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Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

examining immigration applications, testifying in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and criminal cases and relaying complaint and emergency-request information to appropriate agency dispatchers. If that's your week, this page is about your job.

The honest answer

AI changes the edges of this job, not the middle: providing for public safety by maintaining order is work software can't reach.

Your move: what you can actually do about this ↓

What shifts is determining duty and taxes to be paid on goods: the overhead at the edges, not the middle you trained for.

Your week, as this page understands it

Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions. The job title says “police” or “sheriff's patrol officers”: officially one job, two names. The real job is the part underneath: providing for public safety by maintaining order. That is the thing someone has to be right about.

The exposed part of this job is specific, and we won’t pretend it is coming back. But police and sheriff's patrol officers is not one task. It is 41 scored ones, and they are nowhere near equally exposed. The most durable of them, on this evidence, is providing for public safety by maintaining order, and the ledger below shows exactly why.

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI
2%
changing shape
22%
staying human
76%

These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.

Whole-job exposure score 17 out of 100 (13–22 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, across 41 scored tasks. The number is the support for the sentence above it, not a headline about anyone’s future.

How we know this

What is measured: Every published task statement for police and sheriff's patrol officers is rated on five dimensions: can a model produce the output, does the work need a body in a room, does it need a legally accountable person, does it depend on a person being trusted in the moment, and how much data exists. A published formula turns those five ratings into the score; the model never writes the number.

How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.

Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-04. Read the full method.

Your job, task by task

These are the official task statements for this occupation, in plain English, sorted by what the evidence says is happening to each one. The official wording sits under every line so you can check the rewrite against it.

Shifting to AI

1 task

Tasks today’s tools can already do most of. This is the part we will not soften: where these rows are the bulk of your week, the week changes.

  • Determining duty and taxes to be paid on goods

    This is reading one thing and writing another: duty in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 62 out of 100 (58–66 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Duty and tax calculation follows published tariff rules, which is exactly the sort of lookup and arithmetic software does well.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 4/4.

Changing shape

9 tasks

Tasks where the machine takes the producing and a person keeps the checking, the deciding, or the answering-for-it. For most jobs this is the biggest group, and it is where "transformation, not termination" is literally visible.

  • Recording facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities

    The software now makes the first pass at facts, but someone has to be answerable for the result, and it cannot be the software. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.

    importance 5 · Core
    Source: “Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 56 out of 100 (49–63 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Turning notes into an incident report is writing software does well, though a sworn officer must stand behind what it says.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Reviewing facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations

    The software now makes the first pass at facts of incidents, but someone has to be answerable for the result, and it cannot be the software. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 56 out of 100 (49–63 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Checking facts against written statutes is text analysis software handles well, but the charging judgement stays with an officer.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Interpreting and explaining laws and regulations

    The software now makes the first pass at laws, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 46 out of 100 (42–50 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.

    The rating behind it: Explaining published laws and regulations clearly is one of the things language software does best.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 4/4.

  • Evaluating complaint and emergency-request information to determine response requirements

    The software now makes the first pass at complaint, but someone has to be answerable for the result, and it cannot be the software. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Evaluate complaint and emergency-request information to determine response requirements.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 48 out of 100 (41–55 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Working out what response an emergency call needs is triage from information, which software already assists with.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Recording and reporting job-related activities

    The software now makes the first pass at job-related activities, but someone has to be answerable for the result, and it cannot be the software. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 56 out of 100 (49–63 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Recording findings, transactions and decisions is documentation software drafts well, with an officer confirming it.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

Staying human

31 tasks

Tasks that stay with a person, because they happen in the physical world, because the rules need someone accountable, or because the value is that a specific person does them.

