The Importance of Higher Education Among Law Enforcement Officers

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Introduction

Law enforcement like much of the economy and society has had to adapt to the rapidly changing Atmosphere of the technological advances. To counter these advances, education has served in the forefront to combating the technological sophistication that is rapidly sweeping the workforce. The need and desire to remain competitive with the technology that we have is a need that can be satisfied with more education. Much like technology, education has benefits elsewhere in the equation of remaining competitive. Education on the higher tiered level provides a professionalism to accompany by the demands placed on students during their scholastic years of study. Activities required by many professors in the higher education realm provide skills needed to polish the individual for his or her place in society. Is this now so hard to conceive that law enforcement may also have to do the same? Over the past three decades the demands that law enforcement have encountered have greatly increased as the changing times and technologically stimulated problems have come into light. Higher Education plays a large part in the professionalization and advancement of police into the modern context of what is needed and expected of police.

Police Basic Training

Academy Training

Commonly, all officers must complete a training regime at a police academy before going into the field on patrol. While the duration of the training differs from institution and police force, training is still required of all officers. For instance, “Virginia State Troopers must undergo training lasting around 12 months or a year’s time” (Police, 2009). This training is for the officers who work the public highways of Virginia and handle state situation...

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... that of the generically educated officer who will only have his academy training.

Works Cited

Academy, S. V. (2008). Course Schedule. Bristol, Virginia, United States of America. Retrieved November 10, 2011, from http://svcjta.com/front/showcontent.aspx?fileid=27

Bostrom, M. D. (2005). The Influence of Higher Education on Police Officer Work Habits. The Police Chief , 72 (10).

Police, V. S. (2009). Training. Richmond , Virginia, United States of America. Retrieved November 10, 2011, from www.vsp.state.va.us/Employment_Trooper_Recruitment_Training.shtm

Rebecca L. Paynich, P. (2004, Feburary). The Impact of a College-Educated Police Force: A review of the literature. United States of America. Retrieved November 10, 2011, from http://www.masschiefs.org/documents/The%20Impact%20of%20Higher%20Education%20in%20Law%20Enforcement%20Feb%202009%20and%20Summary.pdf

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