Many times police officers are asked by high school-aged kids or those about to go to college, what it is like to be a police officer. It used to be students would want to know how to become a homicide detective. Most were shocked that they had to be patrol officers before they could become Dirty Harry, Kojak or Columbo.

Times have changed, but high school kids still want to get into law enforcement. Now most students will ask how they become a “CSI” (Crime Scene Investigator). I guess they want to be just like Lt. Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami, complete with the shades to pull on and off for dramatic effect and the low, whispering, tough-guy voice.

Television and movie cops have changed over the years, but they still spark an interest in the field of law enforcement. Dating myself, I was quite a fan of Police Story, Adam-12 and Hill Street Blues. At my police academy graduation, the trendy administrators put together a slide presentation and the background music — to slides of us boxing, shooting, and straining in physical training — was the theme to Hill Street Blues.

The first thing that any aspiring CSI must know is that he will probably have to become a patrol officer first if he wants to actually carry a gun and knock on doors and arrest bad guys and gals. If the aspiring CSI does not want to be as hands on and is interested in forensics and trace evidence, she may get a degree in forensics or a life science and work in a lab like the Michigan State Police Crime Laboratory, but she will probably not be allowed to drive fast with lights and siren or carry a gun.

Most CSIs locally are police patrol officers who have been specially trained in collection and preservation of evidence. Other CSIs are detectives who collect their own evidence when assigned to a case.

The common denominator here is that they are all state-certified police officers. In fact most of these CSIs have extensive experience as road patrol officers before they have the opportunity to compete or bid for specialized training in crime scene investigations.

Thus most careers in law enforcement, on the local level, start with becoming a state certified police officer and working patrol. Patrol work is the backbone of any police agency, and all other units (e.g. communications, investigations, administration, records, etc.) are there to support the first responders of the road patrol.

Police work is unique because the majority of decisions and the most discretion is at the lowest level of the chain of command. Patrol officers are given a radio run or “job” by dispatch — or they get involved as a result of their own actions — and the rest is up to the police officer on the street. The assigned officer must make all the decisions based on the law, his training and what kind of call he is on.

Once these officers arrive on scene, they “own” that scene. That means they will be legally, ethically and civilly responsible for anything good or bad that happens once they arrive.

It is truly extraordinary to think that a police officer on the street is given the tools, training and authority to make life and death decisions that even the president, governor or a Supreme Court justice cannot directly make. We as a society entrust police officers, in very narrow circumstances that will be scrutinized after the action, to use deadly force to defend citizens or themselves.

We give a police officer a badge, which is a symbol of public trust, and, after training them, expect them to make life and death decisions in as little as an eighth of a second to “shoot/don’t shoot.”

Such decisions may be studied and argued for years to come by judges, lawyers, law clerks and students, but, in that instant on the street, the police officer makes the decision that counts — for better or worse. That is a tremendous responsibility that society puts on its police officers.

I warn potential police officers (or CSIs) that police jobs are currently scarce in Michigan (other states are hiring though), the hours are terrible and you will not be loved and adored by the public. Therefore you must have a thick skin, you will at times be too hot, cold, wet, hungry, bored, scared, tired, uncomfortable, surprised, angered, degraded, attacked, censured, punished, treated “unfairly,” probably injured and potentially killed for pay and benefits that are getting worse.

However, if you can maintain your sense of decency, humor, honor and integrity, then it can be a noble and satisfying profession.

Would I do it again? You’re darn right I would!

Lock it up, don’t leave it unattended, be aware and watch out for your neighbors.

Rich Kinsey is a retired Ann Arbor police detective sergeant who now blogs about crime and safety for AnnArbor.com. He also serves as the Crime Stoppers coordinator for Washtenaw County.