Carla Smith Criminal Justice 1010 Professor Cupello h y o m 2013 Police Officers Need College Training According to every

national commission on violence and crime in America on the last 20 years there is a valid correlation between college higher education and police job performance. Police officers must be capable of understanding and relate to everyday civilians utilizing good communication skills. There must be a sense of appreciation to grow good social relations between the communities and the police force. For this reason any future police officer who has received the proper training in a police academy or accredited university develops better problem solving in and outside the police force. However college education is not a requirement on all jurisdictions but it is a great advantage in the exposure to humanities, social sciences, ethical issues and modern technologies which many officers are expose to while on duty. This paper research the correlation between having a college degree, its influence upon regular police work and the outcomes based on scholar studies through out police years. For example, in Croatia after an intense war that lasted about 4 years between 1991-1995; the police department knows how important is to relay on education to progress as a country. Therefore the police force has added vocational training which begins by entering police school. This helps the candidates develop sense of empowerment and specialization on what they do best, serving the community. Likewise we should have college educated police patrols and

officers serving out communities. The National Commission on Violence and crime in America says: "College education can improve police performance". Consequently, there have been several studies that talk about changes in the behavior of future police men with education. To be more specific, Michigan State University concluded on a Police Quaterly Report back in March 2010, that in the event of an arrest decision making comes in to play along with a significantly reduce use of force. Results might be due to the mo nt of i c tion offic x ci in p ing these behaviors. These were the results

found based on observational data from two medium sized cities from the state of Michigan. This clearly shows that the more knowledge the police officer has when it comes to an arrest more communication between the suspect and the police officer is likely to happen without taken any prematurely decisions that could complicate the situation. A different approach is taken back in the South East part of the country. In the state of Georgia the police department has been growing strong since 1981. They pride themselves on their great program on police training. The GPSTC or also known as Georgia, Public Safety Training located in Forsyth and Monrow county, has a great reputation in the intensive police training that yearly enrolls 42,00 students a year. The center not only provides training for future police officers but also provides training for firefighters, emergency service personnel and other public safety employees. The center provides an immense variety of turning areas such as: training field for cops, an auditorium, dorms, conference center, explosive training areas and many others. Even thought their main focus is an on hands training, the facility can easily implement a higher education program to help prospect police man understand a more broad view of the task, prepare them with courage, judgment, good reasoning ability and maturity and help them with tuition reimbursement options.

College education also can contribute in police department promotions, salary and job knowledge. On a study that involved 84 police man over a 10 a year period, it was concluded that these last three variables influenced current police officers to continue with their educational goal because they saw the need for incentives if continuing with their education. To be more specific, the more knowledge the more changes to get a better pay. Benjamin Ward from NYC Polic it p o to y th t w Yo k City h c itm nt p og m ign to tt ct coll g

graduates into police work" education served as an insensitive. Those who have more education may have mastered some of the skills necessary to be promoted with the ability of self discipline. Together with criminal justice courses or any administrative course might prove to be relevant at the police level specially at the administrative level. Overall the more education equals more knowledge, All in all it is important to understand why we should consider to have knowledgeable individuals in our police force. Law enforcement organization should begin to encourage college education among their members. In the past many jurisdictions required college education to reduce corruption, making more of a challenge to going the police force. A way to financially be able to provide education and a college degrees to anyone attending police academy lies in the power of the state. By allowing each jurisdiction to collect enough in traffic fines, violations and speed traps can really pay the way of higher education for our future soon to be police officers. Also fines and forfeitures also contribute monetarily, since a small percentage of each traffic fine up to a $50 dollars can turn into a yearly contribution. According to David Saye director of the GPSTC about $20 million a year is collected and used for the police training. Superior

performance comes along with college education, federal funding can also help provide the adequate training needed it. The community can really make a difference knowing that educated

people patrols their city, understand them better in many social levels can lower the concern and stereotypes we all have about policeman. As well changing the views and perspectives among juveniles towards law enforcement.

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Rydberg Jason. "The Effect of Higher Education on Police Behavior." Police Quaterly. 2010. Vol.13 Issue 1. Truxillo, Donald. "College Education and Police Job Performance: A ten-year Study." Personnel Management. Summer 1998. Vol. 27 Issue 2.

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Veic, Peter. "Police Training and Education: The Croatian Perspective." Police Practice & Research. May 2004. Vol 5 Issue 2.