Crime is everywhere and it takes a special group or team of people to stop it or to make crime less attractive. The main task of the police and security agents is to maintain justice, order and peace. To keep the peace, police officers must attend an academy that will prepare them for most situations they will face later in their careers. Some situations require a more intense way to resolve a problem, such as using force or fearing the offender into giving in to what the police ask. In some cases the offenders are too volatile or risky for a police officer with basic training, so it is necessary to use the SWAT team. The SWAT or "special weapons and tactics" team unit is a more trained police force. This is a select group of officers who have undergone more training and experience than the average police officer. Without police or security, civilians may not feel as safe as they do now when walking the streets or going to a public event. People who want to be part of such a unit and are willing to put people before themselves will need to know what it takes to be a police officer. Academy and Education To be a police officer they must attend a police academy or training program which usually lasts 12 to 14 weeks depending on the area. The program includes classroom instruction on state and county laws, constitutional laws, accident investigations and civil rights. The more live action lessons are first aid, hand-to-hand combat, emergency response, firearms and traffic control. To enter the academy police cadets must be citizens of the United States and never convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, cadets must be able to pass an extensive background check as well as a… medium of paper… if arrest suspects. Police officers arrest violators; it is therefore up to them to judge whether to issue a summons, warn them or detain the offender. Some officers only respond to certain types of crimes, such as narcotics and domestic calls. Agents normally work full time and overtime is very common, agents work in shifts and can be called when needed, whether it is a backup or an incident, agents must respond. Crime will always be prevalent and police and law enforcement will always be necessary. The need for police officers will increase 11% from 2012 to 2022. The average salary for a police officer in 2012 was $56,980, the highest 10% earned $93,450 with the lowest. percent earning $33,060. The retirement age for police and detectives is usually lower, and benefit amounts are a great way to keep officers on duty.