The Reformation of Law Enforcement Selection

The years of police brutality has surpassed the amount of fingers we possess even when counting both hands. Public frustration has gone from outcry of change to a course of self-inflicting community damage in attempts to stronghold local governments in invoking change. Although I can not speak for the injustice of the fallen souls that have been lost due to an abuse of power (that seems to be specifically aimed towards men and women of color), I can only bring forth an idea to help prevent future loss of innocence. 

On average it takes an attorney/lawyer to study and understand the law in which even then they still may not be ready for the BAR Exam. The average police officer gets through a police academy in about 888 hours, close to the equivalent of 6-months. That’s 6-months for an officer to learn the law and then soon after enforce it through on the job training, what were the requirements needed to submit the application?

Current Requirements to Apply for Academy:

-18-21+ of Age

-GED/HighSchool Diploma (few areas require 4-year Bachelors/Associates)

-Drivers License

-0 Felony Convictions

No longer can this be the minimum and no longer can we allow them to dictate the extent of the reformation we seek. Let us not give them excuses to impose their power on us by destroying our own communities but let us decide what changes we want and the way these changes should be implemented. Let’s apply more pressure on the government that WE THE PEOPLE govern and take away any excuses of why they can’t make the adjustments we need.

Let us make the path to become a law enforcer more rigorous so those with malintentions and hunger for power be skewed away. Let us start at the core, that of changing the standards it takes of being in position to become involved with law enforcement. 

My proposal begins with the introduction of a new type of Bachelor's Degree, a Bachelor’s of Science in Policing where prerequisites before taking criminal justice must be courses in Afro-American studies (teachings of slavery and civil rights must be included) and Philospohy/Psychology (ethics, morals, communication, and compassion). Only after obtaining this certificate can a person be eligible to become an officer w/ the following qualifications: 

Proposed State Government Requirements to Apply for Academy:

-21+ of age

-Bachelor's Degree in Policing/(Criminal Justice w/ aforementioned required courses taken)

-Drivers License

-0 Felony Convictions

-2 Oral Interviews. 

    1st by Head of Precinct 

  2nd by Judge of that Jurisdiction