English
My account

You control your data

We use cookies to tailor the experience of creating resumes and cover letters. For these reasons, we may share your usage data with third parties. You can find more information about how we use cookies on our Cookies Policy. If you would like to set your cookies preferences, click the Settings button below. To accept all cookies, click Accept.

Settings Accept

Cookie settings

Click on the types of cookies below to learn more about them and customize your experience on our Site. You may freely give, refuse or withdraw your consent. Keep in mind that disabling cookies may affect your experience on the Site. For more information, please visit our Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

Choose type of cookies to accept

Analytics

These cookies allow us to analyze our performance to offer you a better experience of creating resumes and cover letters. Analytics related cookies used on our Site are not used by Us for the purpose of identifying who you are or to send you targeted advertising. For example, we may use cookies/tracking technologies for analytics related purposes to determine the number of visitors to our Site, identify how visitors move around the Site and, in particular, which pages they visit. This allows us to improve our Site and our services.

Performance and Personalisation

These cookies give you access to a customized experience of our products. Personalization cookies are also used to deliver content, including ads, relevant to your interests on our Site and third-party sites based on how you interact with our advertisements or content as well as track the content you access (including video viewing). We may also collect password information from you when you log in, as well as computer and/or connection information. During some visits, we may use software tools to measure and collect session information, including page response times, download errors, time spent on certain pages and page interaction information.

Advertising

These cookies are placed by third-party companies to deliver targeted content based on relevant topics that are of interest to you. And allow you to better interact with social media platforms such as Facebook.

Necessary

These cookies are essential for the Site’s performance and for you to be able to use its features. For example, essential cookies include: cookies dropped to provide the service, maintain your account, provide builder access, payment pages, create IDs for your documents and store your consents.

To see a detailed list of cookies, click here.

Save preferences

Police Officer Resume Example with Skills & Writing Tips

Kickstart your career with a police officer resume that highlights your strengths. Check our law enforcement resume template and see the top skills for police officer resumes.

Tom Gerencer, CPRW
Career Writer at ResumeLab
Police Officer Resume Example with Skills & Writing Tips

There are 100 cadets and seasoned pros out there cruising for any good law enforcement job. How can you ensure the chief wants to hire you?

 

Don’t fret. To get the interview, just show the right law enforcement achievements on your police officer resume. I will show you how.

 

In this guide:

  • A police officer resume example better than most.
  • How to write a police officer resume that clears you for hiring.
  • How to craft a police officer resume objective and summary.
  • Which skills for police officer resumes matter most.

 

Save hours of work and get a job-winning resume like this. Try our resume builder for free. Start by choosing a resume template.

 

Create your resume now

 

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOWpolice officer resume example

What users say about ResumeLab:

I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your resume.”
Patrick

I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work!
Dylan 

My previous resume was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful!
George

Create your resume now

 

Do you need something other than a resume for police officer jobs? See our guides:

 

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Resume Samples.

 

Police Officer Resume Example You Can Copy and Use

 

Mia Wozny

Police Officer

 

Personal Info

 

Phone: 216-315-8251

Email: miawozny@gmail.com

linkedin.com/in/miawozny

twitter.com/miawozny

 

Objective

 

Community-minded police officer with 4+ years of experience promoting public safety and preventing crime in an urban environment. Seeking to enforce laws as a peace officer at the Kelton Police Department. At SSPD, wrote request facilitating $60K in new vehicle funding and logged 15% more traffic citations than average.

 

Experience

 

Police Officer

South Side Police Department, Cleveland, OH

2016–Present

  • Investigated 500+ crimes, obtaining evidence and convictions in 88%.
  • Stayed calm and made quick decisions when facing active shooters, swiftwater events, structure fires, and other emergencies.
  • Outperformed other officers by 15% in DUI arrests & convictions, traffic citations, and drug abuse and possession arrests.
  • Worked with town council to create community outreach program that resulted in 30% higher favorability ratings for department.
  • Collaborated with 3 other officers to create department's drone program. 

Key Achievement

  • Facilitated budget proposal that resulted in award of $60K in funding for new vehicles, despite record town budget shortfalls.

 

Security Guard

Elkington Hotel, Cleveland, OH

2014–2016

  • Monitored a 1,000+ room hotel, identifying threats, resolving conflicts, and escalating larger issues to law enforcement.
  • Collaborated with local law enforcement to cut break-ins 50%.
  • Wrote daily reports for all activity and incidents.

 

Education

 

OPOTC Certified Peace Officer

Apollo Basic Police Academy

2014

  • Relevant coursework: firearms training, high speed pursuit, criminal investigations, sexual assault, sobriety test procedure.
  • Excelled in firearms training and documentation.
  • Commended by instructors for traffic accident handling skills.

