Description
Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
- • Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse.
- • Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.
- • Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior to medical examiner's arrival.
- • Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
- • Prepare charges or responses to charges, or information for court cases, according to formalized procedures.
- • 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 summary of incident from officer in charge at crime scene, taking care to avoid disturbing evidence.
- • Note, mark, and photograph location of objects found, such as footprints, tire tracks, bullets and bloodstains, and take measurements of the scene.
- • Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.
- • Examine records and governmental agency files to find identifying data about suspects.
- • Secure persons at scene, keeping witnesses from conversing or leaving the scene before investigators arrive.
- • Provide information to lab personnel concerning the source of an item of evidence and tests to be performed.
- • Analyze completed police reports to determine what additional information and investigative work is needed.
- • Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.
- • Prepare and serve search and arrest warrants.
- • Question individuals or observe persons and establishments to confirm information given to patrol officers.
- • Identify case issues and evidence needed, based on analysis of charges, complaints, or allegations of law violations.
- • Participate or assist in raids and arrests.
- • Organize scene search, assigning specific tasks and areas of search to individual officers and obtaining adequate lighting as necessary.
- • Summon medical help for injured individuals and alert medical personnel to take statements from them.
- • Notify command of situation and request assistance.
- • Testify before grand juries concerning criminal activity investigations.
- • Block or rope off scene and check perimeter to ensure that entire scene is secured.
- • Notify, or request notification of, medical examiner or district attorney representative.
- • Search for and collect evidence, such as fingerprints, using investigative equipment.
- • Determine scope, timing, and direction of investigations.
- • Maintain surveillance of establishments to obtain identifying information on suspects.
- • Collaborate with other offices and agencies to exchange information and coordinate activities.
- • Perform undercover assignments and maintain surveillance, including monitoring authorized wiretaps.
- • Examine records to locate links in chains of evidence or information.
Related specializations
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Available on paid plans only
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Public Service & Safety
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
