Detectives / Criminal Investigator

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

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Criminal Investigator; CSI (Crime Scene Investigator); Detective; Fugitive Detective; Fugitive Investigator; Investigator; Narcotics Detective; Narcotics Investigator; Police Detective; Special Agent

Tasks

• Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.
• Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.
• 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 facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.
• Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
• Analyze completed police reports to determine what additional information and investigative work is needed.
• Note, mark, and photograph location of objects found, such as footprints, tire tracks, bullets and bloodstains, and take measurements of the scene.
• Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior to medical examiner's arrival.
• Determine scope, timing, and direction of investigations.
• Search for and collect evidence, such as fingerprints, using investigative equipment.
• Organize scene search, assigning specific tasks and areas of search to individual officers and obtaining adequate lighting as necessary.
• Examine records and governmental agency files to find identifying data about suspects.
• Examine records to locate links in chains of evidence or information.
• Prepare and serve search and arrest warrants.
• Obtain summary of incident from officer in charge at crime scene, taking care to avoid disturbing evidence.

Knowledge

• Law and Government
• Public Safety and Security
• Customer and Personal Service
• Psychology
• English Language
• Education and Training
• Computers and Electronics

Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Active Learning
• Monitoring

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension
• Inductive Reasoning
• Problem Sensitivity
• Deductive Reasoning
• Written Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Written Expression
• Information Ordering
• Flexibility of Closure
• Near Vision
• Speech Clarity
• Speech Recognition
• Far Vision
• Fluency of Ideas
• Category Flexibility
• Speed of Closure
• Selective Attention
• Originality
• Perceptual Speed
• Time Sharing
• Memorization
• Visualization