Do you feel like you should have to have a college degree in order to join the police force? I think it would help weed out a lot of people that really shouldn't be here, but I don't think it's the subject matter itself that's as important as having to commit to higher education.

likeupliftingsmarthelpful
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No. Most of the officers I’ve worked with that went to college first are not great. The reliable, hard working, dependable officers don’t have one or got it later on. I think life experience produces a better Officer than a book smart one. A college exam does not have variables like a call for service. Common sense and street smarts go a lot farther than a degree.

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I feel as if a college degree will allow somebody to gain a little bit more perspective of where they want to go in life. I think that no one should be able to graduate from high school and go directly into a police department. I feel that going to college doesn’t necessarily make the person smarter, but growing older and learning to deal with a larger and more diverse group of people will. This happens in college. I also can’t tell you how many times I have scratched my head, trying to understand the report that was written because the officer should never have graduated high school. They are a great officer. They cannot articulate their probable cause in an arrest report though.

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A college degree is part of it, but if departments don’t raise their hiring standards along with a base pay of no less than $65,000 a year or $75,000 for major cities. The Law enforcement profession will be the next “you better get a good education or you’ll end up working at McDonald’s.” Not to mention the starting salary for a McDonald’s manager in my area is $67,000 base pay.

helpful

I don't believe so. I believe police work is unique and is not best learned in a classroom setting its best learned out in the field.

like

Highly encouraged to get a degree but we all know that integrity and principles cannot be determined by someone's education. It's their experience that makes them better and effective law enforcers.

uplifting

It depends. Within each state, a police agency or department may have various education requirements. While an associate or bachelor's degree is rarely mandatory, they provide opportunities to earn higher wages or advance in the career. Federal law enforcement positions, like ones within the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), require a four-year degree.

smart

Not really. I went to college and nothing about that experience would make a police officer better.

helpful

I say no to the mandatory degree. I’ve seen plenty of people who are book smart but in real life are not so smart. A degree doesn’t make you smart, and some people learn better on the job than in a classroom. We should also have periodic checks on education of the laws because some change over time. But a degree, no. Doing that could potentially stop future law enforcement officers who aren’t so book smart but extremely street smart from being able to serve.

smart

Not necessarily. I know some pretty great cops, including those in leadership positions, with no degree as well as some dummies with degrees. There are other ways to judge one’s character. Especially in today’s society where we’re struggling to find enough officers.

Yes, most police forces require applicants to have at least a two-year college degree. Some also require applicants to have a four-year degree.

You do not need a degree to be a police officer in certain states, though it may be helpful to have one. A high school diploma is often the minimum requirement in many states to join a police academy, which is the most necessary step to becoming a police officer.

The answer depends on the country and region. In some cases, a college degree is not required but may be preferred. In other cases, a college degree may be required. It is best to check with the local police force to find out what their specific requirements are.

No, some police forces do not require a college degree in order to join. However, many departments may require some college credits or a certain level of education, so it is best to check with the department in which you are interested in joining.

It depends on the police force. Some police forces require a college degree, while others do not. It is best to check with the police force you are interested in joining to see what their requirements are.

It depends on the country, state, and/or city you are looking to join. Generally, most police departments will require at least an associates degree in criminal justice or a related field, though some may require a bachelor's degree. Additionally, some departments may have additional requirements such as a certain amount of college credits or specific classes.

I mean if a lawyer needs a degree to practice law. A police officer should have the education to enforce it. Does it need to be a masters like a lawyer? No. But there should be some higher education above a high school diploma and a few weeks at an "academy." My opinion.

I think a college degree will separate serious people from people who aren't really committed to helping others. I would hope that college would weed unsuitable people out! I don't have any better ideas, but I definitely acknowledge that some people are becoming LEOs when they should probably choose another profession where people are not so much at their mercy. I also think regular psychiatric evaluations would be a good thing.

We have an aptitude test. I see no reason for gatekeeping beyond making sure someone has the physical and intellectual ability to do the job. Whether or not you paid a small fortune to have an institution declare you competent is irrelevant if you are able to demonstrate your competency first-hand.

I don't think a degree offers anything to the law enforcement field. Experience is far more valuable, in my opinion.

As a civilian working in law enforcement as an IT guy. I see a degree for people in line of work and for officers to be useless. All that piece of paper says is that you can show up somewhere on time and take a test. For officers, I’d rather see men and women that can defend themselves if they get jumped. I don’t care if they have a degree. People have put to much stock in a college degree, it is an antiquated way of thinking. You must have a higher education to get a good job… I say bullshit.

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