Exams like SSC and UPSC – Depending on the posting you are eyeing you may appear for SSC exams to apply for posts like Circle inspectors, sub-inspectors, and assistant sub-inspectors. Or you may appear for UPSC CSE exam to become Superintendent of Police (SP), Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) and Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP), etc.
· Get Trained at a Police Academy – Once you clear the particular exam, candidates are required to undergo training at the police academy for about 15-20 months in different phases.
· Join the force – Once the training is over, candidates can join the police force and get posted.
Also Read:- How to Become IAS Officer
Skills Required to Become a Police Officer
· Communication skills – Communication including the knowledge of written, verbal, and sign language is important for police officers. They are required to understand the body language of criminals including facial expressions. Active listening skill is another talent they need to possess.
· Interpersonal skills – Interpersonal or people skills are important for police personnel to build working relations with different people they interact with. Skills like leadership qualities, patience, and compassion are important.
· Critical-thinking skills – These professionals must also possess the ability to analyze problems to identify solutions, especially during investigating cases.
· Collaboration – Police officers should also have the ability to collaborate and work as a team with other members or colleagues. They must delegate duties, and seek suggestions and feedback.
· Physical strength – Being physically strong and having good stamina is also important to be a police officer as their work profile includes tasks that are dangerous at times.
What are the Job Roles Available in the Police Force?
There are several positions that candidates can apply for in the police department. Some of them are mentioned below:
| Designation in Police Department | Job Roles |
| Constables | They are responsible for maintaining law and order in their area. They control the crowd when required, patrol within their area of duty, and follow other orders. |
| Sub-Inspectors (SI) | They investigate cases and supervise juniors like constables. They interrogate, gather evidence, and prevent and manage crimes. |
| Inspectors | These professionals lead investigations and oversee the work of their subordinates. They also manage crime and cooperate with superiors to solve cases. |
| Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) | They are responsible for managing law and order. They supervise the tasks of their subordinates and handle cases that require more attention. |
| Superintendent of Police (SP) | They are responsible for the overall law and order of the district that they are in charge of. They report to higher officials. |
| Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) | They oversee several departments coming under them and manage law enforcement. |
| Director General of Police (DGP) | These professionals serves as the head of the state police force and are responsible for maintaining order and implementing policies |
Conclusion
Now that you have an idea of how to become a police officer, you can plan your career in that direction. Getting a basic qualification like a bachelor’s degree is very important to apply for the rank of sub-inspector and above.