; fn orcement ee oe

PROFESSIONALIZATION has
long been a dream of those engaged in
law enforcement. Certainly, one of the
factors which would contribute to the
attainment of this goal would be the
recognition of police training at the
university or college level, and for
some time there has been a slow evolu-
tion in this direction on this continent.
This is evidenced in the West by
several outstanding courses offered at
Berkeley campus, University of Cali-
fornia, San Jose State College and
many others, while east of the Rockies,
institutions such as Michigan State
have made rapid strides in this field.

As of May 1, 1950, there were
twenty colleges offering police science
courses. Ten of these colleges are on
the Pacific Coast.

Locally, during the last college
semester, there were approximately
1,400 class enrollments of Los Angeles
police officers in the thirty-eight
police courses offered by colleges and
universities. This amazing enrollment
figure is probably a reflection of the
fact that civil service departments

LUCAS MOTORS LTD.

@ Complete Automotive Service
@ Guaranteed Used Cars

4055 E. Hastings St.
VANCOUVER, B.C.

Phones: Glenburn 2441 and 0443

MAYFLOWER
COFFEE SHOP

PETE SPANOS, Prop.
1785 Robson
VANCOUVER

have drawn heavily from the subject
matter covered in preparing examina-
tion questions. While many officers
have taken these courses for the sole
purpose of preparing themselves for
promotional examinations, others
have integrated their college work
into a program which would eventu-
ally lead to a degree.

Because of the expanding nature of
this off-duty training, many problems
have arisen such as, variation of course
content, credit evaluations upon
transfer, and differences in credit
allowance for courses of the same con-
tent in different institutions.

Upon transferring from one institu-
tion to another, frequently the student
was required to spend many hours
taking “make up” courses—a tedious
and time-consuming process on a part-
time basis.

Because of the many complex prob-
lems involved in off-duty education,
far-sighted administrators of the Los
Angeles Police Department appointed
a representative committee to co-
ordinate the courses offered. Many
hours were spent with the representa-
tives of the seven colleges and uni-
versities in this area discussing the
integration of police training with
formal college education. It has long
been felt that the caliber of training
offered by this department should be
accredited at the college level. It is
reasoned that, in some instances, the
course content of this in-service de-
partment training closely parallels
that at the college level and that
accrediting of such training toward a
degree would provide an additional
incentive for the officer to continue
his education.

The effort and time spent by the
joint committee representing police
and educators is now beginning to

a P rofession

materialize. A four-year curriculum
has been developed at Los Angeles
State College. The curriculum is
aimed at meeting the professional and
practical needs of police officers. It
consists of selected subjects in the
field of law enforcement and other
courses which will provide a well-
rounded background for the student.
Upon completion of 128 units, the
student will be awarded a bachelor of
science degree with a major in police
science. It is interesting to note, too,
that this particular institution has
agreed to allow several units of credit
to officers who have recently com-
pleted the present police department
cadet training program satisfactorily.

It is contemplated that the com-
mittee work will be continued as the
other universities and colleges in the
area have expressed interest to partici-
pate in a similar program, and it is
hoped that in the near future these
educational institutions will augment
their present excellent programs by
including a similar four-year course
wherein there will be a high degree of
standardization of requirements and
course content.—[The Beat]. k *

B.C. AUTO TOWING

Keep Siniling /
PHONE Glenburn 1733
25 years experience in Auto

Towing in North Burnaby.
x

Specializing in Police
Towing

FRANK BOTTRELL, Mgr.
4161 Hastings East

Mount Pleasant
Undertaking Co. Lid.

Kingsway at Eleventh Avenue

FA irmont 0058
e

Lady in Attendance

TWENTY-THIRD EDITION

Page Seventy-nine