• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
American Police Beat

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication

  • Home
  • Featured
    • Operation Gratitude stops by NYPD precinct
      Drury University “Badge to Bachelors” program offers scholarships...
      HBCU makes history
      “We were swamped”— gun permits surge in Wake County
      Stray beagle finds a home and purpose with local police
  • Topics
    • On the Job
      • NYPD will deploy undercover officers in Asian communities for...
        Portland police chief takes responsibility for leaks damaging...
        Half of troopers at a Michigan State Police outpost are women
        Lessons learned: How police strategy has evolved to deal with mass...
        Northampton explores creating unarmed response department
    • Labor
      • NYPD unions attribute rise in crime to bail reform laws
        Seattle police budget cuts lead to slower response times for priority...
        The Firefighter Corollary
        New Jersey “Burnout Bill” could allow police officers and...
        Union says “many” U.S. Capitol Police officers want to leave the...
    • Tech
      • Law enforcement begins testing Skydio drones
        Technology gives police an edge in chases
        Data-driven investigations
        Police technology: Why so far behind?
        Charlotte-Mecklenburg police use key technology to battle crime wave
    • Training
      • Patterns, habits and deviations
        Training the best for the worst
        “We were swamped”— gun permits surge in Wake County
        Firearms vs. scenario-based training
        New PT standard for future officers draws objections
    • Policy
      • San Francisco lawmaker wants California to repeal its jaywalking due...
        Texas House bill takes aim law enforcement on reality TV
        Arizona bill would limit civilians on police review boards
        Iowa bill banning combined police and fire departments targets Cedar...
        California bill to mandate handgun microstamping would increase costs...
    • Health/Wellness
      • Awareness is not enough
        Practicing gratitude
        Post-traumatic stress: causes, symptoms and ways to heal
        Busted: Five myths about marital counseling
        Pandemic, protests and purpose
    • Community
      • Former police officer continues to serve the community by teaching at...
        Fueling goodwill
        Nonprofit foundation strengthens relationships between students and...
        Operation Gratitude stops by NYPD precinct
        Flag flareup
    • Humor
      • Alabama police capture runaway kangaroo
        The missing kangaroo returns home to Stokoe Farms in Scottsville
        Chick-Fil-A customer door-checks fleeing suspect
        Wisconsin driver pulled over for driving while seated on a camping...
        North Carolina sheriff’s office offers humorous “Valentine’s...
    • We Remember
      • Boulder residents pay respects to fallen officer Eric Talley
        Locked up forever
        Tampa Bay grieves over the loss of officers
        New Jersey police veteran who helped in 9/11 aftermath dies
        LA Police Officer Reinstated 120 Years after Being Unjustly Fired
  • On the Job
    • NYPD will deploy undercover officers in Asian communities for...
      Portland police chief takes responsibility for leaks damaging...
      Half of troopers at a Michigan State Police outpost are women
      Lessons learned: How police strategy has evolved to deal with mass...
      Northampton explores creating unarmed response department
  • Labor
    • NYPD unions attribute rise in crime to bail reform laws
      Seattle police budget cuts lead to slower response times for priority...
      The Firefighter Corollary
      New Jersey “Burnout Bill” could allow police officers and...
      Union says “many” U.S. Capitol Police officers want to leave the...
  • Tech
    • Law enforcement begins testing Skydio drones
      Technology gives police an edge in chases
      Data-driven investigations
      Police technology: Why so far behind?
      Charlotte-Mecklenburg police use key technology to battle crime wave
  • Training
    • Patterns, habits and deviations
      Training the best for the worst
      “We were swamped”— gun permits surge in Wake County
      Firearms vs. scenario-based training
      New PT standard for future officers draws objections
  • Policy
    • San Francisco lawmaker wants California to repeal its jaywalking due...
      Texas House bill takes aim law enforcement on reality TV
      Arizona bill would limit civilians on police review boards
      Iowa bill banning combined police and fire departments targets Cedar...
      California bill to mandate handgun microstamping would increase costs...
  • Health/Wellness
    • Awareness is not enough
      Practicing gratitude
      Post-traumatic stress: causes, symptoms and ways to heal
      Busted: Five myths about marital counseling
      Pandemic, protests and purpose
  • Community
    • Former police officer continues to serve the community by teaching at...
      Fueling goodwill
      Nonprofit foundation strengthens relationships between students and...
      Operation Gratitude stops by NYPD precinct
      Flag flareup
  • Humor
    • Alabama police capture runaway kangaroo
      The missing kangaroo returns home to Stokoe Farms in Scottsville
      Chick-Fil-A customer door-checks fleeing suspect
      Wisconsin driver pulled over for driving while seated on a camping...
      North Carolina sheriff’s office offers humorous “Valentine’s...
  • We Remember
    • Boulder residents pay respects to fallen officer Eric Talley
      Locked up forever
      Tampa Bay grieves over the loss of officers
      New Jersey police veteran who helped in 9/11 aftermath dies
      LA Police Officer Reinstated 120 Years after Being Unjustly Fired
  • Jobs and Careers
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Search

