Regulation Enacting the Police Manual for the District of Columbia Emergency Amendment Act Emergency Declaration Resolution of 1998
PR 12-1053

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A PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

To declare the existence of an emergency, with respect to the need to establish enhanced educational criteria in order to attract highly qualified candidates for the position of Police Officer for the District of Columbia.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the "Regulation Enacting the Police Manual for the District of Columbia Emergency Amendment Act Emergency Declaration Resolution of 1998."

Sec. 2. (a) There exists an immediate crisis regarding the need for highly qualified individuals with post-secondary educational training for the position of police officer with the Metropolitan Police Department.

(b) The current educational requirements for the position of police officer in the District of Columbia are that an individual, at the time of application, possess a diploma received as a result of successfully completing a four-year high school course, or a diploma granted on the basis of an equivalency test, or one (1) year of experience as a sworn officer or member of a principal municipal police force of a city with a population of five hundred thousand (500,000) or more persons.

(c) Many of the surrounding jurisdictions, as well as police departments throughout the country, require applicants to possess a significant number of college credits or an undergraduate degree at the time of application. The position of police officer is viewed as one requiring the ability to learn new and often complex criminal justice and legal concepts, and a high degree of professionalism.

(d) In order to attract members who have been prepared, through post-secondary education, for the many challenges and demands required of law enforcement professionals, it is necessary to establish enhanced educational backgrounds for applicants for the position of police officer.

(e) In order that future applicants have a fair opportunity to meet the established educational criteria, it is necessary that this legislation be enacted on an emergency basis.

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Regulation Enacting the Police Manual for the District of Columbia Emergency Amendment Act of 1998 be adopted after a single reading.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.