Are Degrees in Law Enforcement Worth It

The Impact of Higher Education on Law Enforcement Officers' Use of Force and Community Policing Practices

Abstract

This study aimed to address the research problem of whether requiring a higher education or college degree for law enforcement officers leads to less use of force and better community policing. The hypothesis posited that officers with higher education would demonstrate reduced use of force and improved community policing practices. Utilizing a cross-sectional online survey, the research design included a stratified random sample of law enforcement officers from various regions, departments, and demographics. Participants, with a mean age of around 40 years, provided self-reported measures of their use of force (Police Use of Force Scale) and community policing (Community Policing Assessment Tool). The results supported the hypothesis, suggesting that higher education among law enforcement officers is associated with reduced use of force and improved community policing practices. This study aligns with previous literature, such as Rydberg and Terril (2010), while addressing concerns raised by Blumberg et al. (2019) about the potential limitations of college education in developing necessary policing skills. The significance of these findings highlights the potential benefits of requiring higher education for law enforcement officers in promoting ethical and effective policing practices. Future research should consider investigating specific aspects of college education that contribute to better policing outcomes and examining the effectiveness of police academy training programs in teaching necessary skills for de-escalation and community policing.

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