Cops
Alex Rodriguez
Dr. Lepschy
ENC 1101
21 March, 2013
Should Police Officers be held to a higher educational standard?
From the day a police officer is sworn into oath until retirement they are an embodiment of the United States government. They are paid and trusted to routinely govern our streets and uphold the laws that maintain order in our society. From simple rush hour traffic stops to life threatening shoot outs, an officer must be both psychologically and physically rigid. There are thousands of laws, regulations and statutes that officers must know in order to service our government and protect our citizens. Federal law requires police officers to have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent before entering the Police academy (Baker). With so many substantial laws to enforce, the question arises whether police officers are adequately educated to correctly carry out their duties.
When a child is being taught the building blocks of life they are told if danger ever presented itself they are to call none other but the iconic number of distress, “911”. Police officers have the trust of most civilians, and a powerful distrust from the criminally minded. They risk their lives every single day when they place that silver badge on their chest. From law enforcement to criminal investigation, police officers have a rather demanding and dangerous agenda to attend to. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2010 there are close to 800,000 police officers in the U.S., and over 315,000,000 people living in the United States (“Occupational Handbook”). With so many people to protect it is safe to say they have their work cut out for them. For hundreds of years they have been this country’s first line of defense against terrorism, drug-trafficking, reckless behavior and even murder. Every day they must set aside their own ethical and moral beliefs to preserve our constitution and provide citizens with an unbiased service.
Police officers have
Dr. Lepschy
ENC 1101
21 March, 2013
Should Police Officers be held to a higher educational standard?
From the day a police officer is sworn into oath until retirement they are an embodiment of the United States government. They are paid and trusted to routinely govern our streets and uphold the laws that maintain order in our society. From simple rush hour traffic stops to life threatening shoot outs, an officer must be both psychologically and physically rigid. There are thousands of laws, regulations and statutes that officers must know in order to service our government and protect our citizens. Federal law requires police officers to have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent before entering the Police academy (Baker). With so many substantial laws to enforce, the question arises whether police officers are adequately educated to correctly carry out their duties.
When a child is being taught the building blocks of life they are told if danger ever presented itself they are to call none other but the iconic number of distress, “911”. Police officers have the trust of most civilians, and a powerful distrust from the criminally minded. They risk their lives every single day when they place that silver badge on their chest. From law enforcement to criminal investigation, police officers have a rather demanding and dangerous agenda to attend to. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2010 there are close to 800,000 police officers in the U.S., and over 315,000,000 people living in the United States (“Occupational Handbook”). With so many people to protect it is safe to say they have their work cut out for them. For hundreds of years they have been this country’s first line of defense against terrorism, drug-trafficking, reckless behavior and even murder. Every day they must set aside their own ethical and moral beliefs to preserve our constitution and provide citizens with an unbiased service.
Police officers have