November 24, 2025
From crime scenes to code screens
Advice for crime analyst to break into data science
Crime analyst told to learn Python and maybe get a master's—cue chaos
TLDR: A blog post urged a crime analyst to learn Python, modern AI tools, and build a portfolio, with a master’s preferred. Comments exploded over degree gatekeeping, whether AI prompt skills beat statistics, and the reality of remote jobs—showing today’s messy path into data science.
A blog post told a crime analyst: Excel and SQL aren’t enough—time to learn Python, dabble in machine learning, and flex large language models (LLMs, the chatbots) with RAG (a way to let the AI look up facts). It even hinted “I’ve never hired without a master’s,” though a great portfolio could substitute. The comments? A full-on courtroom brawl.
The strongest reaction: accusations of gatekeeping. One camp cheered the structure—“Master’s or bust!”—while the other roasted it as elitist, arguing real projects beat degrees. The “LLMs over traditional ML” bit lit the match: skeptics said prompt engineering is just fancy copy-paste, while boosters called it the new power skill. Jokes flew: “Python is the new badge,” “Excel warriors unite,” and “RAG stands for ‘Random AI Guessing’.”
Practical angst surged too. People agreed job posts are fantasy novels, but split on “apply anyway” vs “targeted applications only.” The remote note—“in-person is easier”—sparked memes about pajamas vs badges. Several users pointed to crime-adjacent companies like LexisNexis, ESRI, and Axon, while others plugged DeepLearning.AI and portfolio sites. Through the noise, one vibe ruled: build stuff, show it off, and brace for a hiring world that’s part academy, part casino.
Key Points
- •SQL is essential for analyst roles but insufficient for entry-level data science positions.
- •Entry-level data science roles typically require proficiency in at least one programming language, commonly Python.
- •Competency in machine learning or LLM-based skills (API calls, RAG, prompt engineering) is increasingly expected.
- •A master’s degree is often preferred by hiring managers, but a strong portfolio (website, GitHub) can compensate.
- •Apply broadly to analyst roles, including at crime-analysis-adjacent companies (LexisNexis, Esri, Axon), and consider in-person roles for better prospects.