PROFESSIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES BEGAN IN THE MID-NINETEENTH CENTURY. THEY SERVED AS A DETERRENT TO POTENTIAL LAWBREAKERS. THE MODERN FUNCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IS POLICE PATROL, EITHER BY CAR OR ON FOOT, TRAFFIC CONTROL, AND DETECTIVE WORK. ALL POLICE OFFICERS MUST BE QUALIFIED IN THESE ASPECTS OF THEIR DUTIES. IN MANY PLACES, THE POTENTIAL OFFICER MUST PASS A TEST OF GENERAL APTITUDE AND THEN GO THROUGH A TRAINING PROGRAM AT A POLICE ACADEMY. AT THE ACADEMY, SUBJECTS DEALING WITH LAW, POLICE SCIENCE, AND SOCIAL SCIENCE ARE TAUGHT. OTHER AREAS OF EDUCATION INCLUDE INSTRUCTION IN THE USE OF FIREARMS AND PHYSICAL TRAINING. THE CANDIDATES MUST PASS RIGOROUS EXAMINATIONS IN ORDER TO BE CHOSEN FOR THE POLICE FORCE. THE NEW OFFICERS ARE PUT INTO PROBATIONARY DUTY, WHERE THEY ARE VERY CLOSELY SUPERVISED DURING THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD. A GROWING TREND IN POLICE WORK IS HIGHER EDUCATION -- MANY OFFICERS ATTEND CLASSES IN THE AREA OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. THERE IS A GOOD FUTURE IN POLICE WORK THROUGH ADVANCEMENT IN RANK AND OTHER SALARY OPPORTUNITIES. HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME DISADVANTAGES TO POLICE WORK. THERE ARE LONG BORING HOURS OF PATROL DUTY, EXTREME DANGER IN MANY AREAS OF PATROL WORK, AND FILING PAPERWORK AND APPEARING IN COURT. THERE ARE OTHER TYPES OF POLICE WORK, INCLUDING STATE POLICING, WHICH DEALS MAINLY WITH TRAFFIC CONTROL; AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH INCLUDES WORK WITH THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT, AND THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. MANY POLICE DEPARTMENTS CAN USE OFFICERS TRAINED IN ANIMAL OBEDIENCE, PHOTOGRAPHY, ART, AND EDUCATION. MANY OF THE YOUNGER OFFICERS ARE MOTIVATED TO HELP PEOPLE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS IN POLICE WORK. (BAC)