Sarasota police no longer require college degree

[lostinblue 1,989]

Sarasota police no longer require college degree

Sarasota, Florida-The Sarasota Police Department is running low on police officers there are 12 vacancies and more are expected due mostly to retirements.

"Over the next 4 years we'll lose 38 officers," says Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino. She says a two year college degree as a requirement made recruiting difficult but not anymore a high school or GED is now enough along with standard police training.

DiPino says, "I think it discounted a number of individuals that had good qualities qualifications to be a police officer that's what we're hoping this will do open the pool of candidates."

A more diverse group of police officers to include women, Hispanics and African-Americans.

"Diversity is important to our agency because we want it to reflect the community where we are policing," says DiPino.

"We need to see more diversity in Sarasota." Especially in its police department says Newtown Community leader Jetson Grimes.

"It's important we see people that represent us in a position of authority that's important," said Grimes.

"If you have individuals look the same way you do on the police force people are more likely to be trusting, it reduces biases, builds up relationships," adds DiPino.

But for the sake of being divers has the police department lowered its standards

While a college degree is preferred the chief says a college degree doesn't always make for a good police officer.

"We're not lowering our standards. We're looking for people with good character, integrity, it doesn't matter color of skin, religion they practice sexual preference," says DiPino.

Click here to see Monday's Sarasota City Commission meeting on recruitment. You can watch it here.

We checked with other area law enforcement agencies. Along with Sarasota-- the Pinellas Sheriff's Office has the same high school requirement with police academy training. The Tampa Police Department and Hillsborough Sheriff Office require military or other police-like experience in place of a college degree. But the St. Petersburg Police Department requires a minimum 60 college semester hours.

Sarasota, Florida – Should becoming a police officer require a college degree? The Sarasota police chief doesn't think so, and city commissioners agree.

Commissioners approved the police chief's request to modify requirements for hiring police officers. Police Chief Bernadette DiPino asked that the minimum of an associate college degree be removed from the list of requirements, and instead require candidates have a high school diploma or GED.

The chief says this move will help make the pool of recruits more diverse. DiPino says there are other important requirements she looks for such as character, integrity and life experience.

DiPino says while a college degree is preferred it doesn't always make for a good police officer.

. You can watch it here.

http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/local/2015/03/17/sarasota-police-eliminates-college-degree-to-be-a-cop/24913601/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wtsp%2Flocal+%28WTSP.com+10+News+Local+News%29&utm_content=FeedBurner

"We're not lowering our standards...require candidates have a high school diploma or GED

.St. Petersburg Police Department requires a minimum 60 college semester hours.

diversity police strikes again

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

How much does a degree run to these days?

Edited April 10, 2015 by Venkman

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

College costs a bunch, no longer has much meaning in terms of capability of student. I'd rather have a moral officer with good character than an educated one. Policing skills can be taught, character can't and college debt gives both criminals and politicians balancing budgets through ticketing a lot of leverage over cops.

[Teddy B 17,251]

"We're not lowering our standards...require candidates have a high school diploma or GED

.St. Petersburg Police Department requires a minimum 60 college semester hours.

diversity police strikes again

Scary aint it LIB? People with different color skin than you being given a gun and a badge?

[VOL 425]

Many small cities only require High School degree or GED.

[Teddy B 17,251]

Many small cities only require High School degree or GED.

Most cities only require a HS diploma or GED. Few cities require a college degree these days. But the point the op was trying to make has nothing to do with that. His point was all about the different types of people that will now be eligible to be Cops.

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

Most cities only require a HS diploma or GED. Few cities require a college degree these days. But the point the op was trying to make has nothing to do with that. His point was all about the different types of people that will now be eligible to be Cops.

now now, Teddy. It could just as easily be that he doesn't want people with less money than him telling him what to do. It doesn't have to be about race.

[VOL 425]

Most cities only require a HS diploma or GED. Few cities require a college degree these days. But the point the op was trying to make has nothing to do with that. His point was all about the different types of people that will now be eligible to be Cops.

Gotcha

We have mainly Whites and Hispanic and blacks in my area.

I have never seen an Indian cop

[Teddy B 17,251]

now now, Teddy. It could just as easily be that he doesn't want people with less money than him telling him what to do. It doesn't have to be about race.

Could be, but some folks are just dead give a ways yanno.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Gotcha

We have mainly Whites and Hispanic and blacks in my area.

I have never seen an Indian cop

I have:

https://youtu.be/zr85KzxSDX0

Edited April 10, 2015 by Venkman

[GandD 5,966]

Many small cities only require High School degree or GED.

I'd go so far as to say most.