 

Certifications

 

  • 2019 — EMT-B Certification
  • 2018 — Swiftwater Rescue II

 

Additional Activities

 

  • Member, Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, Inc.
  • Volunteer security guard at 5 music festivals per year.
  • Annual attendee, Cleveland Gun Show.
  • Weekly CrossFit for fitness and self-care.

 

Hard Skills: legal knowledge, weapons training, police procedure, documentation

 

Soft Skills: interpersonal skills, leadership, communication, conflict resolution

 

Here’s how to write a police officer resume that gets you on the force:

 

1. Use a Clear Police Officer Resume Format

 

Whoops!

 

Your resume format is sloppy. To the chief, that’s as bad as stains on a uniform. Let’s fix that.

 

For a police officer resume that passes the glance test—

 

Use these tips:

 

Police Officer Resume Format

 

 

2. Create a Police Officer Resume Objective or Summary

 

Shocking:

 

The chief won’t read your police officer resume.

 

He’ll skim it.

 

But you can make him read yours like Hank Schrader wrote it. How?

 

With an outstanding resume profile (in the form of a career objective statement or career summary statement or summary of qualifications). 

 

Use:

 

  1. An adjective (community-minded, dedicated)
  2. “Police officer”
  3. Years of experience (1+, 4+)
  4. How/who you’ll help (enforce laws as a peace officer at the Kelton PD)
  5. Best resume accomplishments(logged 15% more traffic citations)

 

See these police officer resume examples:

 

Police Officer Resume Example—Summary

Good Example
Community-minded police officer with 4+ years of experience promoting public safety and preventing crime in an urban environment. Seeking to enforce laws as a peace officer at the Kelton Police Department. At SSPD, wrote request facilitating $60K in new vehicle funding and logged 15% more traffic citations than average.
Bad Example
Experienced police officer, skilled in legal knowledge and conflict resolution. Proven track record of writing high numbers of traffic citations and assisting with funding requests. Physically fit and a good driver with excellent writing skills.

Heads up.

 

The last of those police officer resume samples is just a skills list. The first shows you reached police officer goals.

 

That’s probable cause for hiring you.

 

“But my police officer experience is still in training!”

 

That’s when you need to list transferable skills from non-law-enforcement jobs.

 

See these entry-level resume samples for police officer jobs:

 

Entry-Level Police Officer Resume Objective

Good Example
Dedicated police cadet with experience working with law enforcement and writing reports. Seeking to improve public safety at the Kelton Police Department. As armed security guard at Elkington Hotel, wrote daily reports and worked with law-enforcement to reduce break-ins by 50%.
Bad Example
Entry-level police officer, skilled in patrolling and monitoring, conflict resolution, and collaboration. Can write reports and enforce laws while maintaining public safety. Willing to start immediately and learn job-specific skills on the job.

Notice anything?

 

The second of those new police officer resume examples with no experience is hearsay.

 

The first shows on-the-job skills.

 

3. Target Your Police Officer Job Description and Skills Sections

 

What skills should you put in a police officer resume?

 

See these resume skills:

 

Skills for Police Officer Resumes

Hard Skills

  • Weapons Skills
  • Legal Knowledge
  • Investigation
  • Police Procedure
  • Crime Scene Preservation
  • Traffic Citations and DUI
  • Computer Skills
  • Observation
  • Emergency Response
  • Driving
  • Patrolling
  • Physical Stamina

 

Soft Skills

 

Don’t jam all of them into a resume for police officer jobs. That’s dubious.

 

Instead, target your resume with keywords from the ad online.

 

These police officer resume samples show how:

 

Let’s say the job wants skills in investigation, patrolling, DUI arrests, and emergency response.

 

Police Officer Job Description for a Resume [Sample]

Good Example

Experience

 

Police Officer

South Side Police Department, Cleveland, OH

2016–Present

  • Investigated 500+ crimes, obtaining evidence and convictions in 88%.
  • Patrolled 20 square-mile suburb in a densely-populated area.
  • Outperformed other officers by 15% in terms of DUI arrests & convictions, traffic citations, and drug abuse and possession arrests.
  • During emergency response, stayed calm and made quick decisions when facing active shooters, swiftwater emergencies, structure fires, and other emergencies.
Bad Example
  • Handled traffic citations and drug abuse and possession arrests.
  • Worked with other officers to create department's drone program. 
  • Facilitated budget proposal for new vehicle funding.
  • Responded to 911 calls involving accidents and criminal activity.

Look at that.

 

The second of those police officer resume examples is just a police officer job description.

 

The first adds 20 square-mile, 15%, 30%, and other details that prove your skills.

 

Next—

 

What if your police officer experience is still in the locker room?

