Police
Sources
Why The Police Need Higher Education
Carlan, P., & Byxbe, F. (2000). The promise of humanistic policing: Is higher education living up to societal expectation? American Journal of Criminal Justice
Numerous studies have confirmed several key differences between educated police officers and those without college education. For example, educated officers have better written and oral communication skills, display more professionalism and tolerance, and exhibit greater understanding of human behavior. They are more intellectually developed, independent, flexible, and well-rounded and place more emphasis on ethical conduct; better able to analyze problems and display increased self-confidence, morale, and motivation; display more professional attitudes and public relation skills; they are more tolerant, and require fewer disciplinary actions
Sherman and McLeod (1979 Sherman, L. W., & McLeod, M. (1979). Faculty characteristics and course content in college programs for police officers. Journal of Criminal Justice
speculated that higher education for officers may be irrelevant because the education officers receive in higher educational institutions is quite similar to the training officers receive in police academies.
Findings show that higher education reduces time required for movement in rank and assignment to specialized positions and was positively correlated to promotion into supervisory and administrative posts. Implications are that higher education will enhance an officer's probability of rising to the top regardless of whether the agency requires a college degree as a precondition of employment.
Higher education and law enforcement career paths: Is the road to success paved by degree?
O. Elmer Polk & David A. Armstrong
Van Meter (1982)
found college-educated officers to be enthusiastic and satisfied with
their entry-level jobs, a finding echoed by Seltzer, Alone, and Howard
(1996).
The data show that as educational level advances, so does the
number of study methods employed. Thus, it appears the higher education
experience provides promotional candidates with a more robust
and diverse set of study skills in comparison to officers who have not
obtained a college degree.
GETTING STRIPES:
Educational Achievement
and Study Strategies Used by
Sergeant Promotional Candidates
THOMAS S. WHETSTONEt
University of Louisville
Instead, there may be an additional source of dissatisfaction for college graduates who are not awarded stripes if they
view promotion as an entitlement that accompanies a diploma. The key
issue may not be whether a college education serves the degree-holder
well. The more appropriate question, as opined by a philosophical
street sergeant, is whether the candidate actually got an education along
with the degree.
O. Elmer Polk and David A. Armstrong shared the results of their research; "higher education will enhance an officer's probability of rising to the top regardless of whether the agency requires a college degree as a precondition of employment."
Educated officers possess better study techniques, communication skills, and investigative skills that improve their performance of police duties.
Educated Officers require fewer disciplinary actions
Educational level was found to be related to placing greater value on the importance of ethical conduct
The effects of college education on professional attitudes among police
Stanley K. Shernock
Educated officers are more likely to aid in law enforcement research which is the backbone of police innovation.
Sherman, L. "depending on where and how police use of force is measured, more educated officers appear to use force less often, more often, or just as often as less educated officers”