  • Providing for public safety by maintaining order

    This work happens in the physical world: public safety, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 5 · Core
    Source: “Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Keeping order and responding to emergencies means being physically present, and only sworn officers may enforce these laws.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 4/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Examining immigration applications, visas and passports and interviewing persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence and travel in the U.S

    This work happens in the physical world: immigration applications, visas and passports and interviewing persons, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 5 · Core
    Source: “Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 15 out of 100 (8–22 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Checking documents suits software, but interviewing arrivals happens at the border and the admission decision is legally an officer's.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Identifying pursue and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts

    This work happens in the physical world: pursue, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 5 · Core
    Source: “Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Pursuing and arresting someone is physical, and only a sworn officer may lawfully make an arrest.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 4/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Detaining persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arranging for legal action

    This work happens in the physical world: persons found, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 5 · Core
    Source: “Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Detaining someone is physical and only an authorised officer may lawfully do it.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 4/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

Show the other 31 tasks

  • Investigating applications for duty refunds and petition for remission or mitigation of penalties

    changing shape

    The software now makes the first pass at applications, but someone has to be answerable for the result, and it cannot be the software. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.

    importance 3 · Supplemental
    Source: “Investigate applications for duty refunds and petition for remission or mitigation of penalties when warranted.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 56 out of 100 (49–63 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Reviewing a refund or penalty case is documentary casework software can draft, with an officer deciding.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Verifying that the proper legal charges have been made against law offenders

    changing shape

    The software now makes the first pass at the proper legal charges have been made, but someone has to be answerable for the result, and it cannot be the software. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Verify that the proper legal charges have been made against law offenders.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 56 out of 100 (49–63 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Checking that charges match the statute is a rules-and-text comparison software does well, with an officer confirming.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Providing road information to assist motorists

    changing shape

    The software now makes the first pass at road information, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.

    importance 3 · Core
    Source: “Provide road information to assist motorists.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 53 out of 100 (49–57 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.

    The rating behind it: Road and route information is published and abundant, so software answers most of these questions well.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 4/4.

  • Relaying complaint and emergency-request information to appropriate agency dispatchers

    changing shape

    The software now makes the first pass at complaint, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Relay complaint and emergency-request information to appropriate agency dispatchers.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 42 out of 100 (35–49 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.

    The rating behind it: Passing incident details on to the right dispatcher is message handling that software routes reliably.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Informing citizens of community services and recommending options to facilitate longer-term problem resolution

    staying human

    The value here is that a specific person handles citizens of community services and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Inform citizens of community services and recommend options to facilitate longer-term problem resolution.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 39 out of 100 (32–46 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Details of local services are documented and easy to look up and explain, so software can do most of this.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Notifying patrol units to take violators into custody or to provide needed assistance or medical aid

    staying human

    The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for patrol units, and that person cannot be a piece of software.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Notify patrol units to take violators into custody or to provide needed assistance or medical aid.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 36 out of 100 (29–43 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Notifying units and requesting assistance is message passing that dispatch software handles reliably.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Processing prisoners

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: prisoners, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Supplemental
    Source: “Process prisoners, and prepare and maintain records of prisoner bookings and prisoner status during booking and pre-trial process.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 28 out of 100 (21–35 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Booking records are ordinary data entry, though the physical processing of a prisoner needs officers present.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Instituting civil and criminal prosecutions and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of those in violation of immigration or customs laws

    staying human

    The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for civil, and that person cannot be a piece of software.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Institute civil and criminal prosecutions and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of those in violation of immigration or customs laws.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 10 out of 100 (3–17 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Starting a prosecution is legally an act of an authorised official, not something software can perform.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 4/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Supervising law enforcement staff, such as jail staff, officers and deputy sheriffs

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: law enforcement staff, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Supplemental
    Source: “Supervise law enforcement staff, such as jail staff, officers, and deputy sheriffs.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 9 out of 100 (2–16 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Supervising officers and jail staff mixes being present with the personal standing to direct sworn colleagues.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Inspecting cargo, baggage and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: cargo, baggage and personal articles entering, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 5 · Core
    Source: “Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 8 out of 100 (1–15 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Screening images can be automated, but opening cargo and baggage means officers physically handling them.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Monitoring traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and exhibit safe driving procedures

