The dirty little secret in suppressing crime

The hiring standards, in my opinion are fine, what needs to change is the benefits. Better pay, better hours, better insurance, better retirement, and so on as well as a change in perception by the community. That will attract more applicants. Being at least 21 years old, having a pulse and breathing is not a hiring standard. There has to be something to separate a possibly good recruit from the rest of the population. Unfortunately there is not a test for common SENSE (not since), or a test for good heads on shoulders. However being in the military and/or attending college or other higher education at least shows some what of a commitment. I think it at a minimum requires you to work a little if you want to become an Officer. Deciding you want to be an Officer and then going down the next day and applying and being qualified to apply does not require much thought or commitment.

You don't need college to do this job.

I agree. I will admit, I applaud officers that have college and / or military backgrounds, but given the modern era of policing -- minimal pay, minimal benefits, plenty of chances for (frivolous) lawsuits, especially ones that take punitive damages, and challenges to have further cuts in pay and incentives -- who would want to be a cop?

Louisville Metro has several officers from its preceeding agencies with no college or military, and things seemed to be going well with the previous standards. And lets face it, just as plenty of honest people get turned down from the department for a lack of military or college, the department is also desparate for those with the qualifications. If a beggar cannot be a chooser, then the department cannot be so strict in its guidelines. Aside from the internal evidence where officers are left without beat partners and response times have increased, the public is also aware of the agencies' desparation: billboards and TARC buses advertise job openings. The fact that the largest agency in a state must advertise to try and attract candidates should be insulting to the members of the agency, and to the persons that instituted the means of limiting a slim candidacy pool even further.

This story is only one example. Has anyone checked in with the Indiana State Police? Even since 2005 when they lowered their standards, they're still desparate. Louisville is only one example of where politicians need to wake up to the needs of public safety: if you want more people, you need to consider more people from less-educated / experienced backgrounds, or take steps to up pay and benefits. Beggars can't be choosers.

Well said...... This job takes common since,and heart. In my opinion,

I think the best officers are the ones that have been there and done that. If you know what I mean, not some young kid right out of a campus classroom, with no

common since. Common since you either have it, or you dont. It cant be taught in a class room. This mayor and his boy need to wake up. They are passing up some of the best people just because they dont have a higher education. For years it didnt matter,then along came white. BYE JERRY AND TAKE WHITE WITH YOU. And lets get a mayor with some smarts when it comes to policing. Time to gear up............. Be safe people.

IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE YOU HAVE ANGER PROBLEMS LIKE A PERSON WHO HAS TRIED TO GET HIRED BY A POLICE DEPT. BUT CAN'T GET HIRED BECAUSE OF RACIAL SLURRS AND NOT BEING THAT SMART TO PASS THE WRITTEN TEST . I HAVE BOTH EDUCATION AND MILITARY SERVICE AND HAVE BOTH HELP ME OUT AS FEDERAL OFC. DEPUTY SHERIFF