Exploring Massachusetts Law Enforcement Regarding Education Requirements for Entrance and Promotions: Should they be higher?

• In Event: Police Leadership: Assessments, Education, and Training

Abstract

The debate concerning the necessity of a college degree for police entering law
enforcement continues in today’s society. There have been numerous studies
regarding an educational standard for entrance into the police profession since the
Wickersham Commission officially acknowledged the need for police officers to be
college-educated. The goal of education has gained momentum since the recent push toward police professionalism. In an attempt to understand why Massachusetts local police departments only require a high-school diploma, surveys are administered to a random sample of the Massachusetts Major City’s Police Departments. Data from local police officers will be analyzed in this exploratory quantitative study to determine the utility of college degree requirements. This study primarily focuses on Massachusetts local police and why college degree requirements are not a mandatory standard for hiring. This will provide an up to date analysis of the education level attained by police officers currently working in the major cities of Massachusetts. It includes officers’ perspectives on departmental policy regarding educational requirements necessary for promotion, the impact of higher education on police effectiveness and performance, and police attitudes about setting standards as an effective means of reducing or preventing administrative referrals and misconduct allegations.

Authors

• Aviva Rich-Shea, Massasoit Community College

• Mark Beaudry, IBM Corporate Security

• James Alan Fox, Northeastern University