Cops in College: Police Officers’ Perceptions on Formal Education

• In Event: Credentialing, Education, and Hiring in Policing

Abstract

There is no consensus regarding the benefits of a minimum education level of
a four-year college degree for law enforcement officers. No state requires this
for entry into policing and Minnesota is the only state to require an associate’s
degree. This study examines the unique perceptions of a random sample of
627 Minnesota police officers relative to higher education degree requirements
and their level of support for increasing the requirement to a four-year
degree. Approximately, 30% of officers think the four-year degree should be
required and 70% of officers would have still entered the profession if this
were the requirement. Multinomial logistic regression analysis reveals factors
that shape one or both of these opinions which include age, position in the
department, education level, and agency support. Implications and suggestions
for future research are provided.

Authors

• Susan Hilal, Metropolitan State University

• James A. Densley, Metropolitan State University

• Ruohui Zhao, University of Macau