Sergeant

Briefly explain what you do for a living.

I work as a field commander at the Police. I manage the daily work of the police, and I myself participate in the work in the field. I am responsible for resources and occupational safety and for supervising the implementation of tasks. I also do supervision work, which is part of police work, support other police units in, for example, searches of premises and participate in executive assistance tasks. 

I also serve as the leader of a police field team. As a supervisor, I manage the administrative matters of the team and think about how the team could be developed. I also have some responsibilities in terms of training. 

How have you ended up in the profession of your choice?

My interest in working in the security field already arose as a child with the example of a loved-one. I performed military service at the Finnish Border Guard and long pondered whether I would be interested in working for the Border Guard or the Police, but I eventually chose the police profession. 

Describe your typical working day or week.

Because I work as a supervisor, the first working hour is spent on planning the day, such as sharing work tasks and other running matters.  The next 12 hours are spent on emergency duties and various types of supervision and executive assistance tasks. In the field, we almost always work with a partner. It is not possible to know in advance what tasks will come up during the day, but we can prepare for certain things in advance, such as for large public events.   

As a field commander, I talk a lot on the phone and follow real-time radio traffic. In other words, many conversations with the customer or colleague are interrupted during the day. 

What kind of work environment or working hours do you have?

I do paperwork and talk on the phone in the police car and at the police department. Other tasks are carried out in various places, such as people’s homes, marketplaces, shopping centres, in the terrain, waterways and on roads. The risks associated with the working environment vary, but I consider traffic to be the greatest safety risk. In addition, you must protect yourself from aggressive customers, infectious diseases and noise. The profession involves a lot of outdoor work in all kinds of weather conditions. 

I come to work either early in the morning or when the afternoon falls into the evening. The length of the shift is 12–13 hours. Field police work shifts, and the rhythm sometimes needs to be reversed several times a week.  

What kind of competence or qualities are required in the profession?

The work of the police requires excellent interaction skills with both customers and colleagues. You must be able to read people’s behaviour and react quickly to changing situations. The ability to produce clear and comprehensible text is also essential, as the work includes a lot of writing. Police officers working in the field are required to be fit, as they sometimes also have physical contact with customers. In addition, shift work requires good health.  

The field commander is required to be pressure-resistant and patient, as the phone rings, on average, three times during one toilet visit. The field commander must be able to manage several unfinished matters at the same time.  

What is the best thing about your profession?

The best part is when a huge effort eventually produces results, for example, when an elderly person who has disappeared in the forest during berry picking is found after a long search. 

What are the downsides of the profession or what seems challenging?

Compared to the population, Finland has the lowest number of police officers in Europe, so the amount of resources causes stress. The problem is particularly emphasised in sparsely populated areas, where the arrival of the police sometimes takes a very long time. The too low number of police officers weakens occupational safety, for which I am responsible as the field commander.  

The police are not always a desired guest, but it is the duty of the police to monitor compliance with the law. Continuous changes in legislation in the midst of all the rush also sometimes seem challenging. 

What would you tell a person considering the profession of a sergeant?

The profession of a police officer is suitable for ordinary people, which means that you do not need to be a superhero. It is good to be aware that the police work daily with people's crises, sorrow, loss and other unpleasant things. Having your own life on a stable foundation helps you cope. You must not take the work too personally, even if you put your heart into it. Previous work and life experiences are often useful. 

Despite everything, I believe that the Finnish Police is the best workplace in the world. The salary is not the best, but I do not think that many other workplaces can offer a similar sense of belonging among colleagues.  

How do you see the future of your profession?

The tasks of the police will not end, and the work of the police cannot be automated. As an employer, the Police offers stability when you get a permanent post. In the future, the police will be increasingly required to have language skills, IT skills and the ability to anticipate changing threats.