For some time, it has been hypothesized by members of the law enforcement community that higher education requirements for police officers would have a positive effect on their behavior and work habits. Members of the Presidential Commission believed …show more content…
Vollmer with a clear understanding of this issue he used that opportunity to incorporate the use of technology into policing. He believed that including technology was essential for candidates hoping to join the Berkeley police department, to obtain a college education in order to gain the skills necessary to become a part of an advancing police force. Thus Vollmer’s ultimate goal that police officers obtain education beyond high school was initiated. (Rydberg and Terrell, 2010).
During the 1960’s and 70’s the Presidential Commission, a task force initiated by the President agreed with Vollmer’s strategy. They reasoned that obtaining a higher education would begin to change the negative image created by members of law enforcement and the profession as a whole. Therefore, the final recommendation of the Commission regarding the educational requirements for police officers was that t should “be raised to a college degree” (Bostrom, …show more content…
The research also shows that officers who have a college education “… are subject to fewer disciplinary measures that officers with a high school education (Townes, 2015). Townes discovered that a five-year case study conducted in Florida concluded that of all reported disciplinary actions, 75% were committed by officers who had only completed high school (2015). Coincidently during that same time frame, only 11% of disciplinary actions were necessary for officers who had obtained a four-year college degree