Policy

Illinois bill could require police officers to have a social work degree

Published April 1, 2021 @ 6:00 am PDT

iStock.com/BrianScantlebury

Illinois lawmakers continue to push forward with policing reforms.

A recent bill out of the Illinois General Assembly seeks to amend the Police Training Act to make social work degrees mandatory for officers.

The bill, proposed by Rep. Jaime Andrade (D-Chicago), requires officers to have a bachelor’s degree with either a major or minor in social work to be eligible to become a full-time officer.

According to Central Illinois Proud News, the measure is getting mixed reviews from law enforcement. Tazwell County Sheriff Jeff Lower said that only 25% of his department has a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

“It’s not the education that makes the person. It’s the person. It’s the hiring practice [and] the vetting of their history. My belief is that it’s the hiring practice that makes a difference- not the degree,” he said.

On the other hand, Nathan Hastings, deputy sheriff of the Tazwell County Crime Prevention Unit, said the progressive bill could benefit officers when dealing with people with mental health issues.

“With individuals that deal with mental health issues or a crisis, it allows us to have a better understanding of what that individual is going through,” he said.

However, Lower is concerned that increasing the requirements will further reduce applications during a record low police shortage.

The bill also provides that police departments offering tuition reimbursements allow officers with prior education to retroactively receive tuition reimbursements if they qualified for financial aid at the time.

Categories: Policy

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • NYPD will deploy undercover officers in Asian communities for protection
  • Portland police chief takes responsibility for leaks damaging public’s trust
  • Boulder residents pay respects to fallen officer Eric Talley
  • Half of troopers at a Michigan State Police outpost are women
  • San Francisco lawmaker wants California to repeal its jaywalking due to disproportionate enforcement against people of color
  • Former police officer continues to serve the community by teaching at local schools
  • Texas House bill takes aim law enforcement on reality TV
  • Lessons learned: How police strategy has evolved to deal with mass shootings
  • Arizona bill would limit civilians on police review boards
  • Iowa bill banning combined police and fire departments targets Cedar Falls
Advertise with APB

Footer

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Categories

  • Featured
  • On the Job
  • Labor
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Policy
  • Health/Wellness
  • Community
  • Humor
  • We Remember
  • Jobs and Careers

Editor’s Picks

Ass-kissing, favoritism, oh my!

Ass-kissing, favoritism, oh my!

January 28, 2021

This K-9 is a gym rat at heart!

This K-9 is a gym rat at heart!

January 25, 2021

A thread of courage and love

A thread of courage and love

January 20, 2021

The job doesn’t love you back

The job doesn’t love you back

December 28, 2020

Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2021 American Police Beat, Inc. | Website design, development and maintenance by 911MEDIA

Open

Subscribe

Close
Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your inbox!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.