Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Protective Service
Investigates suspected law violations by collecting statements, securing scenes, and building a written record that can support warrants and charges. Work often starts at a crime scene: checking whether a victim is still alive, taking an incident summary without disturbing evidence, and keeping bystanders from tampering with a body until the medical examiner arrives. Interviews with complainants, witnesses, and accused persons are recorded; items from scenes and suspects are preserved, processed, and later destroyed when no longer needed. Progress is logged in suspect files and in reports to a commanding officer or magistrate. Suits people who like careful questioning, methodical evidence handling, and detailed written accounts.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$93'790
Median Wage Market Position
$93'790
What you might do
- Question witnesses and record their statements
- Gather and protect evidence from crime scenes
- Check victims for breathing and a pulse
- Keep case files and report findings to superiors
- Get a scene summary without moving evidence
- Draft charges and paperwork for court cases
Skills that matter
- Interviewing witnesses and accused persons
- Checking victims for breathing and pulse
- Securing bodies and scene evidence
- Building case files on suspects
- Preparing charges and investigation reports
- Processing evidence from crime scenes
AI & the future of this role
Interviews, scene work, and case strategy still lean on human judgment, rapport, and courtroom-ready accountability. Analytics may speed record searches or tip triage, yet building a defensible case and handling sensitive contacts keep investigators essential.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details