 

An entry-level resume needs police officer skills from other jobs.

 

See these entry-level police officer resume examples with no experience. They’re for a job that wants skills in patrolling, collaboration, and writing reports.

 

Entry-Level Police Officer Resume Job Description [Sample]

Good Example

Security Guard

Mall of Ohio, Cleveland, OH

2014–2016

  • Patrolled a 1,000+ room hotel, identifying threats, resolving conflicts, and escalating larger issues to law enforcement.
  • Collaborated with local law enforcement to cut break-ins 50%.
  • Wrote daily reports for all activity and incidents.
Bad Example
  • Worked as security guard in a large, high-volume hotel.
  • Monitored security camera equipment for signs of problems.
  • Warned guests of infractions to rules.
  • Maintained knowledge of hotel security policies and procedures.

That last police officer resume is criminal. It doesn’t show the asked-for law enforcement skills!

 

But even if you worked in an unrelated field, you can prove skills like communication and problem solving.

Expert Hint: A study in the journal Policing shows high stress levels are a significant threat to police officer health. If you engage in self-care like working out or running, list it in your resume for police officer jobs.

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.

 

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOW

 

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOWcreate your resume now

Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now.

 

4. Write a Skills-Heavy Education Section

 

What should a resume education section look like for police officer jobs?

 

It should list your academy’s name and date. But—

 

It should also show training and achievements.

 

See this police officer resume sample:

 

Police Officer Resume Example—Education

Good Example

Education

 

OPOTC Certified Peace Officer

Apollo Basic Police Academy

2014

  • Relevant coursework: firearms training, high speed pursuit, criminal investigations, sexual assault, sobriety test procedure.
  • Excelled in firearms training and documentation.
  • Commended by instructors for traffic accident handling skills.

 

Milton Klinger High School—Diploma

Bam.

 

You showed police officer skills in your education section.

 

5. Add Special Sections to Your Police Officer Resume

 

Your application needs to shine like a new badge.

 

But your education and experience sections can’t do it all.

 

So—show extra skills with special sections in a resume for police officer jobs.

 

You can list:

 

See these police officer resume examples:

 

Police Officer Resume—Other Sections

Good Example

Certifications

 

  • 2019 — EMT-B Certification
  • 2018 — Swiftwater Rescue II

 

Additional Activities

 

  • Member, Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, Inc.
  • Volunteer security guard at 5 music festivals per year.
  • Annual attendee, Cleveland Gun Show.
  • Weekly CrossFit for fitness and self-care.
Bad Example

Additional Activities

 

  • Sport Fishing
  • Volunteering

See that?

 

The first of those police officer resume samples shows you dig into your work. The second would be better with details.

 

For instance—what did you achieve in sport fishing? Did you win tournaments? Lead outings? Grow membership in a group?

 

You can show peace officer skills with any pursuit.

Expert Hint: Learn how to write a cover letter for your resume for police officer jobs. A cover letter should prove you care about the department, and show highlights of your history with evidence you’re a great pick.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

 

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOW

 

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOWcreate your cover letter now

Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

 

 

Some cover letter examples that may be useful to you:

 

Key Points

 

Here’s how to write a police officer resume:

  • Choose a good police officer resume template. Load in your best police officer accomplishments.
  • Add police officer skills like patrolling and search and seizure. Use details and numbers to give a picture of your skill level.
  • Create a police officer resume objective as a rundown of your best attributes.
  • Add special resume sections to show union membership or fitness efforts.
  • Write a cover for police officer jobs. 

 

Got questions on how to write good resumes for police officer jobs? Not sure how to put police officer duties on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!

Rate my article: police officer
Thank you for voting
Average: 5 (4 votes)
Tom Gerencer, CPRW
Tom Gerencer is a career advice writer and a resume expert at ResumeLab. Tom has been featured on BBC News, NBC, The Economist, Business Insider, Fast Company, and dozens of other outlets. His insights, commentary, and articles reach over a million readers every month. With inside knowledge of key industry players and in-depth research, Tom helps job seekers with advice across all professions and career stages. Tom holds a degree in English from Colby College.

Was it interesting? Here are similar articles

Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Resume Formats

Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Resume Formats

Want to choose the best resume format? First, you must understand the differences between the three main types. See examples of various resume formats and make an informed choice.

Michael Tomaszewski, CPRW
Michael Tomaszewski, CPRW
Career Expert
How to Start a Resume—20+ Examples and Tips

How to Start a Resume—20+ Examples and Tips

False starts, knuckle-cracking, hair-pulling, and groaning are no way to spend an afternoon. Learn how to start a resume so you feel good, finish fast, and land the interview.

Tom Gerencer, CPRW
Tom Gerencer, CPRW
Career Writer at ResumeLab