Careers in Public Safety: Fighting the Good Fight

by J.J. Singh
jj.singh@careertrainingdirectory.com
Career Training Directory Columnist

Remember the dramatic urban renewal efforts of New York City in the early 1990s? Police mobilized in the streets, emergency personnel responded quicker, and public safety was improved. Public safety campaigns are taking flight across the country and the need for people like you to fill public safety jobs is greater than ever.

Public Safety Jobs

When you think of public safety, you predominately think of police officers and crossing guards. While these workers are vital public servants, there are many personnel roles essential for maintaining health, peace, and security, including

• Firefighters
• Corrections Officers
• Investigators
• Detectives
• Prosecutors, Paralegals, and Legal Assistants
• Social Workers
• Emergency Medical Personnel.

All of these professionals share one thing in common: they are employed by the government and are charged with maintaining public safety as their first priority.

Public Safety School

Preparing for a career in one of these professions may seem daunting. With so many choices, where do you begin? Your first step is to identify your interests, then choose an accredited school that will land you a job in that particular field.

If you want to help people, like thinking on your feet, and enjoy science, you might chose a career in the medical field. Perhaps an EMT program would be a great place to start.

If you’re drawn to law enforcement but don’t care to use firearms, what about training to become a university police officer? There are programs that will ground you in the basics of criminal procedure.

Whatever your interest, there is a public safety school out there to aim you in the right direction. Once you’ve taken that first step, you’ll be in prime position to help our cities and towns maintain security—whether it’s guarding against terrorism or keeping our streets safe.

Source:

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security

About the Author

JJ Singh is a recently returned Peace Corps Volunteer in South America where he encountered and wrote about national security issues. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics.