Preview

1% of Local Police Departments

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
11352 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
1% of Local Police Departments
Reflections from the One-Percent of Local Police Departments with Mandatory Four-Year Degree Requirements For New Hires: Are They Diamonds in the Rough?

Diana Bruns

Bacone College

***Contact information
Diana Bruns, Ph.D.
Department Chairperson and Professor, Criminal Justice Studies
Bacone College
2299 Old Bacone Road
Muskogee, OK
74403
brunsd@bacone.edu cell: 918-781-7295 office: 918-781-7295

**Diana Bruns is the Department Chairperson and Professor of Criminal Justice Studies at Bacone College in Muskogee, OK.

Reflections from the One-Percent of Local Police Departments with Mandatory Four-Year Degree Requirements For New Hires: Are They Diamonds in the Rough?

Abstract

Countless studies have permeated the literature regarding the utility of a bachelor’s degree for police officers. Local law enforcement agencies with mandatory four-year degree requirements serve as the population for this study relative to the current status of college degreed officers, as well as population demographics and commonalities among such departments. The utility of college degree requirements, choice of academic discipline and why four-year degree requirements nationwide are merely a preference, not a standard mandatory hiring requirement is discussed. Current minimum educational requirements for local and state police agencies and implications for the future of the college-degreed officers are explored.

Hiring college-educated candidates in the law enforcement field does not guarantee they will be good officers. Being a police officer is hard and to be successful, you have to want to be a police officer. Individuals who receive the required degree in law enforcement have demonstrated their desire. Desire is something very hard to evaluate, but such an important trait. If all other


References: Advada Police Department Website. (2009). Arlington Police Department Website. (2009). Baro, A., & Burlingame, D. (1999). Law enforcement and higher education: Is there an impasse? Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 10 (1), 57-73. Bell, D. (1979). The police role in higher education. Journal of Police Science and Administration, 7, 467-475. Bostrom, M. (2005). The influence of higher education on police officer habits. The Police Chief, 72, (10), 12-19. Breci, M. (1997). The transition to community policing: The department’s role in upgrading officers’ skills. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategy and Management, 20, (4), 766-776. Carter, D. & Sapp, A. (1990). The evolution of higher education in law enforcement: Preliminary findings from a national study Carlan, P. (2007). The criminal justice degree and policing: Conceptual development or occupational primer? Policing: An International Journal of Centerville Police Department Website. (2009). Charleston Police Department Website. (2009). Coral Springs Police Department Website. (2009). Deer Park Police Department Website. (2009) http://www.ci.deer-park.tx.us/department/index.php?fDD=15-0. Eatontown Police Department Website. (2009). Friedmann, R. (2006). University perspective: The policing profession in 2050 Haddon Township Police Department Website. (2009). Hickman, M., & Reaves, B. (2006). Local police departments, 2003 (NCJ210118) Highland Park Police Department Website. (2009). Hudzick, J. (1978). College education for police: Problems in measuring component and extraneous variables Illinois State Police Website. (2009).
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Analysis of Article on 4th Amendment
    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Analysis of Article on 4th Amendment

    The article "Suspect Searches: Assessing Police Behavior Under the U.S. Constitution," by Gould and Mastrofski explores the police usage of unconstitutional searches. Unconstitutional searches are those that are in violation of the fourth amendment. The fourth amendment rights, along with certain case laws put forth the guidelines for legal stops, frisks, and searches. Gould and Mastrofski perform a direct observation study which concludes the frequency of unconstitutional searches. This article puts police procedure under the spotlight and investigates the factors that seemingly increase the likelihood that an officer would engage in unlawful searches. In some cases, differentiating between constitutional and unconstitutional searches can be a difficult task, while in other situations police officers may obviously infringe on citizens ' rights. Any violation of rights poses many serious implications and consequences for policing, especially when it comes to effective community oriented policing.…

    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Summary: Outline On Racial Profiling In Law Enforcement
    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Summary: Outline On Racial Profiling In Law Enforcement

    Stone, C. and Travis, J. (2013). Toward a new professionalism in policing. Journal of the…

    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Capstone Analysis
    • 297 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Capstone Analysis

    Walker, S., & Katz, C. M. (2011). The police in America: An introduction (7th ed.).New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.…

    • 297 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Cjs 240 Intro to Juvenile Justice the Juvenile Justice System's Need to Focus on Rehabilitation
    • 1888 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Cjs 240 Intro to Juvenile Justice the Juvenile Justice System's Need to Focus on Rehabilitation

    theiacp.org. (2010). Retrieved January 29, 2011, from International Association of Chefs of Police, Golbal Leadership in Policing: http://www.theiacp.org…

    • 1888 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ethical Failures In Law Enforcement
    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Ethical Failures In Law Enforcement

    The hiring process for a law enforcement agency is crucial to its success. The hiring process is the first step in either obtaining or creating an outstanding officer or the first step in creating a future disappointment. If a department hires the officer who’s integrity is beyond reproach and has a passion for law enforcement then you are on your way to creating a “cop’s cop.” Conversely, if a department hires an uninspired questionable officer, then they have created a career long problem at best. The worst case scenario is an officer who gives law enforcement a black eye across the…

    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Jack
    • 904 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Jack

    1. There are many environmental forces that changed during Detective Rich Miller’s career. He talks about the veterans complaining about the Miranda warning, and the new emphasis on the exclusionary rules and other changes that gave defense attorneys more leverage in cases. He recalled a senior detective asking why anyone needed anything more than a high school education to do police work. He also included that entry into law enforcement required at least a community college degree, and his department required at least a four-year degree. Promotions to lieutenant and above required a master’s degree. I believe that the change of Miranda warning is a beneficial change because it reminds individuals of their rights before the police are allowed to ask any questions. This is helpful to the person being arrested at the time but can also be a disadvantage to a police officer’s investigation. I believe the change in required education for law enforcement is also beneficial to policing. I think that requiring a minimum education to enter law enforcement will ensure that police officers are prepared and knowledgeable to perform their duties.…

