NCJ Number
66178
Journal
Canadian Police College Journal Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: (1979) Pages: 214-236
Date Published
1979
Length
23 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE REVIEWS ISSUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION FOR CANADIAN POLICE, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE NEED FOR IT, THE VARIETIES OF PROGRAMS, THE EDUCATION VERSUS PERFORMANCE ISSUE, RECRUITING POTENTIAL, AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSES.
Abstract
NUMEROUS WRITERS HAVE URGED POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION FOR THE CANADIAN POLICE, AND SINCE WORLD WAR II, THE NUMBER A DIVERSITY OF POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS HAS GREATLY EXPANDED. CANADIAN POLICE EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE OF THREE TYPES: TRAINING, SOCIAL SCIENCE, AND PROFESSIONAL. IN 1971, THE TRAINING MODEL PREDOMINATED. HOWEVER, THE U.S. EXPERIENCE WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM (LEEP) INDICATED THAT THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM DID NOT REDUCE CRIME AND DELINQUENCY. CANADIAN EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE NOT AS DEVELOPED AS ARE THOSE IN THE U.S. POLICE EDUCATION IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR ITS VOCATIONAL ORIENTATION, PART-TIME NATURE, AND INADEQUACY OF THEORETICAL BASIS OR RESEARCH FINDINGS TO JUSTIFY A SET OF HIGH QUALITY LAW ENFORCEMENT SUBJECTS. ALTHOUGH WORK EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIGHER EDUCATION AND JOB PERFORMANCE HAS PRODUCED MIXED RESULTS, ONE MAJOR VIEW IS THAT OFFICERS WITH COLLEGE EDUCATION PROVIDE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE. MANY COMMON MYTHS ARE USED, HOWEVER, TO ARGUE AGAINST HIRING UNIVERSITY-EDUCATED APPLICANTS. MOST CANADIAN POLICE HAVE AT BEST A FULL HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION. THEIR EDUCATIONAL LEVEL COMPARES UNFAVORABLY WITH THAT OF THE GENERAL POPULATION, WHICH HAS STEADILY INCREASED IN EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT SINCE WORLD WAR II. AT PRESENT, THE POOL OF POTENTIAL APPLICANTS MAY NOT BE LARGE ENOUGH TO PRODUCE ENOUGH QUALIFIED RECRUITS. TO ATTRACT MORE HIGHLY EDUCATED PEOPLE TO POLICE WORK, THE WORK'S NATURE MUST BE CHANGED. AMONG POSSIBLE POLICIES ARE WORK SCHEDULING TO PERMIT ATTENDANCE AT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, PAYMENT OF EDUCATIONAL FEES, HIGHER INITIAL PAY RATES, AND REMOVAL OF ROUTINE ASPECTS OF PATROLMEN'S DUTIES. RECRUITING FROM THOSE WITH PARTIAL OR FULL HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION SHOULD ALSO CONTINUE. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE POLICE COMMUNITY HAS NOT BEEN KEEPING ABREAST OF EDUCATIONAL TRENDS. IT WILL THUS BOTH SOON HAVE SERIOUS RECRUITING PROBLEMS AND WILL REPRESENT AN UNDEREDUCATED COMMUNITY. THE POLICE COMMUNITY MUST UPGRADE ITS MEMBERS' EDUCATIONAL LEVELS. CURRICULUM SHOULD INCLUDE THE BEST OF BOTH LIBERAL ARTS AND PROFESSIONAL AREAS. SOME FINANCIAL RESOURCES SHOULD BE DEVOTED TO OFFICERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY SERVING. TABLES AND A REFERENCE LIST ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)