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: traffic, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Monitor traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and exhibit safe driving procedures.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 8 out of 100 (0–18 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence, and it moved between repeat runs, so the range is widened.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Watching traffic at a works site means someone being there to see what drivers actually do.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Conducting community programs for all ages concerning topics

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: community programs, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 3 · Core
    Source: “Conduct community programs for all ages concerning topics such as drugs and violence.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 8 out of 100 (1–15 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Programme material can be written automatically, but running a session for a room of young people depends on the person leading it.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

  • Investigating traffic accidents and other accidents to determine causes and to determine if a crime

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: traffic accidents, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Investigate traffic accidents and other accidents to determine causes and to determine if a crime has been committed.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 6 out of 100 (0–13 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Working out how a crash happened means examining the actual scene and vehicles.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Photographing or drawing diagrams of crime or accident scenes and interviewing principals and eyewitnesses

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: diagrams of crime, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Photograph or draw diagrams of crime or accident scenes and interview principals and eyewitnesses.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 5 out of 100 (0–12 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Photographing a scene and interviewing witnesses there means being at the scene while it is fresh.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Investigating illegal or suspicious activities

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: illegal, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 3 out of 100 (0–7 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Investigating suspicious activity means going places, watching and talking to people, and it is legally an officer's job.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Monitoring note, report and investigating suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: note, report and investigating suspicious persons and situations, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Monitor, note, report, and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 3 out of 100 (0–7 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Watching a patrol area for hazards and unusual activity means physically being there.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Locating and seizing contraband, undeclared merchandise and vehicles, aircraft or boats that contain such merchandise

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: contraband, undeclared merchandise and vehicles, aircraft or boats, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 5 · Core
    Source: “Locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Locating and seizing goods or vehicles means officers physically taking possession.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 4/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Testifying regarding decisions at immigration appeals or in federal court

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: decisions, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Testify regarding decisions at immigration appeals or in federal court.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Giving testimony means a specific person appearing and answering questions under oath.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 4/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Collecting samples of merchandise

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: samples of merchandise, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Collect samples of merchandise for examination, appraisal, or testing.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Taking a physical sample of goods means an officer handling the merchandise.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Rendering aid to accident survivors and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: aid, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Render aid to accident survivors and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: First aid is hands-on care given to an injured person at the scene.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Testifying in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and criminal cases

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: court, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Testify in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and criminal cases.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Giving evidence in court means a specific sworn person standing in the witness box.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 4/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Driving vehicles or patrol specific areas to detect law violators

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: vehicles, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Drive vehicles or patrol specific areas to detect law violators, issue citations, and make arrests.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Driving a patrol route, stopping drivers and making arrests all require an officer physically present.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 4/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Executing arrest warrants, locating and taking persons into custody

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: arrest warrants, locating and taking persons, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Execute arrest warrants, locating and taking persons into custody.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Executing a warrant means finding a person and physically taking them into custody.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 4/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Patrolling specific area on foot

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: specific area, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Patrol specific area on foot, horseback, or motorized conveyance, responding promptly to calls for assistance.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Patrolling on foot, horseback or in a vehicle is presence in a place, by definition.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Directing traffic flow and reroute traffic in case of emergencies

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: traffic flow, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Direct traffic flow and reroute traffic in case of emergencies.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Directing traffic means standing in the road where drivers can see you.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Serving statements of claims, subpoenas, summonses, jury summonses, orders to pay alimony and other court orders

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: statements of claims, subpoenas, summonses, jury summonses, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Serve statements of claims, subpoenas, summonses, jury summonses, orders to pay alimony, and other court orders.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Serving court papers means handing documents to a named person in person.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Questioning individuals entering secured areas to determine their business

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: individuals entering secured areas, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Question individuals entering secured areas to determine their business, directing and rerouting individuals as necessary.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Stopping and questioning people at an entrance means standing there in person.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

