Three California sheriffs' departments have teamed with National University to provide on site degree programs for their employees. In doing so, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Fresno Sheriff's Department and the Orange County Sheriff's Department join a growing number of law enforcement agencies who are embracing the value of higher education among their ranks.
In March 2002 the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department became the nation's first law enforcement agency to form its own corporate university. National University was a perfect partner. Its accelerated programs, which are tailored for working adult learners, have allowed a total of 48 sheriff's deputies to complete their degree program in one year by attending classes while off duty. Sheriff's departments in Fresno and Orange County followed suit in 2003.
Providing sheriff's deputies with greater access to undergraduate and graduate degree programs creates additional dividends to the public, according to Maggie Yadegar, associate regional dean for National University's Los Angeles and Sherman Oaks academic centers. "A smarter police officer is a better police officer," she said. "As policing grows more sophisticated, more crimes are being prevented or solved through the utilization of DNA evidence and computer forensics. Psychology, sociology, biology and software engineering are becoming important crime-fighting tools."
"In recent years there has been a major philosophical shift in the approach to policing," says James E. Newman, who teaches criminal justice courses for National University in Fresno. "Today it isn't what law enforcement officials learn, but how they learn that has become so critical. There is a demand for well-rounded professionals who are able to adjust to constant changes and stay current with the times, and nothing prepares a person for that role better than an accredited college degree."
A recent report indicates a strong correlation between fewer disciplinary actions and higher educational levels among law enforcement officials. The report, prepared by Scott A. Cunningham, Ph.D., chair of the Police Administrative Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, revealed that those with only a high school education accounted for almost 75 percent of disciplinary actions, even though they only constituted 57.7 percent of Dr. Cunningham's control group. Conversely, those with a bachelor's degree accounted for only 12 percent of disciplinary actions while constituting 24 percent of the control group.