Most people think that the job of police detective is full of excitements and intrigue, but the reality of the job does not justify that the belief. So many television programs show keen detectives working on intricate cases that are amazingly soled at a crucial junction in the program-usually about two minutes before it ends. When confronted with the evidence against him or her, an invariable aspect of a police detective television show is that the criminal will then confess to his crimes so that the case is solved. The irony of that situation is that it almost never happens in real life. It would certainly be an irregular case in which the criminal admits to having committed the crime. Still, there is a certain excitement that is intrinsic to the job of police detective that keeps people interested, irrespective of the fact that it is not the same as it is shown on television.
In reality, police detectives keep themselves busy with more boring tasks, such as minor juvenile crimes or neighbors that are constantly irritating each other. Junior detectives are especially likely to be given the junk cases that no one else wants, such as the case of an invalid who believes people are stealing all of his possessions, when in reality it is just his nurse putting things away for him. Television programs also show detectives that are highly independent in solving their own cases, but in real-life detectives tend to knit together as a group and most cases are resolved as the result of a joint effort. “If we could invert the number of boring cases versus the very exciting ones, real life would be more like television,” claimed one detective. It would be an invalid reason to become a police detective simply because a person thought it would be just like a TV show.” Prospective police detectives should not let the fact that the reality of the job is not so glamorous intrude upon their dreams of working as a police investigator. “People should not let the fact that the real job is not the same as on television intimidate them-it is still a very interesting job,” states one investigator. “It is a great way to learn about people, both good and bad, and about life in general in a most intimate manner. Much of the time you are working with the very basic elements of human behavior.”
In reality, police detectives keep themselves busy with more boring tasks, such as minor juvenile crimes or neighbors that are constantly irritating each other. Junior detectives are especially likely to be given the junk cases that no one else wants, such as the case of an invalid who believes people are stealing all of his possessions, when in reality it is just his nurse putting things away for him. Television programs also show detectives that are highly independent in solving their own cases, but in real-life detectives tend to knit together as a group and most cases are resolved as the result of a joint effort. “If we could invert the number of boring cases versus the very exciting ones, real life would be more like television,” claimed one detective. It would be an invalid reason to become a police detective simply because a person thought it would be just like a TV show.” Prospective police detectives should not let the fact that the reality of the job is not so glamorous intrude upon their dreams of working as a police investigator. “People should not let the fact that the real job is not the same as on television intimidate them-it is still a very interesting job,” states one investigator. “It is a great way to learn about people, both good and bad, and about life in general in a most intimate manner. Much of the time you are working with the very basic elements of human behavior.”