Education and a Police Officer

Almost every profession now either requires a 2 4-year degree, or a minimum number of hours to
complete their certification. A cosmetologist requires a minimum of 1600 hours, (40 + weeks); school
teacher, a bachelors degree; diesel/heavy duty technology, 1110 hours (15 months) (Diesel/Heavy Duty
Technology, 2017); and the police academy at Weber State is 5 months (Law Enforcement at Weber
State, 2014). This information was staggering to me. I would need over a year of training to cut
someones hair and give them a manicure, but I would only need 5 months to patrol the streets these
same people live.

Police officers today deal with so many different issues. They must deal with domestic violence, child
neglect, racial tension, group thought, and poverty issues. Along with traffic violations, disrespect, theft,
rape victims and perpetrators, and juvenile delinquency; to name just a few. It is not possible to learn
the skills needed for dealing with the different aspects of an officers job in only 5 months.

Several studies have been made about the benefits of education for police officers, the results are:

Better behavioral and performance characteristics

Better skilled with independent decision-making and problem-solving

Better skilled at articulating their thoughts

Greater aptitude for innovative thinking

Improved adaptability

Fewer on-the-job injuries and assaults

More proficient in technology

Enhanced grant writing abilities

Improved budget and management abilities

Fewer departmental disciplinary actions and internal investigations

Less likely to be involved in unethical behavior

Less likely to use force as the first response

Enhanced report writing skills

Displays maturity for age

Better at discovering extra resources

Demonstrated enhanced department responsibilities

Less use of sick time (work ethic and seeing the big picture)
 Greater acceptance of minorities (diversity and cultural awareness)

Decrease in dogmatism, authoritarianism, rigidity and conservatism

Improved communication skills (oral and written)

Fewer formal citizen complaints

Promotion of higher aspirations

Better adapted to accepting critical feedback on job performance

Enhancement of minority recruitment efforts

Intellectual personal growth

Better adapted to retirement and second-career opportunities

(Bond, How Education Impacts Police Performance, 2014) compiled from study performed

by Rydberg and Terrill (Terrill, 2010)

A college education helps a person become well-rounded as they are faced with many different
problems that need to be solved and are taught skills to look at a situation and find a different angle to
tackle what is before them.

I also believe that, like someone who wants to become a principal in a school or move into a higher
position in a company, more education should be required as an officer becomes a Sergeant, Lieutenant,
Captain, or Chief. There are more skills needed to be able to lead others and to deal with the added
tasks and expectations. The salaries should also follow. We cannot expect these men and women to
seek higher education and put their lives on the line for minimal pay. When more is expected, more
should be rewarded.

Works Cited
Bond, M. (2014, July 30). How Education Impacts Police Performance. Retrieved from IN Public Safety:
https://inpublicsafety.com/2014/07/how-education-impacts-police-performance/

Diesel/Heavy Duty Technology. (2017). Retrieved from Davis Technical College:

https://www.davistech.edu/diesel

Johnson, K. (2006, Sept 18). Police Education. Retrieved from USA Today:
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-09-17-police-education_x.htm

Law Enforcement at Weber State. (2014). Retrieved from Weber State University:
https://continue.weber.edu/policeacademy/
Rebecca L. Paynich, P. (2009, Feb). The Impact of a College-Educated Police Force: A Review of the
literature. Retrieved from masschiefs.org: https://www.masschiefs.org/files-downloads/hot-
topics/96-the-impact-of-higher-education-in-law-enforcement-feb-2009-and-summarypdf/file

Terrill, J. R. (2010, January 3). The Effect of Higher Education on Police Behavior. Retrieved from Police
Quarterly:
http://www.academia.edu/2907549/The_Effect_of_Higher_Education_on_Police_Behavior

William Terrill, A. H. (2015, Feb 5). Do Cops Need College? Retrieved from Michigan State University:
http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2015/do-cops-need-college/