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College Education for Police �fficers Part II BY J.�.CK �fOLbEN n January I reported on recent resolutions i�y respected nation- al organizations cal�ing for a mandate on entry tevel iaw enforcement applicants for a four-year colle�e degree by the year 2Q03. I received a nurnber of email messages and phone calls in response as apparently this is a"hot button" iterrz — and not everyone aa ees. Several calls were from depart- ments located out of the mai� stream — away from convenient universities and colleges, that are looking for eda- catianal resources for o�cers wanting to pursue a de�ree program. Several ofiicers just wanted to talk about edu- cation for police officers. There is def- initely a strona interest out there and we appreciate the time they toak to cammunicate. A parole and probation ofFicer with a law degree disagreed with my con- clusions, stating;='`College should sive people a broader view of the world so whea they are in a specific field and can learn the ins and outs of their job throagh training, such as a Police Academy, they can relate that training to a hroa�`er end." He said, "I imd ihat police officers with a college back- ground are better abie to perforr�► their duties. There is a myth that colleQe graduates mav be smart but lacic the common sense that non-college gradu- ates have. This purely anti-intellectual attitude is perpetrated by exaltin� ionorance. While I don't think an �rt Major is the perfect way to get into the Criminal Justice system, usina tius example is jusc as prejudiced as the anti-intellectual feeling about goin� to college and is just as wrona." A Chief from a srnali police depart- a�ent stated, "Thanks for presenting al� sides of the argument. While sug- gestions for a four-year degree stan- dard have been around for a long while, only within the last five years has there been any real progress, especial- ly for command level positions. Let's hope that this trend continues." This chief also expressed a frustra- tion of having competent, veteran supervisors who are leaders but iack a formal post-high school education. He feels that in the future he probably will have to give preference to college educated entry-ievel appl�cants. His concern is, wt�at has a 21-year- oId applican[ been doing since high school? What is his motivation, his ambitivn and initiative? If he hasn't been in college or in khe military, what has he been doing? This is a vaiid concern_ A veteran Minnesota police super- visor said, "I graduated from a com- munity college [while in-service]. But it took a toil on my family and wor[c life. It's tough trying to help yourself while working rotating shifts and maintain some sort of a home iife." Yes, there is a price. Obtaining a de�ree in-service is a leaitimate, and a favared way by some to become edu- cated, but it is stressfal. I vividly remember aetting of€ duty at 7:QOam. dri�ing to the University for an S:OOam class, going to sieep in my car while reviewing cIass notes. Making excus- es to my professors because I was caIled out on overtime. Feeling guilty because I didn't havc time to play with my children. Hiding behind a building at 2:OOam, reading my soci- ology textbook with a flasltlight. "Some of the best cops I know do not have four-year degrees_ I don't think a degree matters. Being a cop comes from your soui. Some folks can spend a career as a police offieer and never hecome a cop." He commented, "The reason we wilt not see a four-year college mini- mum requirement for entry level offi- cers is financial. City managers and county administrators are not willing to spend hard to find tax dollars to pay for degreed officers. It's siznple eca- nomics when there's a pool of apQli- cants with no college or a two-year degr�e who aze hapQy to talce less pay. An accommodation between a four- year degree requirement and a life experience quotieut need5 to be researched_" A field training officer from Col- orado observed, "I agree that educa- tion is a good thing and should be attained at some point in an officer's career. Bat I have seen a lack vf knowl- edge and experience of life from peo- www.lawandordesmae.corn 1"