Can we really say that the best police officers come from academia? This question has been mulled over for the last hundred or so years. August Vollmer, recognized as the father of law enforcement, observed the need for educated police officers to fill the ranks. The upside to having college educated police officers is that the may be better report writers. Moreover, they have the discipline to see something through from start to finish.
Conversely, what do non-educated police officers bring to the table? Non-educated police officers bring a certain blue collar work ethic that is unsurpassed. They understand that hard work pays off and have a doggedness toward doing a good job. The police profession recognizes that a paramilitary organization is paramount in requiring officers to march in lock step. College educated officers do not buy into this concept as readily. They see upward mobility based on their personal credentials rather than the team concept.
As a law enforcement profession, the old ways of promotion needs to be revised. As individuals come into the profession they bring different skill sets that are truly worthy of recognition. What do you do with an individual who has worked in corporate America in finance? Do you put him/her in a police car and send him/her out there to write tickets and patrol? Well, maybe initially, but at some point you must be able to take advantage of the experience that was brought with them. Unfortunately, this person is seen as a threat to certain individuals in the upper echelon and winds up having a stagnate career. Ultimately, the decisions made by the "bosses" robs the agency of qualifications that could be best served in that particular discipline. It would be unfair to posit that certain qualified individuals are the only ones that can do the job. Anyone can be trained to perform a particular function, but the time that it may take would be better served by allocating the resources elsewhere.
The time has come for law enforcement executives to take a stance with regard to educational standards. The world is evolving tremendously and law enforcement needs to either get on board or continue to be viewed as a job rather than a profession. Would you trust your life to a medical doctor who does not have the requisite educational background? If not, then why would you expect anything less from those who are sworn to protect and serve. The amount of education for police officers is debatable, but not having any is irresponsible. Those seeking a career in the law enforcement profession should make the required sacrifices and start pursuing your college education. The end result will quite possibly be the most exciting and exhilarating career that you may embark upon.
" It's better to learn how to swim upstream rather than just tread water." Dr. BLR
This blog was created solely for my students to generate intellectual dialogue with their classmates. Reach one and teach one. Peace.
