Jobs for Retired Police Officers

As the saying goes, "When one door closes, another one opens." Nothing could be more true for police officers entering retirement. Whether transitioning to a similar career or starting something entirely new, their skills and abilities can make a positive contribution to a variety of roles outside of police work.

What Do Police Officers Do After Retirement?

Many former officers choose to pursue a second career in law enforcement-related fields like forensic analysis, security or fraud investigation, according to Dr. David "Lou" Ferland, a retired police chief and current criminal justice instructor at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Others opt for roles that allow them to leverage their experience in new ways, like teaching, training or starting their own business.

“Retirement allows you the freedom to pursue something that you might have put off during your police career, and now you find time and some steady retirement money to chase that next dream,” Ferland said.

What Are Some Careers Related to Being a Police Officer?

Careers in security, investigations, consulting and education can all be related to a career as a police officer. And for retired officers who already have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, the options are even greater.

“Many (retired officers) will take up lighter, criminal justice-affiliated careers such as court security, consulting, teaching, federal security jobs or private investigations,” Ferland said. “These jobs offer a change of pace and usually far less work hours than what they were doing full time as a police officer.”

According to Ferland, here are three jobs that are well-suited for someone with previous law enforcement experience:

• Criminal Justice Instructor: After retiring from the police force, it can be an easy transition into mentoring the next generation of law enforcement officers by teaching criminal justice at a college or university. A former officer’s leadership skills, attention to detail and years of experience in the field make them a great fit for this role. To teach at the college level, you may need a master's degree or higher, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
  
  
• Private Investigator: As a private investigator, a retired officer can use their interrogation and surveillance skills to get to the bottom of tough cases for individuals or help corporations with civil or criminal cases. Retired officers are well suited for this job due to their experience investigating and interviewing subjects.
  
  
• Security Consultant: With expertise in risk assessment and crisis management, a retired police officer can be a great fit for work in high-level security consulting for major corporations or VIPs. As a consultant, they can help businesses develop security policies and procedures.

"There are wonderful possibilities and new challenges out there if you want them," said Ferland, who became executive director of the United States Police Canine Association when he retired from policing. "There is a need for the next generation of police officers to have the knowledge and experiences passed down from those retiring."

What is the Highest Paying Civilian Job in Law Enforcement? 

According to BLS, two of the highest-paying civilian jobs related to law enforcement are in cybersecurity and claims investigations.*

Information Security Analyst

Protecting digital assets and investigating cybercrime as an information security analyst offered a median annual income of $120,360 in 2023, according to BLS.*

Two important qualities needed to become an information security analyst are problem-solving and communication skills, BLS reported. And, according to Nolan, those qualities typically overlap a police officer's skill set.

"Four skills that most seasoned officers possess are critical thinking ability, problem-solving, decision-making and communication skills," Nolan said.

Claims Investigator

Investigating and evaluating claims for insurance companies is another field where retired police officers excel due to their attention to detail and critical thinking skills. Some employers prefer candidates with a law enforcement background as they likely possess crucial interviewing skills, BLS reported.

Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners and investigators earned a median annual wage of $75,020 in 2023, according to BLS.*

At What Age Do Most Police Officers Retire?

The retirement age for police officers can vary widely, according to Edward Nolan, an SNHU criminal justice instructor and retired police chief with 43 years of experience in law enforcement.

“The sheer number of officers retiring and the variety of circumstances of each retiree make it hard to pin down an exact age," Nolan said.

That being said, an officer’s retirement age typically depends on when they meet the eligibility requirements for their pension and benefits.

According to Ferland, who retired after 30 years of police work, an agency may offer retirement after 20 or 25 years of service, allowing officers to retire in their 40s or early 50s, depending on their age when they joined the force. However, some officers might retire even earlier due to the physically demanding nature of the job.

Is a Retired Cop Still a Cop?

A retired police officer is no longer an active law enforcement official but may retain some legal privileges, such as carrying a concealed weapon under specific federal laws like the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA).

Although a retired officer no longer holds the same active-duty authority, they will always have their experience and skills to take with them, no matter where they go next.

Transitioning from Law Enforcement to a New Career

A successful career change starts with evaluating career goals, identifying transferable skills and seeking additional education, if needed, to secure fulfilling post-retirement employment.

“An assessment should be made of the desired second career’s job requirements to determine if further education, experience or training is required,” Nolan said. Once you've identified any skill or knowledge gaps, you can seek out training or credentials that can help you better qualify for roles of interest.

Getting that extra training can help applicants become more appealing to potential employers, according to Nolan.

"I knew I wanted a new career track when I retired and thought back to my high school graduation when my dream was to become a teacher," Nolan said. "I sought every training opportunity and experience that would aid me in reaching my career goals and my post-career dream of teaching."

During his law enforcement career, Nolan became a certified curriculum developer, designing and implementing police training courses for the Massachusetts Police Training Council. That experience enabled Nolan to later help develop classes for several colleges and universities.

Some careers may require additional certifications or education after retirement, such as obtaining a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential or a graduate certificate in forensic accounting and fraud examination for fraud investigation, or a cybersecurity certificate for a career as a security analyst.

Retirees may also choose to ease into a second career by consulting or working in a part-time role before committing to a full-time job. According to Ferland, freelance writing can be a great choice for retired officers as well.

“I find reading others’ books who were on the job to be terrific, and I wish more police officers would put their stories down on paper and publish them,” said Ferland, who wrote the book “Historic Crimes & Justice in Portsmouth, New Hampshire” when he retired.

Retirement from policing is not the end of a professional career — it’s a new chapter. By leveraging transferable skills and seeking additional training, former officers can find a fulfilling and financially rewarding career after law enforcement.

“While it is hard to leave what you love behind, and maybe police work is in your DNA, there are wonderful opportunities after a noble career serving the community as a police officer,” Ferland said.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Amanda Hernandez is a copywriter at SNHU. She earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications and has worked in higher ed marketing since 2011 as a copywriter, editor and content manager.