Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

First Interest High-Point

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Second Interest High-Point

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Third Interest High-Point

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse.

Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.

Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior to medical examiner's arrival.

Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.

Prepare charges or responses to charges, or information for court cases, according to formalized procedures.

Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed.

Obtain summary of incident from officer in charge at crime scene, taking care to avoid disturbing evidence.

Note, mark, and photograph location of objects found, such as footprints, tire tracks, bullets and bloodstains, and take measurements of the scene.

Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.

Examine records and governmental agency files to find identifying data about suspects.

Secure persons at scene, keeping witnesses from conversing or leaving the scene before investigators arrive.

Provide information to lab personnel concerning the source of an item of evidence and tests to be performed.

Analyze completed police reports to determine what additional information and investigative work is needed.

Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.

Prepare and serve search and arrest warrants.

Question individuals or observe persons and establishments to confirm information given to patrol officers.

Identify case issues and evidence needed, based on analysis of charges, complaints, or allegations of law violations.

Participate or assist in raids and arrests.

Organize scene search, assigning specific tasks and areas of search to individual officers and obtaining adequate lighting as necessary.

Summon medical help for injured individuals and alert medical personnel to take statements from them.

Notify command of situation and request assistance.

Testify before grand juries concerning criminal activity investigations.

Block or rope off scene and check perimeter to ensure that entire scene is secured.

Notify, or request notification of, medical examiner or district attorney representative.

Search for and collect evidence, such as fingerprints, using investigative equipment.

Determine scope, timing, and direction of investigations.

Maintain surveillance of establishments to obtain identifying information on suspects.

Collaborate with other offices and agencies to exchange information and coordinate activities.

Perform undercover assignments and maintain surveillance, including monitoring authorized wiretaps.

Examine records to locate links in chains of evidence or information.

35 millimeter cameras

Audio recording equipment

Automated external defibrillators AED

Biohazard suits

Blood collection kits

Breathalyzers

Bulletproof vests

Compound light microscopes

Crime scene rulers

Desktop computers

Digital cameras

Digital video cameras

Distance measuring wheels

Drug testing kits

Electrostatic dust lifters

Filter masks

Fingerprint evidence kits

First aid kits

Footwear protectors

Infrared light sources

Laptop computers

Laser light sources

Metal detectors

Metal handcuffs

Pepper spray

Personal computers

Police patrol cars

Police rifles

Polygraphs

Power generators

Protective gloves

Radar speed readers

Riot helmets

Riot shields

Road flares

Safety goggles

Semiautomatic pistols

Side-handle batons

Suspect fingerprinting equipment

Two way radios

Ultraviolet UV lights

Voice dictation equipment

Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop

Corel WordPerfect

Crime mapping software

DataWorks Plus Digital CrimeScene

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Publisher

Microsoft Word

Web browser software

Body armor

Crime scene tape measures

Explosive detectors

Instant print cameras

Nightsticks

Police shotguns

Case management software

Email software

Don't be afraid to do the little things because those little things can lead up to big opportunities.

A typical day at work looks like to me a day with a suit on with my badge and my gun. Usually driving around in built-in shield SUV, taking government officials to their meetings or personal functions.

Dante Salazar

US Marshal Services

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Government

Armed Services

Accomplishing Goals

Day to Day

Advice for Getting Started

Recommended Education

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

Dante Salazar

US Marshal Services

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Government

Armed Services

Accomplishing Goals

Day to Day

Advice for Getting Started

Recommended Education

My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

Related Leaders