  • Patrolling and guarding courthouses

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: courthouses, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Patrol and guard courthouses, grand jury rooms, or assigned areas to provide security, enforce laws, maintain order, and arrest violators.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Guarding a courthouse or secured area means a person standing in that place.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Transporting or escorting prisoners and defendants en route

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: prisoners, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Transport or escort prisoners and defendants en route to courtrooms, prisons or jails, attorneys' offices, or medical facilities.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Moving a prisoner from one place to another requires officers physically escorting them.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Locating and confiscating real or personal property

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: real, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 3 · Core
    Source: “Locate and confiscate real or personal property, as directed by court order.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.

    The rating behind it: Seizing property under a court order means officers physically taking it.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

  • Placing people in protective custody

    staying human

    This work happens in the physical world: people, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.

    importance 4 · Core
    Source: “Place people in protective custody.” (O*NET task statement)
    How this row was scored

    Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.

    Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.

    The rating behind it: Taking someone into protective custody is a physical act carried out by a person with legal powers.

    The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 4/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

What this job pays, and how many people do it

Median pay
$76,210a year, the middle of the range, so half earn more and half earn less.bls-oews, 2025 · May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx)
How we know this

Source: bls-oews

Reference period: May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx)

Rounding: Shown as published.

People doing this job
670,520in the US, 2025.bls-oews · May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx)

What is deliberately not here: a forecast of how many of these jobs exist in ten years. Where an official projection exists for a market we publish it with its vintage; where it does not, we leave the space empty rather than borrow the other country’s number.

Why this is shifting

The reason is boringly specific. Most of what is shifting here is reading one thing and writing another: duty in, a record out. The rows above are exactly that shape: determining duty and taxes to be paid on goods and recording facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities. What it cannot do is be answerable: public safety needs a named person the rules will accept, and software cannot be that person. Which is why this page talks about your tasks changing, not your job ending.

Your move

Over a pint: what I’d tell you if you were my friend

Start with what does not change: providing for public safety by maintaining order is the middle of this job, and the evidence on this page says it stays with a person.

So, given all that: 2% of this job's task weight sits in rows the software is already learning, 22% in rows that change shape rather than disappear, and 76% in rows it is nowhere near. That is the position, measured across 41 scored tasks. It is not a forecast about you.

So the thing worth your attention is not the job going away. It is the layer around it. Determining duty and taxes to be paid on goods is the part turning into software, and being the person who understands that layer is worth money.

This week: one thing

Ask the one question. Find whoever is bringing new software into your workplace (the manager, the office, whoever runs the system) and ask them what it is meant to do to duty, and what it is not meant to touch. Ten minutes, this week, before anyone decides it for you.

What you end up holding
a straight answer about what is actually being rolled out, and when
How long it takes
ten minutes

If there’s nobody obvious to ask, or you’d rather not ask your manager: Put the same question to your union rep, your shift lead or the person who has been there longest, in person, over a break. Same ten minutes, same answer, and you will usually get a straighter one. Write down what they say. The note is the artifact, and it tells you whether public safety is in scope or not. Nothing to log into, no license needed.

Over the next 90 days

Get inside the tool rollout rather than waiting for it. Over the next ninety days, ask to be in the group that tests, checks or signs off whatever new system arrives near recording facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities. It is usually an unglamorous seat that nobody fights for, and it is the one that decides how the software is used on your job rather than to it.

Over the next 12 months

On this evidence I would not retrain out of this job, and I will say that plainly rather than hedge it. The task list here is dominated by work that stays with a person. What I would do with a year is get formally recognised for the layer around it (the systems, the compliance, the planning), so you are the one who understands the software instead of the one it is done to. Before you pay for anything, use CareerOneStop - Find local training. It is free, it is the Labor Department's own service, and it is listed below with the rest of the free routes.

