Why do police officers need to be good with computers?

[Conchobahr]

I was reading what subjects will help you if you want to be a police officer. For science, it said that computer science is beneficial. Why is that?

[Caitlin]

Police officers nowadays do need basic computer skills. They need to be able to learn and intuitively work simple programs. I don't know why what you read said computer science would be beneficial.

[Sparky]

Some agencies have officers assigned specifically to computer crimes. This includes hacking, fraud, internet porn, and computer stalking. When computers are seized as evidence in a crime, someone has to know how to get into it without destroying all of the files.

[Bruce]

Almost everything an officer does involves computers. I am dispatched to calls on a computer, I type my reports on a computer, I issue traffic tickets on a computer, I write accident reports on a computer, I submit my timesheet by computer... the list goes on.

Computers are also vital to investigations. Social media such as Twitter and Facebook are used to identify suspects and develop leads.

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes, and most of that revolves around computers.

These are just a few examples, there are many more.