TEST PREP
Higher educational pursuits
and entry-level law enforcement
Guiding young adults in what college degree programs are suitable for a possible career in law enforcement can present a challenge. The fact is, there is no
way to know how an administration of a police
department will approach a candidate sitting before
them with a degree in business, for instance, who proclaims his or her dream was always to be a law
enforcement officer. Yet, a degree in criminal justice,
DAVID
while showing commitment to the field, may not be
as appealing as a candidate coming to an interview
PAPROTA
with a degree in computer science.
A pool of candidates with varied educational backgrounds is very appealing to a chief of police looking to build a highfunctioning organization. Candidates with degrees in criminology,
criminal justice, psychology, sociology, business, finance, exercise science, nursing, education, computer science or accounting can provide
significant contributions to any police organization.
The key to success for any college student starts with a desire to learn
and achieve. Prospective police candidates working their way through
a college program should feel assured that their chosen degree ultimately will contribute to their future agency, and shouldn’t hesitate to
pursue a degree program that truly interests them. It is incumbent upon
law enforcement leaders to recognize the value in the diversity of educational backgrounds, encourage prospective candidates and current
employees to pursue varied degrees and then utilize that variety of
strengths for the betterment of their organizations.
The same is true for those candidates who realize – either during or
after completing their degree – they truly want to enter into a career in
law enforcement. Many young adults are guided toward technical
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degrees and certifications in other fields, only to discover their true
desire is to be a law enforcement officer.
Again, it should be recognized that varied educational backgrounds
have the capacity to benefit any law enforcement organization. Success
in building a high-functioning organization starts with recruitment, but
recruitment is irrelevant if those recruited are not utilized to their fullest
potential. The sole responsibility of an organization’s leaders is to recognize what officers have to offer, and to place a round peg in a round
hole by utilizing their staff properly.
Keeping this premise in perspective, the same is true for officers on
the job who choose to pursue higher education well into their law
enforcement careers. Too many agencies try to limit or restrict the
degree programs officers can pursue under their reimbursement or
incentive programs. This restriction is done under a misguided and narrow-minded belief. The fact is, officers, as with prospective candidates,
should be encouraged to pursue the degree program of their choice, as
any higher educational degree will benefit the organization.
As law enforcement continues to evolve and progress in both techniques and practices, those who lead will come to recognize the benefits
of encouraging and supporting personnel to pursue the varied higher
educational degrees that interest them. d
Dr. David A. Paprota is the Chief of Police in Lacey Township, a
member of PBA Local 238 and the Executive Director of Critical Concepts & Strategies (CCS), an entry-level exam preparation company.
Further information can be obtained through his website at
www.ccstest.com or email questions to info@ccstest.com.