    • 904 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Police Ride Along
    • 3444 Words
    • 14 Pages

    Police Ride Along

    LAPD. (n.d.). Retrieved March1, 2010 from http://www.joinlapd.com/qualifications.html Walker, S, Katz, C. (2008). The police in america. (6th ed.). Retrieved March 1, 2010…

    • 3444 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Police Force History
    • 683 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Police Force History

    Completing a field program and police academy is the final hurdle before becoming a full-fledged police officer. Each state and jurisdiction have its own requirements before joining their forces. In some states, it is as easy as the basic law enforcement training in the local community colleges and after basic training the recruits can apply to an academy of their choice. Moreover, other states require the fulfillment of in-house training and readiness program, followed by a successful completion of the recruitment program before joining. Before an individual can step out into the streets as a police officer it must go through an extensive training. The majority of programs are based on classroom learning by going through different real life…

    • 683 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Women in Policing
    • 1310 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Women in Policing

    This paper will denote a walkthrough of the history of women in policing. According to our reading the history of women working in law enforcement has been in effect for more than 100 years, since 1845 when New York City hired its first female police officer. In 1888 Massachusetts and New York both passed legislation to hire woman officers to take care of female prisoners. In the 1900’s women were hired but they had to have certain criteria such as height, weight, strength and agility testing to prove they were just as capable as their male coworkers. It was in 1968 when Indianapolis assigned the first women officers to patrol as equals to men. In 1994 and 1995 the first two women offices were appointed as chief of police in Portland and Atlanta. (Shusta, Levine, Wong, Olson, & Harris, 2011). National studies continually find discrimination and sexual harassment are factors in police departments which supervisors and commanders not only tolerate by others, but also may be perpetrators themselves. Hostile work environments and discrimination have been known to keep women from law enforcement agencies in significant numbers and also hinders them from being promoted up the ranks to policy-making positions, thus not enabling for a new style of community…

    • 1310 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Personal Narrative: A Career In Law Enforcement
    • 1055 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Personal Narrative: A Career In Law Enforcement

    When I joined the police department, I knew I wanted to be a part of something great. I wanted to leave a legacy and make an impression on others. I was the first in my family to choose a career in law enforcement, so initially, I was unaware of the challenges this career field came with. My mom was a teacher, and my dad worked in the printing business. Both were successful in their chosen fields, but they were blind to the demands required for a fulfilling career in law enforcement. To be successful, I would need to be observant of those around me who had found success. I would need to mirror their ways and incorporate their habits into my own. I would need to learn from their failures. Most importantly, I would need to learn what made them…

    • 1055 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Pros And Cons Of Community Policing
    • 1555 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Pros And Cons Of Community Policing

    The success of the police depends not only on the development of their own skills and capabilities, but also on the creation of competent communities. Community policing acknowledges that police cannot succeed in achieving their basic goals without both the operational assistance and political support of the community. Conversely, the community cannot succeed in constructing decent, open, and orderly communities without a professional and responsive police force” (Meese,…

    • 1555 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Criminal Justice Paper
    • 3610 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Criminal Justice Paper

    In order to be a police officer you must not just fill out an application, go through the academy, and start issuing tickets. In order to become a police officer you must feel it deep down in your soul and DNA. You must want to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Being a police officer is not just a career it’s a calling. I have heard this calling and I am pursuing the route to answering it. I have started my college courses in the first of 3 steps to obtaining a career with the Delaware State Police and I am confident I will succeed. In order to succeed at something so selective and challenging you must understand the cause and truly feel the duty it brings to you. Those that possess the characteristics for becoming a police officer could not do anything but be a police officer, it’s something you’re born with and that you feel. It chooses you, you do not choose it.…

    • 3610 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Racial Profiling
    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Racial Profiling

    Jost, Kenneth. "Policing the Police." CQ Researcher 17 Mar. 2000: 209-40. Web. 26 Mar. 2012.…

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Police Self-Control Theory
    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Police Self-Control Theory

    M., Marcum, C. D., Jennings, W. G., Higgins, G. E., & Banfield, J., 2014). Furthermore, empirical examinations have express possible contributing relationship between individual personality, impulsivity, youth, inexperience, gender, race, prior military service, academy performance, and police misconduct (social learning, strain, and organizational characteristics of how they conduct business) (Donner, C. M., Marcum, C. D., Jennings, W. G., Higgins, G. E., & Banfield, J., 2014) (Harris, C., 2014).…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Detective Agency
    • 492 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Essay On Detective Agency

    They must also pass a written exam and may be interviewed. Also, they must be a graduate of the agency’s training academy. This training can last from three months to a year. The training also includes education in constitutional law, civil rights, state laws and local ordinances, and police ethics. Recruits also receive supervised experience in areas such as patrol, traffic control, use of firearms, self-defense, first aid, and emergency response. In addition, knowing a foreign language is an advantage in many federal agencies and in particular geographical regions. However, some large police departments require a minimum of 1 or 2 years of college, and most officers who go on to become detectives have at least an associate degree. Relevant college programs include criminal justice and law enforcement. The best degrees for police detectives include criminology, criminal justice, psychology, and human service. But applicants for detective positions with federal agencies need higher qualifications. For example, FBI agents need a bachelor’s degree plus 3 years of related work…

    • 492 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics