Law Enforcement - How The Police Do Their Jobs

Many large police departments saw significant changes in the 1990s.⁴

Are more police agencies seeing new forms of crime fighting technology? The percent with enhanced 9-1-1 capabilities, which allow the caller's location to be electronically pinpointed, grew from 76% in 1990 to 97% in 2000. Those using in-field computers grew from 73% to 92% and those with automated fingerprint ID systems with 60% to 97%.

Some departments have recognized the value of getting back to basics. Nearly all departments have officers on bicycles, up significantly from 1990. Law enforcement has come to recognize the value of making police officers visible to the public. Many of these cops are now "walking their beat" as they did a century ago, integrating into the community that they protect. In some cases, bikes are simply a more cost-and time-effective way to patrol the city.

What of an officer's personal protection? The percent of agencies authorizing the use of a revolver fell from 97% to 65%. But all agencies now authorize the use of semi-automatic weapons. Thirty-one percent of agencies required officers to wear at least some body armor in 1990; ten years later, 69% of agencies make this requirement. Perhaps this requirement was seen as just "sound policy." More officers died by firearms in the 1990s then at any other time in this century.

A most interesting point is the change in police officer training. The median number of training hours increased 16% during the decade, from 760 to 880 hours. The median hours of field training increased 15%, from 520 to 600 hours. The minimum educational requirement for new officers has increased. Nearly 10% of departments require a 2 year degree; nearly 5% require a four year degree.

The typical officer is getting more training. More crime fighting tools are at his disposal. Salaries remained stubbornly flat during the 1990s. The average starting base salary for a police chief (in a city of more than 250,000 residents) rose by about 2% from $95,393 to $97,215. The average starting salary for a sergeant increased 3%, from $49,081 to $50,541. An entry-level patrol officer fell 1%, from $35,002 to $34,556.

Minimum Starting Salaries in Departments Serving More than 250,000 Residents

Position	1990	2000
Chief	$95,393	$97,215
Sergeant	$49,081	$50,541
Entry-level Patrol Officer	$35,002	$34,556

More agencies reported offering shift differential pay in 2000 than 1990 (76% vs. 66%). But fewer agencies reported offering hazardous duty pay (56% to 50%) and merit pay (35% to 34%).

Source: Reaves, Brian Ph.D. and Matthew J. Hickman. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Police Departments in Large Cities, 1990-2000.