I suspect that intelligence and education are no longer prerequisites for law enforcement work as they were (more so, at least) in the late 20th century. The police unions of the 21st century seem to prefer officers who shoot first and think later.
In the 1970s, some departments prized their detectives and investigators, and there was more of an interest in using forensic science that was sound to identify and convict a culprit. That sentiment had certainly waned by the 1990s.
There are still places that ‘value’ those things, it’s just all bunk. I know of a local department that requires applicants to have a college degree. It’s just that (some) college(s) has both become a degree mill, and there are plenty of places ‘captured’ by conservative thought/material.
You could still be a fool, and a bigoted asshole, and graduate no problem. Even just going by intelligence, it’s not like being intelligent carries with it concern for your fellow man. There are brilliant individuals who are every bit evil.
I think that the overall push for why police are the way they are is that only certain types want to be a cop in the first place, much more so than intelligence, education, or desire to find truth in scientific ways.
I suspect that intelligence and education are no longer prerequisites for law enforcement work as they were (more so, at least) in the late 20th century. The police unions of the 21st century seem to prefer officers who shoot first and think later.
Intelligence has never been a prerequisite for police work. Police departments openly reject applicants who score too high on intelligence tests.
In the 1970s, some departments prized their detectives and investigators, and there was more of an interest in using forensic science that was sound to identify and convict a culprit. That sentiment had certainly waned by the 1990s.
There are still places that ‘value’ those things, it’s just all bunk. I know of a local department that requires applicants to have a college degree. It’s just that (some) college(s) has both become a degree mill, and there are plenty of places ‘captured’ by conservative thought/material.
You could still be a fool, and a bigoted asshole, and graduate no problem. Even just going by intelligence, it’s not like being intelligent carries with it concern for your fellow man. There are brilliant individuals who are every bit evil.
I think that the overall push for why police are the way they are is that only certain types want to be a cop in the first place, much more so than intelligence, education, or desire to find truth in scientific ways.