A writer's job guide: the police officer

Apr 13, 2025

When crafting stories with crime, mystery, suspense, or even just everyday life, at some point, your characters may cross paths with the law. But not all police officers in fiction need to be hard-nosed detectives or corrupt enforcers.

If you want to write believable law enforcement characters, you need more than a badge and a gun: you need purpose, depth, and nuance.

Why Would You Need a Police Officer?

Including a police officer in your story can serve many narrative purposes. Whether they are a main character, supporting cast, or even an antagonist, cops bring structure, conflict, and stakes into a scene.

Here are some reasons you might need one:

To investigate a crime: Murder mysteries and thrillers often feature officers in investigative roles.
To create tension: Whether they’re hunting the hero or warning them off, police can bring pressure and conflict.
As protectors or rescuers: In dramas or romances, a police officer may be a symbol of safety.
To highlight corruption or injustice: Police roles can serve as a lens for societal commentary.
As red herrings: In whodunits, a too-helpful or too-hostile cop may throw readers off the trail.

The key is not just what they do, but why they’re in the story. Ask yourself what narrative function the officer plays and how that can be used for tension, pacing, or emotional impact.

Useful Skills and Talents

Police officers in fiction need to be more than someone who says “You’re under arrest.” They bring a suite of specialized skills that can be incredibly useful for story development.

Typical skills may include:

Observation: Spotting lies, inconsistencies, or physical evidence others miss.
Interrogation: Knowing how to ask the right questions, read body language, or apply pressure.
Firearms training: Understanding guns, protocols, and when to use force.
Law knowledge: They know the rules. Maybe not as much as a lawyer but they know when to bend or break laws.
Conflict resolution: From calming down a domestic dispute to handling a volatile hostage situation.
Driving skills: High-speed pursuits or navigating urban chaos.
First aid: Many officers are trained in basic emergency medical response.
Paperwork and procedure: Not glamorous, but realistic—lots of reports, red tape, and deadlines.

Depending on your story’s needs, your cop might be a street-smart beat officer, a detective with a dark past, or a rookie trying to prove themselves. Their background and department will shape the kind of skills they bring.

Common Character Traits

Like any profession, not every cop is the same. But if you're looking for traits that often emerge in believable law enforcement characters, these can be a solid foundation:

Duty-driven: They believe in the job—even when it costs them personally.
Resilient: Long hours, harsh scenes, and emotional strain are part of the gig.
Suspicious: Years on the job may teach them to expect the worst from people.
Brave: Whether reckless or heroic, they face danger head-on.
Rule-following—or breaking: Some toe the line. Others blur it.
Tightly wound: Stress, PTSD, or a need for control might shape how they act.

These traits don’t have to be constant: characters evolve. A confident cop might crumble under pressure. A hardliner might begin to question their convictions. Growth is key to keeping them compelling.

Conflicts Associated

Police officers are ripe for internal and external conflicts, perfect for rich storytelling.

Internal conflicts might include:

Moral dilemmas: Do they follow the law or do what’s “right”?
Burnout: The toll of the job affects their relationships, health, or sense of purpose.
Regret: Past decisions—good or bad—can haunt them.
Divided loyalty: Torn between the badge and personal ties.

External conflicts might include:

Corruption: Fighting (or falling into) a crooked system.
Public scrutiny: Dealing with distrust from the community or media.
Family pressure: Juggling their duty with family demands.
Personal danger: Threats from criminals, gangs, or even other officers.

These conflicts don’t just add drama, they humanize your character. Show us their struggle, not just their badge.

Interactions

Police officers don’t exist in a vacuum. Their interactions shape and reveal who they are.

With civilians: Are they respectful or condescending? Do they approach a scared witness with kindness or interrogation? Their tone can show their values.

With other officers: Do they trust their team? Is there rivalry, camaraderie, or tension with superiors?

With criminals: This is a goldmine of character development. Do they enjoy the chase? Do they see criminals as human, or as trash? How do they treat the guilty—and the wrongly accused?

With themselves: Don’t forget internal monologue. Cops are often forced to compartmentalize emotions. Let us see the cracks in their armor.

Make Them a Friend...

Not every police officer has to be a brooding lone wolf. They can be incredible allies, smart, loyal, and resourceful.

In this role, they might be:

A mentor to a younger protagonist.
A sibling or partner character who adds tension or warmth.
The love interest, offering a mix of tenderness and steel.
A protector during high-stakes moments.

Friendly cops can offer information, access to files, or physical protection. They can be the moral compass—or the one who challenges the hero’s way of thinking.

Just remember: they’re not just helpful. They’re people. Give them their own arc.

...Or an Enemy

Cops make excellent antagonists, but not always in the “mustache-twirling villain” way.

They might be:

The detective who suspects your protagonist of murder.
The corrupt officer who’s protecting the real villain.
The officer following the rules, standing in the way of vigilante justice.
A former friend who’s now an obstacle.

Even “bad” cops don’t need to be cartoonish. Maybe they’re misguided. Maybe they think they’re doing the right thing. Maybe they were good until something broke.

Villainous or adversarial police officers can bring a terrifying kind of threat: lawful power. They don’t need to chase you with a gun. Sometimes, a warrant and a cold stare is enough.