Cops in College: Police Officers' Perceptions on Formal Education

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.