There are plenty of reasons a job-seeker may wish to become involved in law enforcement. Some applicants may be looking for excitement, honor, or the lofty pursuit of justice. Others, however, may find themselves in a police uniform simply because there are jobs available.

Across the U.S., law enforcement and public safety programs have experienced an upsurge in total applicants, the Gaston Gazette reports. As laid-off workers leave the shrinking manufacturing industry and train for new careers, many have recognized that as long as crime persists, the law will need to be upheld.

Dennis Crosby, the director of the Gaston College Criminal Justice Academy, runs a 624-hour course that all North Carolina police officers and sheriff’s deputies are required to complete. Citing that this session the academy's faculty gave out 120 application packets, Crosby told the news source, "We have had significantly more interest than we have had in the past."

The Gastonia Police Department has already received more applications this year than in 2008.

Acknowledging this trend, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that assuming our population grows and remains security-conscious, employment in the field of law enforcement is expected to grow 11% until 2006.