To become a police officer, you must be at least 21 years old and

pass competitive written exams in order to become a police officer. It is

understandable that they need to be agile and in good shape, because
they need to be fast on their feet in case of an emergency. Another
good thing police officers could strive for is having strong interpersonal
skills, because they interacted with the public constantly.
A police officer can have a range of education requirements,
from a high school diploma to a college degree. Although the minimum
requirement is usually a high school diploma, but there has been an
increasing number of police departments that require applicants to
complete at least one or two years of college coursework or have an
associates degree. A bachelors degree is the minimum requirement
for federal police jobs.
So why not make it a requirement that police officers get some
sort of college education? It would be beneficial for police officers to
get a degree, especially a degree in criminal justice. In criminal justice
degree programs, students will learn about every aspect of the justice
system and law. It is a n interdisciplinary field that incorporates the
study of law, public administration, sociology, psychology, and more.
Regardless of their major, more police departments should make a
requirement that their officers have some sort of college education.
By having a college background, they are more valuable to their
employer, in most areas of work, once someone has a college

education they are paid more, which could be a problem for some
people having to figure out where to come up with extra money in
funds, but isnt having more qualified police officers worth it? They
higher authority they have reached, the more education they should be
required to have since they have more power and are doing more
things to help and protect are community.
Some people argue that officers should not be required to get a
degree since they are require to attend police academy. The policetraining program lasts around twelve to fourteen weeks, which includes
time in the classroom. While there they learn about state laws, local
ordinances, constitutional law, civil rights, accident investigation,
traffic control, self-defines, first-aid, firearms, and emergency response.
They believe that this is enough education for officers, since by being
trained they learn all about how law enforcement acts and their duties
so they shouldnt need a college education.
In a study for the Police Quaterly, shows that officers with some
college education are less likely to resort to force than those who have
never attended college. Police officers with some college education
resorted to using force 56 percent of the time, and officers with no
college education used force 68 percent of the time. The term force
includes anything verbally threatening, physical attack, handcuffing, or
pointing/firing a gun at them. Police officers with a college education
are putting suspected criminals away at the same rate as police

officers without an education, but they are doing it in a much safer and
humane matter. By doing so, it puts the police officer, witnesses, and
the criminal in a much better situation where people are less likely to
get hurt or seriously injured.
High school educated officers are more cocky and think they are
above civilians around them, thinking everyone should listen to them
and wont fight back, but if they do, they believe they have to skills
and strength to still win over any argument or fight. That by using
force or any physical action they are going to be able to make anyone
do exactly what they want, which in a lot of cases isnt what happens.
That is how officers get severely injured and can result in death if
things get to out of hand. By going to college officers can develop skills
that help with resolving problems verbally, instead of using force.
This debate, on whether or not officers need an education has
been going on since the 1900s, when police officers didnt even need
a high school education. Now days, in a Bureau of Justice Statistic
study from 2003, 83 percent of all U.S. police agencies require a high
school diploma, but 8 percent of them require some college education,
and only 1 percent require a four-year degree. Requirements for all
jobs continue to be higher and higher as time goes on, making getting
an education for the job you dream of more difficult, since college is
very expensive and not something possible for a lot of people. Some of
the best police officers could be lost, by requiring a college education,

but some of the best police officers could be made by requiring them
to have an education and not just come in thinking that the field is all
fun and games.
Another factor as to what officer need an education, should be
based on their location. If they are in a highly populated area where
crime rates are high, shouldnt people want their protection to be as
qualified as possible to help keep their community safe? On the other
hand, in rural areas were there are very few officers in general, it is not
as important how qualified they are, it is very unlikely in areas that are
rural and desolate, that they will require a college education, because
it isnt need because of their crime rate.
There are lots of opinions on whether or not officers should be
required to have an education, the majority of people are for raising
the requirement to help better communities and keep people safe. The
more qualified and dedicated police officers are to protecting people
and knowing how to handle situations, the better communities will be,
and possible the less crime there will be. Citizens should want to be
able to live in a safer area, so why are so many people against having
more qualified officers out there keeping things safe and controlled.

Bibliography
Gaines, Larry K & Miller, Roger Leroy. CJ 1010 Criminal Justice, Salt
Lake Community College, 7th Edition. 2013.
Perin, Michelle. Street Smart vs. Book Smart. www.Officer.com. 14,
July 2009. Web. Retrieved 8, August, 2014.
Heibutzki, Ralph. Advantages of Hiring College-Educated Officers
www.Chron.com. Web. Retrieved 8, August, 2014.