The average salary of police officers in Rhode Island was $56,210 in 2014, although individuals can significantly bump their salaries as they rise through the ranks.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said there were 1,950 police and sheriff's patrol officers working in Rhode Island. Making just over $56,000 put the officers at a higher average salary than most of the
country, according to Payscale.com, although police in large cities earned more.
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First-line supervisors of police and detectives increased their average earnings in Rhode Island, making closer to $77,030, the BLS said.
Rhode Island State Police officers earn a beginning salary of $50,799 and can raise their annual salaries to $61,935 over a four-year period,
according to the RISP website.
Varying salaries are offered by police departments in different cities, although Providence and Newport officers earn a median salary almost the same – $55,349
and $55,755, respectively, according to Salary.com.
Police officers often have the opportunity to increase their paychecks, sometimes through overtime, but also, according to the Providence's GoLocalProv publication, by working special details. That can include parades, concerts, or working with local businesses.
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, GoLocalProv reported that 118 police officers in the city made more than $100,000 during that year.
"The police officer who took home the largest amount of detail pay was Andrew J. Frolich, who earned $73,291 in detail pay last fiscal year," the website reported. "All things considered, Frolich earned $140,103 last year. More than half his pay came from working detail."
Nationwide,
the BLS estimated more than 12,000 police departments with a total of 477,000 sworn officers with general arrest powers work in all 50 states in 2013.
Most, typically, are required to attend and graduate from a police academy and many earn criminal justice degrees. Background checks, driving record checks as well as credit reports are often mandatory. Other requirements include physical fitness as well as work flexibility as the job often requires long and round-the-clock hours.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said jobs for police officers and detectives were projected to grow about 5 percent between 2012 and 2022, describing demands for such jobs as "slower than the average for all occupations."
The agency noted that demand for such jobs would be constant but increases would be connected to funds allocated in state and local budgets.
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