NCJ Number
43177
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 44 Issue: 8 Dated: (AUGUST 1977) Pages: 32-34
Date Published
1977
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE CENTRAL ISSUES CONSIDERED BY THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION FOR POLICE OFFICERS INCLUDE OBJECTIVES, KINDS OF CURRICULUM, WHO SHOULD BE SENT TO SCHOOL, AND WHAT CHANGES SHOULD BE MADE.
Abstract
THE COMMISSION, CREATED BY THE POLICE FOUNDATION IN 1976, HAS WRITTEN TO ALL 50 STATE CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS, ALL 50 STATE HIGHER EDUCATION EXECUTIVES, ALL 50 STATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING AGENCIES, AND MORE THAN 100 NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS INTERESTED IN POLICE EDUCATION. FROM RESPONSES RECEIVED TO DATE, THREE VIEWS HAVE EMERGED: (1) POLICE EDUCATION SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENT FROM GENERAL LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION; (2) POLICE EDUCATION SHOULD BE JOB-RELATED; AND (3) POLICE EDUCATION SHOULD BE A TOOL FOR UPGRADING THE POLICE PROFESSION TO RESPOND TO THE COMPLEX AND CHANGING NEEDS OF MODERN SOCIETY. THE CURRICULUM ONE DESIGNS AND THE HOURS AT WHICH ONE HOLDS CLASSES RELATE TO THE CONCEPT EMBRACED. ALL SURVEYED AGREE THAT HIGHER EDUCATION SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALL ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED PERSONS, BUT LIMITATIONS OF FUNDS AND COLLEGE PROGRAMS HAVE MEANT THAT SOME STUDENTS RECEIVE A HIGHER PRIORITY THAN OTHERS. AT PRESENT THE INSERVICE PART-TIME POLICE OFFICER CURRENTLY HAS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY UNDER THE THEORY THAT IT IS QUICKER AND EASIER TO UPGRADE THE OFFICER ALREADY HIRED THAN TO HIRE A FORCE OF COLLEGE GRADUATES. OTHERS ARGUE THAT THIS APPROACH MAKES THE STUDENT IN A NIGHT SCHOOL CLASS WITH MOSTLY FELLOW OFFICERS LESS OPENMINDED THAN THE STUDENT DETACHED FROM HIS WORKING ENVIRONMENT ON A FULL-TIME EDUCATIONAL LEAVE. STILL OTHERS FEEL THAT EDUCATING THE RANK AND FILE DOES NOT MAKE SENSE SO LONG AS MOST TOP POLICE MANAGERS ARE NOT COLLEGE GRADUATES. THE PROBLEM OF REWARDING EDUCATION THROUGH PROMOTION IS ALSO BEING CONSIDERED. WILL THIS PENALIZE STREET-WISE OFFICERS? ARE THERE ENOUGH OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT TO SATISFY A COLLEGE-EDUCATED POLICE FORCE? THE PROCESS OF CHANGE IS ALSO BEING STUDIED AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BEING SOUGHT.