POLICE OFFICERS NEED AN EDUCATION 1

Becoming a Police Officer Should Require a Formal Education

Monica L. Downing

Salt Lake Community College

http://monicaseportfolio.weebly.com/

Author Note

Criminal Justice 1010

Abstract

Through increasing the education requirements for police officers, we can in turn

decrease corruption, force, and public scrutiny. Although education has no impact on the

amount of citations, it does have a significant impact of an officers overall performance. An

office is able to use problem solving skills and reasoning in lieu of force. It also increases the

amount of successful convictions. An education has proven to show less authoritarianism,

rigidity, and officers are less conservative. It brings social awareness and decreases biased

interactions.
POLICE OFFICERS NEED AN EDUCATION 3

Becoming a Police Officer Should Require a Formal Education

According to a study conducted by Georgetown University, sixty-five percent of all job

by the year 2020 will require a college degree of some level (see Figure 1). Why should we

hold Law enforcement to a different standard? In this paper, I’m going to explore how police

officers obtaining an education can reduce the use of force, increase performance, and

helps increase the support of the communities. In exchange for raising the educational

requirements, financial compensations would be appropriate.

Reducing the Use of Force

During 2006, USA Today disclosed a report of disciplinary cases against Florida

Officers. The report found that during the years of 1997 to 2002 seventy-five percent of all

disciplinary actions taken against Officers were those only with a high school education.

Whereas Officers with a four-year college education were only eleven percent of the

disciplinary actions.

One of the greatest reasons that the use of force reduces in college-educated police

officers is because they’re initial response isn’t “If you don’t do it, I’m going to make you do

it”. They are more equipped with the skills necessary to deflate a situation without using

force. Officers with an education are also more aware of biases and social diversity, which

influence the use of force. Education nourishes problem-solving skills that in turn influence

the use of force. Police Officers are able to use other methods other than force in order to

obtain the same outcome. The civilians in the area view a police department that uses less

force as legitimate and trustworthy.

Increasing Productivity

Police Officers with a college education have more advanced written and verbal

communication skills. Which enhances reporting skills, as well as the ability to write/receive

grants for the department. Enhanced reporting skills directly correlates to higher standards

in investigations and a greater amount of court case filings. Improved reporting skills also

decreases the amount of questionable evidence, false confessions, and wrongful

convictions. It is safe to presume that better writing and communication skills increases the

amount of successful prosecutions.

An education can increase your inability to articulating one’s own thoughts. It also

helps officers adapt quickly to different situations. Over the last thirty years, a police

officer’s role has changed dramatically. An officer is now required to have basic computer

skills, and those who are educated can substantially increase the productivity in forensics

that depends on technology.

Supports Community Relations

Officers with college degrees have shown less authoritarian beliefs. Rigidity and

conservatism reduces dramatically in Officers with an education.

They receive fewer complaints from civilians because of their decreased use of force.

Officers with an education are less likely to be involved in any corruption. Approximately

eighty-five percent of corrupt officers would have never qualified for the position if a college

education were required.

Today’s policing reflects social work more than it does law enforcement, because

many of the interactions are low level disputes.

When a police department appears more legitimate because of its ability to decrease

the amount of force used and the amount of wrongful convictions, it will indefinitely increase

the communities trust and relationship with the departments.

Why Should an Officer Obtain a Secondary Education Degree?

Above we explained that an officer who has an education uses less force, which

enhances relationships with the communities. A college education also increases the

amount of successful prosecutions through successful reporting skills.

It would be wise to require bachelor’s degree in order to become a police officer.

However, compensations such as an increase in salary would be most appropriate for

requiring a college education. A higher level of education should be required for promotions

and of course compensations with a higher salary as well.

Research shows that an officer with a bachelor’s degree entering the force has an

equivalent performance as an officer with eleven years of experience. Although, an officer

with an education is better able to adapt and has better problem solving skills. An educated

officer is less likely to use force especially as a first resort.

An officer is less likely to have biased interactions, which will decrease the amount of

public scrutiny. There is less chance of authoritarianism and rigidity. Promotions based upon

education and qualifications removes any form of senioritis.

Works Cited

Las Do Cops Need a College Education? (2017, September 07). Retrieved from

https://inpublicsafety.com/2017/04/do-cops-need-a-college-education/

Does History Show Cops Need College Degrees? (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://plsonline.eku.edu/insidelook/does-history-show-cops-need-college-degrees

How educated should police be? (2018, April 06). Retrieved from

https://www.policefoundation.org/study-examines-higher-education-in-policing/

How Education Impacts Police Performance. (2017, March 22). Retrieved from

https://inpublicsafety.com/2014/07/how-education-impacts-police-performance/

King, S., & King, S. (2018, April 08). KING: Police officers should be required to have a

college degree. Retrieved from https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-

police-officers-required-college-degree-article-1.2731129

Why cops should pursue higher education. (2016, March 08). Retrieved from

https://www.policeone.com/police-jobs-and-careers/articles/153751006-Why-cops-

should-pursue-higher-education/

Why cops should pursue higher education. (2016, March 08). Retrieved from

https://www.policeone.com/police-jobs-and-careers/articles/153751006-Why-cops-

should-pursue-higher-education/

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Education vs. Employment

Figure 1. Education and its effects on employment rates.

https://cew.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/Americas-Divided-Recovery-web.pdf