NCJ Number
54486
Journal
Police Magazine Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 20-23
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE RESULTS OF AN INFORMAL SURVEY OF EIGHT POLICE EXECUTIVES WITH PH.D.'S, INCLUDING THE OFFICERS' VIEWS OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR POLICE, ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
THE EXECUTIVES INTERVIEWED DECIDED TO SEEK THEIR DOCTORATE DEGREES FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. SOME WERE PURSUING CAREFULLY PLOTTED CAREER PLANS, WHILE OTHERS REGARDED THE EXPERIENCE AS A PERSONAL CHALLENGE, AN OPPORTUNITY TO SET A GOOD EXAMPLE, OR SIMPLY A CHANCE TO LEARN. MANY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP AND LOAN FUNDS. MOST OF THE EXECUTIVES SPOKE STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR POLICE AND FELT THAT THE DEMANDS OF THE ACADEMIC REGIMEN HAD PAID OFF IN PERSONAL GRATIFICATION. HOWEVER, NONE FELT THAT A DOCTORATE DEGREE IS A PREREQUISITE FOR SUCCESS IN POLICE ADMINISTRATION. SEVERAL OF THE OFFICERS REPORTED EXPERIENCING RESENTMENT FROM FELLOW OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORS REGARDING THEIR ACADEMIC ENDEAVORS. NEARLY ALL DISMISSED THE CLAIM THAT EDUCATION INTERFERES WITH THE INSTINCTS NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE LINE POLICE WORK. ONE EXECUTIVE, NOTING THAT AN OFFICER WHOSE THOUGHT PROCESSES HAVE BECOME TOO ABSTRACT MIGHT HAVE DIFFICULTY MAKING QUICK DECISIONS, FELT STRONGLY THAT INDOCTRINATION IN POLICE WORK SHOULD PRECEDE THE PURSUIT OF ACADEMIC DEGREES. MOST OF THE INTERVIEWEES AGREED THAT THE QUALITY OF COLLEGE CURRICULUMS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT LEAVES MUCH TO BE DESIRED. AT LEAST ONE OFFICER REFLECTED THE VIEW THAT SOME COLLEGES HAVE SET UP POORLY STAFFED, THINLY SUPPORTED CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF FEDERAL FUNDS. ONE OFFICER DISAGREED WITH CRITICISMS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT CURRICULUMS ARE MERELY EXTENSIONS OF ACADEMY TRAINING PROGRAMS, STRESSING THE NEED FOR SUCH CURRICULUMS TO DEAL WITH THE PRACTICAL AS WELL AS THE THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF POLICE WORK. QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEWEES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)