The roads out of here, and why I am not sending you down them

I looked at the obvious moves out of this job, and here is what I found.

I checked the 12 nearest US occupations to police and sheriff's patrol officers (nearest by the work that AI is not taking, not by job title), and none of them survived. The closest was detectives and criminal investigators: only about 5% of its durable work is work you already do and there are far fewer of those jobs than of yours. And on the numbers you do not need one. This job scores 17/100 here, with only 2% of the task list in the top band, and “provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people…” is not work that hands over cleanly. None of them beats deepening what you already have.

How that was checked: this job was compared against all 830 US occupations in this release on their official task statements, and the 12 nearest were examined one by one. A move that turns on an industry, an employer or a qualification rather than on the work itself will not show up in a check like that. And this release carries no licence register, so anything you are weighing needs that looked up separately.

3 moves I checked and rejected

These are the obvious-looking jumps. They are here with their reasons rather than quietly dropped, because the ones that fail are worth knowing about. It is one less thing to turn over at night.

  • Detectives and Criminal Investigators

    Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already testify in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and…, and their equivalent is to testify in court and present evidence. Across both published task lists that is about 5% of the durable work in that job.

    Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 5% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step. And it is a narrow door: about 114,430 of those jobs against 670,520 of yours (OEWS May 2025), 17% as many seats.

    Look at that job’s page anyway →

  • Fish and Game Wardens

    Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already execute arrest warrants, locating and taking persons into custody, and their equivalent is to serve warrants and make arrests. Across both published task lists that is about 3% of the durable work in that job.

    Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 3% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step. And it is a narrow door: about 5,770 of those jobs against 670,520 of yours (OEWS May 2025), 1% as many seats.

    Look at that job’s page anyway →

  • Bailiffs

    Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already execute arrest warrants, locating and taking persons into custody, and their equivalent is to arrest persons in court when arrest warrants have been issued. Across both published task lists that is about 2% of the durable work in that job.

    Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 2% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step. It is a pay cut, in those words: $56,600 against your $76,210, 25.7% less (OEWS May 2025 (both)). Retraining to earn less is a decision, not advice. And it is a narrow door: about 17,310 of those jobs against 670,520 of yours (OEWS May 2025), 3% as many seats.

    Look at that job’s page anyway →

What I’d stop worrying about

A friend tells you what not to spend fear on. This is that list.

  • The headline number you read somewhere

    The big “X% of jobs” figures are about the whole economy, not about you. The number that describes your job is on this page: 2% of its task weight, across 41 scored tasks. Every row behind it is printed above with the source. Check ours; ignore theirs.

  • The headlines about your trade disappearing

    They are usually about the technology, not the timetable. Changes to work like providing for public safety by maintaining order arrive through rules, insurance and money, slowly and visibly. This page tracks the task evidence and will move when it moves.

  • Retraining out of a job that is holding up

    On this evidence I would not spend money leaving. Spend it on the layer around the job instead: the tools, the paperwork, the planning. That is where the change actually is.

  • The “obvious” next job everyone suggests

    I checked the obvious moves and most of them did not survive. The reasons are printed with the routes above, including the pay and the gate. A move that fails on the numbers is worth knowing about so you can stop turning it over at night.

You are reading the United States figures

The United Kingdom splits this work across more than one official group, of which Police officers (sergeant and below) is the closest. The pay and employment figures are not directly comparable, and we do not average them together.

Switch to the United Kingdom page →partial match

The other groups this work is counted across:

In UK official statistics this job is counted as Police officers (sergeant and below) and Police community support officers. Pay is shown separately for each of those groups (medians cannot be averaged together), while the task list and the scores on this page are for this group only.

Your route through this

Where to go next, and what it costs

Free, and complete

The moves above cost nothing. These are the real services that go with them: public, government-funded, and free at the point of use. Nothing on this page is behind an email address or a payment.

Why there is no community here

Collab365, who build this site, run paid Spaces for a small number of subjects, and none of them is built for this job. We are not going to point you at the nearest one and call it a fit.

