Some of the country’s largest police departments have lowered education requirements in recent years, sparking questions about the implications the development holds for communities across the country.
The New York City Police Department reduced the number of college credits required for cadets from 60 to 24 in February in an effort to boost sagging applicant levels. The Dallas City Council voted unanimously in June to eliminate the college credit requirement for recruits, mirroring similar moves by the Memphis and New Orleans police departments within the last decade.
The changes have gained national attention, with observers weighing in on whether they hold more positive or negative implications for police departments and the communities they serve…