I can't speak specifically about Orange County, FL, but generally speaking, one of the nice things about being a police officer is that you usually don't know what you will be doing most days. While working as a patrol officer, you should expect practically anything. Reports of thefts, vandalism, domestic disputes, and drug use are common. When not responding to calls or on an assignment, patrol officers should patrol their assigned areas in an attempt to deter crime, promote a feeling of safety, and detect suspicious activity and crime, etc. Patrol officers are constantly looking for people in need of assistance, and opportunities to interact with the community in positive ways. Traffic stops are great ways to keep streets safe, arrest bad guys, and do a little PR with the community when the officer conducts him or herself professionally and uses good discretion as to whether to issue a citation or warning. As a patrolman, your duties can vary greatly!
If you are assigned to a unit such as a narcotics unit or an anti-gang unit, then your duties would be focused mainly on enforcing laws pertaining to such and ridding the community of problems related to such. You might be doing undercover work, surveillance work, intelligence work, and/or tactical work. Some patrol officers work regular patrol while focusing primarily on drug law enforcement or assisting with gang investigations, etc.
As a sergeant, you have more responsibility. Depending on where you work, you are likely to still patrol. You would indeed have more administrative duties than a patrolman. As a sergeant, one of your primary duties is to make sure that your officers are taken care of, and to make sure that they do their best and do what they are supposed to do as patrol officers.
Good luck! Keep us posted!
