How would my life change if I went from uniformed officer to detective?

I'm going to school and studying criminal justice so that I can be a police officer. I want to eventually become a detective.

By doing this, what changes would be made?

More normalized hours? Better pay? Is it even safer?

I know that getting a degree once I graduate this year will help me in getting a job. I'm looking forward to college.How would my life change if I went from uniformed officer to detective?
Criminal Justice is for Prison Guards/Parole not Police. It assume the people you deal with are convicted of crimes and thus criminals. Police work involves traffic stops of non criminal motorist, witnesses being interviewed and community policing.How would my life change if I went from uniformed officer to detective?
Why would you want criminal justice as your major if you want to be the police.

You will get all the cj classes you need in a police academy.

Most departments that want or require college want you to have a minimum of 60 semester hours, in anything.

CJ tends not to help. I know it impresses no one.



Having any degree did not help getting to be a detective in my department (one of the largest in the US). Passing the detective test with a high score got you in, Being an excellent patrol officer for the 5 or so years before you could take the test helped get you into the unit you wanted.

Biggest change is you do not wear a uniform but business clothes and you have to listen to what people say and not be in a hurry like patrol officers have to be.

More normalized hours? No way. As a detective I regularly had to work 24 to 36 hour days. You start a homicide investigation and you keep going until your leads allow can turn it over. Often I worked around the clock and had to be in court all day and just go back to work.

Better pay? Detectives in my town make 8% more than a patrol officer with the same time on. Most of us made much more than sergeants but we did it with OT.

Safer? yes most of the time. You usually know what your going into as a detective but that depends on where you worked as a patrol officer.



I am glad you are looking forward to college. Take what you are interested in, not cj because you think it will help.

I always recommend taking hard sciences or humanities, anything that teaches you critical thinking skills. That is what will serve you well as a cop, especially if you make detective.