Jetton & Meredith Law. (n.d.). Crime against nature [Photograph]. Jetton & Meredith Law. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://jettonmeredithlaw.com

The Pivotal Point in Policing

With policing being shrouded with controversy for about a decade, recruiting and retaining officers has been challenging for many departments. According to the IACP, as much as 50% of departments across America have reduced standards for entry into academics (IAPC, 2020). Around 2010, these standards began to change. Recruits had to meet strict standards of college education, fitness, strong interpersonal skills, and a squeaky-clean record. Now, most of these have been lowered or dropped entirely, most departments accept a high school diploma or GED, have lowered fitness standards, or removed a prerequisite test, allowing visible tattoos, and tolerating minor offenses/ minor drug use as well as personal history. These changes were all introduced to attract a wider recruit pool partly because of the changing dynamics of policing but primarily because not enough officers are applying and staying on the job.

Indiana State Police. (2015, November 11). Indiana State Police 75th recruit academy nearing conclusion [Photograph]. WSLM Radio. https://wslmradio.com/2015/11/11/indiana-state-police-75th-recruit-academy-nearing-conclusion/