Public Safety Career Cluster
Colorado Community College System
Public Safety Pathways
Planning, managing, and providing legal, public safety, protective
services and homeland security, including professional and technical
support service

The Public Safety cluster is divided into 5
career pathways





Correction Services
Emergency and Fire Management Services
Security and Protective Services
Law Enforcement Services
Legal Services
Corrections Services
Responsible for guarding people who have been arrested or convicted
of a crime-their primary mission is to protect the public

Correctional Officer -- $39,020


Probation Officer -- $47,200


Bachelor’s Degree
Social Workers -- $42,480


High School Diploma or Equivalent
Bachelor’s Degree
Criminal Justice Teachers -- $58,040

Bachelor’s Degree to Doctoral Degree
Emergency & Fire Management
Services
Responsible for putting out fires, treating injuries, and performing other
vital functions-firefighters and emergency service workers help protect
the public

Firefighter -- $42,250


Emergency Management Director -- $59,770


Bachelor’s Degree
EMT and Paramedic -- $40,360


Postsecondary Non-degree Award
Postsecondary Non-degree Award + EMT/Paramedic
License
Hazardous Materials Remover -- $37,600

High School Diploma
Law Enforcement Services
Duties include controlling traffic, investigating crimes, maintaining
order, enforcing laws, issuing tickets, and investigation of accidents

Police Patrol Officer -- $55,270


Forensic Science Technician -- $51,570


Associate’s Degree to Bachelor’s Degree
Transportation Security Screener -- $32,970


Bachelor’s Degree
Bailiff -- $36,840


Associate’s Degree to Bachelor’s Degree
High School Diploma
Detective & Criminal Investigator -- $74,300

Associate’s Degree to Bachelor’s Degree
Legal Services
People working in this field hold positions of great responsibility and are
obligated to follow a strict code of ethics

Lawyer -- $112,760


Court Reporters -- $47,700


Law Degree
Mediator -- $91,800


Postsecondary Non-degree Award
Judge -- $91,800


Doctoral or Professional Degree
Master’s Degree in Public Policy or a Law Degree
Paralegal/Legal Assistant -- $46,680

Associate’s Degree
Security and Protective
Services
Employees in this field often work in public buildings, factories,
warehouses, government buildings, and military bases-they protect
products, computers, machines, laboratories, and/or people

Security Guard -- $23,970


Loss Prevention Manager -- $42,870


High School Diploma
Private Detective/Investigator -- $42,870


High School Diploma
Postsecondary Non-degree Award
Animal Control -- $31,680

Postsecondary Non-degree Award
Knowledge

Law and Government


Public Safety and Security


Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents,
government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the
democratic political process.
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and
strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security
operations for the protection of people, data, property, and
institutions.
English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language
including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of
composition, and grammar.
Knowledge Continued

Administration and Management


Psychology


Knowledge of business and management principles involved in
strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources
modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and
coordination of people and resources.
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual
differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and
motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment
and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer
and personal services. This includes customer needs
assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and
evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Knowledge Continued

Personnel and Human Resources


Education and Training


Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel
recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits,
labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information
systems.
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training
design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and
the measurement of training effects. Sociology and
Anthropology — Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics,
societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity,
cultures and their history and origins.
Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic
equipment, and computer hardware and software, including
applications and programming.
Student Organizations

HOSA – Future Health Professionals


This organization is for students interested in pursuing careers in
the health field. These fields would include Emergency
Management Services (EMS, EMT, Fire Science) and Medical
Forensics.
SkillsUSA

This organization is for students interested in pursuing careers in
the law enforcement field. These fields would include police,
criminal justice, crime scene investigations, etc.
Skills

Active Listening


Speaking


Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination


Giving full attention to what other people are saying,
taking time to understand the points being made,
asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting
at inappropriate times.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths
and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions
or approaches to problems.
Skills Continued

Management of Personnel Resources


Monitoring


Motivating, developing, and directing people as they
work, identifying the best people for the job.
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other
individuals, or organizations to make improvements or
take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in
work related documents.
Skills Continued

Time Management


Judgment and Decision Making


Managing one's own time and the time of
others.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of
potential actions to choose the most
appropriate one.
Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional
methods and procedures appropriate for the
situation when learning or teaching new
things.
Is Law, Public Safety,
Corrections & Security the Right
Cluster for You?





1. Do you do well in English courses?
2. Do you have a clean police record?
3. Do you enjoy meeting and interacting
with strangers?
4. Do you keep your cool in stressful or
dangerous situations?
5. Do you watch shows such as CSI and
Law and Order?





6. Do you believe that public service is
rewarding?
7. Are you more comfortable being
outdoors than being inside?
8. Do you enjoy using technology such as
computers?
9. Are you good at taking orders, obeying
rules, and following instructions?
10. Are you interested in homeland security?

If you answered “yes” to 5 or more questions this
might be the right career cluster for you!