Police Officer Resume Example

Work as a police officer is demanding. Policing is a tough job with an extensive application process, and you’ll face many challenges along the way. We’re here to help you make writing a resume for a law enforcement role as straightforward as possible.

1. Write a standout resume summary

A resume summary is the standard way to begin a resume. It’s a three- to four-sentence paragraph explaining why you’re the perfect candidate for the job.

When you write your resume summary, highlight the policing skills, experience, and qualifications that make you a good fit for the next rank or role you’re aiming for. Here’s an example of a police resume summary:

A 5-year veteran of the Albuquerque Police Department, serving 3 years as a patrol officer and on the gang unit before being promoted to Sergeant in 2020. A resident of Albuquerque for 30 years+ and committed to developing as a leader both in the community and police force.

This resume sample provides information on this police sergeant’s years of experience, specialty (the gang unit), and goals.

2. Highlight your professional experience using numbers and action verbs

Being a police officer involves working in tough environments. Underneath each job position listed in your professional experience, list a few key activities and achievements that give hiring managers a better idea of your experience as a police officer.

In your work history, avoid writing bullet points that only identify the basic job functions of a police officer, and instead focus on putting specific achievements on your resume that show how capable you are.

For example, saying: “Issued tickets to violators of local laws” doesn’t tell the reader anything more about you as a police officer than they would have already expected, so it’s a waste of valuable space on your resume.

By contrast, saying something like “Initiated community & gang outreach program with 47 former gang members to reduce youth membership in street gangs” tells the reader a great deal about you because:

1. adding this bullet point to your law enforcement resume highlights your commitment to leadership in the community, that you value connecting with young people, and you’re experienced in dealing with dangerous environments and individuals.
2. including a hard number in your bullet point puts your policing accomplishments in context, showing employers what they can expect you to achieve if they hire you.
3. starting each bullet point with a strong resume action verb presents you as a proactive and competent officer — something police departments seek in candidates, whether you’re writing a police recruit resume, police sergeant resume, or a police chief resume.

Here are more action verbs that are useful for police officers to fit into their resumes:

• Supervised
• Patrolled
• Initiated
• Spearheaded
• Commanded
• Enforced
• Resolved
• Assessed
• Investigated
• Inspected
• Negotiated
• Implemented
• Established
• Strengthened
• Led
• Earned

3. Display your education and training

If you have a lot of police skills and experience, your resume’s education section is less important than your work experience and skills section, but you still need to show you have the minimum educational requirement to serve on the beat.

If you’re short on experience and looking for your first patrol officer role, highlight things like awards and your GPA on your resume.

As your law enforcement career progresses, your educational details become less relevant and can be removed from your police officer resume.

4. Showcase your law enforcement skills and certifications

If you’re aiming for a specialized position within your police department, like forensics, you need to highlight your specific training and any advanced certifications in the skills section of your resume.

The skills on your resume can make you a much more attractive candidate for hiring, transfers, and promotion to higher ranks, and your skills section can separate you from other candidates, both:

• in terms of the kinds of law enforcement continuing education you list on your resume
• in your commitment to improving yourself as a police officer

If you have language skills, highlight them in your skills section. Urban areas especially are more diverse than ever, and policing such areas is much easier if you speak a second or even third language. Your language skills may be the deciding factor in whether you’re hired.

Here are more useful skills to put on a resume for a police officer:

• Self-defense
• Martial arts
• Pursuit driving
• Communication skills
• Onboard computer systems
• Firearm certification/safety
• Pepper spray use
• Safe Taser usage
• Interpersonal skills
• Negotiation skills
• Memorization skills
• Staying calm under pressure
• De-escalation tactics
• Detective skills
• Physical fitness
• Empathy