While there are only a few police agencies that set strict higher educational standards and requirements, evidence and research suggests that higher education is actually a means to better professional policing. As with all careers, especially Public Safety, having a higher education background opens up greater advancement opportunities for police officers. There is no real substitute for authentic street experience. But this is where higher education experience comes in handy. Research conducted by Michigan State University shows that having a college degree dramatically reduces the chance that police officers will use force as their first option for compliance needs. Police Officers who have a college degree are overall more likely to make better decisions when dealing with confrontations.

When continuing your education as an experienced, working police officer you may find that it is not the easiest thing to do. Attending traditional classes are not the best option when having to work a rotating schedule while having to have to attend trainings and court appearances. But most college and universities have online courses and also ways to shorten the length of time of your four year degree. When looking for a degree program you have two options you can look into:

1. Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) – Show prior learning through a portfolio process that will in return give you college credit(s)
2. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) –  Receive college credit through a 90-minute examination on a wide range of topics such as Computer, Foreign Language, Math, Science, Composition and electives

As technology is changing and police departments are becoming more modernized, a college degree is what will make you stand out from fellow officers. You won’t understand how forensic science can strengthen a case if you do not know the science behind it. You won’t be able to fight cyber crime without the necessary technical skills. By continuing their education, police officers are able to reassure the public that they are highly capable to take on any task-whether on the street or working on an investigation. With a college degree, as a police officer you are bound to be a force to be reckoned with.

For more information about the ways in which education impacts police officers, please see this article by the American Military University. For more information about joining one of the academies at St. Petersburg College, please visit our website.

This post was written by Katy Simpson, B.A.S. Student at St. Petersburg College.