Best Police Officer Resume Example & How to Write in 2025
Write a winning police officer or law enforcement resume that recruiters notice and advance your career to the next level with ResumeHelp examples and tips.
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How To Write a Resume for a Police Officer Job
You’ve just earned your police academy certification and began your job search. You may be wondering what the next step is for your career in public safety. No matter what type of position you choose, you will need to make a good impression. Having a professional resume is the key to getting an interview to become a police officer. This guide will show you everything you need to create the perfect resume. You will learn:
- Jobs you can use a police officer resume for
- What a hiring manager is looking for in a police officer resume
- How to use ResumeHelp templates to create a professional resume
- Police officer resume examples you can use
Jobs That Can Use Police Officer Resumes
During your job search, you may see other job titles for police officers. These can include specialty fields that police officers may apply to. Some job titles you may see are:
- Patrol officer
- Law enforcement officer
- Air marshal
- First responder
- Detective
- FBI agent
And now, let’s discover how to write a resume for all your candidatures.
Eight Elements to Create Your Police Officer Resume
Your chance of getting a job in the police department will increase by including these eight elements on your resume.
ATS
A hiring manager may use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to help them narrow down their candidate choices. An ATS computer system scans resumes and uses certain elements to sort them. These can include:
- Keywords from the job posting
- Format such as PDF or Microsoft Word
- Font
- Layout
For guidance on how to write your resume for ATS, visit our ATS resume page.
Contact information
You should always include contact information on your resume so the hiring manager can get in touch with you. Your contact information should include:
- Your full name
- Professional title
- Email address
- Phone number
- Physical address
- Professional profile page such as LinkedIn
Resume summary or objective
A professional summary can describe any police work you have done so far. If you haven’t yet worked in this field, an objective can describe your goals for working as a police officer at the job you are applying to. Here is an example of an objective for a police officer resume: Proactive and motivated police academy graduate with a background in personal protection seeking a security guard position. Eager to apply my skills to crime prevention and monitoring suspicious activity at XYZ company.
Skills section
Police work requires both hard and soft skills. Some skills you may use as a police officer include:
- Leadership
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Schedule management
- Weapons handling
- Knowledge of criminal justice and federal law
Work experience
Keep your work experience section clean and easy to read by using bullet points. You should list the name of your previous employer, your job title, and the dates employed. Then, list your most impressive achievements. Here is an example:
Patrol Officer, NYPD 6th precinct Jan 2018 – Current
- Issued traffic citations according to city ordinances and traffic laws
- First responder at traffic accidents
- Responded to calls for emergency situations and domestic violence
- Contributed to the department lowering the crime rate by 34% in 2020
Education
In the education section of your resume make sure to include:
- Highest level of education completed
- Police academy training program
- Other relevant courses
If you are still in school, include:
- Your expected date of graduation
- Field of study/training program
Achievements and awards
Awards and achievements can help your resume stand out. These may include:
- Professional awards such as employee of the month or rookie of the year
- Scholarships and academic recognition
- Awards for volunteer work
Certifications
Certifications can help you to get a job in a specialized field that hires police officers. Some common certifications for police work include:
- Traffic accident specialist
- Crime scene technician
- Court security
- First aid and CPR
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Formatting Your Police Officer Resume
The format of your resume makes a huge difference to how the hiring manager reads your information. The ResumeHelp resume builder can help you format your resume easily. The three types of resume formats are:
This is typically the most popular. This format is good when you have a large amount of work history to list.
A functional resume format is best when you don’t have much work experience. It shows your talents and skills over your work history.
The combination resume format can be a good idea if you’re changing your career path
FAQ: Police Officer Resume Example
Have questions? We’re here to help.
Do you need a resume to get a job as a police officer?
You will often need a resume as a police officer. Many police agencies hire from outside training facilities. They require you to apply and submit a resume. For example, security roles are often filled by law enforcement. Use resume tips and guides found on ResumeHelp to create a resume for each job opening in just minutes.
Do you need to send a cover letter with your resume for a police officer job?
Yes. You should make a cover letter for each job you apply to. A cover letter will show recruiters that you want the job enough to put in the extra effort. Use the ResumeHelp Cover Letter Builder to see templates, tips, and examples.
How long should the ideal police officer resume be?
The best resume should be about one page in length. If you find your resume is longer than that, use bullet points to condense the information. Check the job description and use the keywords found there so your resume has an impact.
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