So the free services listed on this page are the whole answer, and it is the same answer we would give a friend.

Noted, and thank you. We’ll email you if a Space for police / sheriff's patrol officers launches. Nothing else.

That did not look like an email address, so nothing was saved. Have another go below.

We could not save that. The fault is ours, not yours, and your address was not stored. Please try again later.

No Space for police / sheriff's patrol officers yet. Should there be one?

Collab365 Spaces is built by the same people as this site. We find the problems that AI and automation are creating inside one kind of work, then solve them as short courses, briefings and Blueprints. Each Space is the community too, so the research and the people doing your job are in the same place.

What a Space actually is, in full

Collab365 launches new communities where the need is real. If one for police / sheriff's patrol officers existed, with researched problems, courses and people in the same boat, would you want in?

We use your email address for one thing: to tell you if a Space for police / sheriff's patrol officers launches. We never sell it, never use it for unrelated marketing, and every email has a one-click unsubscribe. Our privacy policy has the full version.

This unlocks nothing. Every figure, every row and every step on this page is already yours, whether you fill this in or not.

No deadline on any of this. The page will still be here, and the data is refreshed on a published schedule rather than when someone wants a headline.

Questions people ask about this job

Will AI replace Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?
Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 41 official task statements scored for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (United States, SOC 33-3051), 2% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 17 out of 100 (range 13–22, band: minimal). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.
Which tasks in “Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers” can AI already do?
The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods” (62/100, high); “Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions” (56/100, partial); “Investigate applications for duty refunds and petition for remission or mitigation of penalties when warranted” (56/100, partial). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.
Which tasks in “Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers” stay human?
About 76% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Place people in protective custody” (0/100, minimal); “Locate and confiscate real or personal property, as directed by court order” (0/100, minimal); “Transport or escort prisoners and defendants en route to courtrooms, prisons or jails, attorneys' offices, or medical facilities” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.
What should someone working in “Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers” do about AI?
Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 2% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 76% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.
How is the AI exposure score for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers calculated?
Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 41 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

Where these numbers come from

About the data on this page

  • One task scored differently between repeat runs, so its range on this page is wider. We would rather show the wobble than hide it.
  • The match between this job and its counterpart in the other country is partial, so the two pages count slightly different groups of people.
  • 6 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
  • Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.
Task statements
onet-dbProcessing: catalogue-bridge → onet-im-rt-weighting → task-scoring → score-aggregation
Task weights
onet-db (im-rt)
Scores
Rubric task_scoring_v1.0, model claude-opus-5, computed 2026-08-04.
Pay and employment
bls-oews (May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx))bls-oews (May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx))

Figures on this page come from release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Every release keeps its own permanent address, so a figure you cite in March is still there, unchanged, in November.

The plain-English wording on this page is assembled directly from the task statements and the published ratings, not written by hand for this occupation. That is why it is specific, and it is also why we say so.

The routes and free resources further up are today’s, not the release’s (last reviewed 2026-08-05). A route is an offer, not a historical fact, so it moves on its own clock.

How we score a jobDownload this releaseLook up another job

Using these figures?

Cite this

Everything on this site is published under CC BY 4.0. Quote it, chart it, sell something built on it. Just say where it came from, and cite the dated release rather than the site, so the figure you quote stays checkable.

Plain text

Collab365 (2026). Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1 (methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0). https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Built with O*NET data (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); ONS data (Open Government Licence v3.0); GAISI task framework (arXiv:2507.22748, MIT); BLS data (public domain).

BibTeX

@misc{collab365futureproof2026q41,
  title        = {Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1},
  author       = {{Collab365}},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1},
  note         = {Release 2026-q4.1, methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0, CC BY 4.0}
}

Permalink

https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1

Data as of release 2026-q4.1, published . Releases never change after publication; when the figures move, a new dated release is published beside this one and this one stays exactly where it is.