AAACE 2021 Annual Conference

Law enforcement and higher education.

Negative binomial regression was utilized to examine the relationship between higher education and law enforcement performance. The results of the study suggest level of education predicts a positive relationship with law enforcement officer performance, degree type will not increase an officer’s performance or professionalism, and professionalism is not statistically significant.

The concept of higher education for law enforcement officers (LEP) has been debated since the early 1900’s. August Vollmer, a Berkley California Police Chief from 1907-1932, proposed higher education as a qualification for law enforcement employment to improve performance outcomes. Several stakeholders and national policymakers have carried on Vollmer’s vision of making higher education a qualification through advocacy. Unfortunately, conflicting viewpoints among stakeholders citing inconsistent research methodology and results have hindered Vollmer’s vision from being attained. Recent supporters of higher education have been unable to convince policymakers to initiate a nationwide qualification for law enforcement officers due to the lack of consistent data analysis and results. The aims of the study are to (1) provide stakeholders with quantitative data and analysis, (2) provide insight on the importance higher education has on LEP performance, (3) encourage an informed change to LEP education policy. Recently, civil disturbances have occurred across the nation from negatively perceived interactions between the police and the community. Calls to defund the police and a change in the national policing model is ongoing and should be academically, statistically, and purposefully studied. This study offers data to increase positive police performance and reduce negative police performance through higher education.