NCJ Number
114414
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 55 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1988) Pages: 32,34-35
Date Published
1988
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Higher education for police officers should be viewed as a management tool with significant advantages both to the department and the officer.
Abstract
For the individual officer, research shows a clear link between educational attainment and selection for police work, salary increases, promotion, and work assignments. Another advantage is increased professionalism and excellence that result when education is viewed as a factor in selection and promotion. Many forces use education as a criteria for hiring and for promotion, thus eliminating unmotivated officers and providing a clear justification if promotions are denied. In addition, departments gain personnel with the enhanced perspective provided by a college experience; and officers with higher education often bring additional skills such as good written communications or computer programming that may preclude the need to hire other persons with such expertise. Officers taking college courses often request the less desirable night shifts. Perhaps the only disadvantage is that administrators will have to develop job enrichment strategies to meet the capabilities of educated officers, but this is a management problem welcome to many agencies. Because of the advantages, it is recommended that higher education be used as a criteria for selection, assignment, pay, and promotion; and that agency budgets include educational funds. 18 references, 1 table, and photographs.