We Demand Police Officers, Sheriffs, Deputies, and State Troopers be Required to Have a College Education

As it stands right now, police and state troopers in South Carolina are required to have a minimum education of a High School Diploma or GED. That means that high school dropouts who have shown a lack of educational skill and determination are empowered to uphold state and federal laws in our communities. Men and women who only have a GED have in no way proven to society that they even possess critical thinking skills to make on-the-spot decisions when fulfilling their duty "to protect and serve". Also, a twenty one year old dropout or even high school graduate has no track record on which to base a determination of maturity.
The educational term for state troopers in South Carolina to become fully qualified is only twenty one weeks. Less than half a year. Even an associate's degree takes a minimum of eighteen months to complete, a bachelor's degree takes four years. More than 25% of South Carolina residents have earned a bachelor's degree or higher and we as citizens are expected to accept that our laws can be upheld by people who have not pursued education actively.
On a nearly daily basis, we've seen police officers violating state laws such as talking or texting on a hand-held cell phone while driving, speeding without lights or sirens on, and occasionally acting in an overly aggressive manner which can be seen on the media and has caused protests in numerous cities. From day to day, who do these police officers answer to for their minor crimes? There is a severe lack of trust in our communities for these people.
Why are the under-educated given jurisdiction over the educated and driven? We believe this is the true cause of the shamefully high number of instances of police aggression. Events of the recent years have sparked an epidemic across the United States of open hatred for the police, and it is not unfounded. Certainly, there are good police officers even without high school diplomas, but it has now become obvious to society that the these men and women need to be held to a higher standard.
We believe South Carolina can create a model quickly and effectively with the leadership currently in office. A successful demonstration of police reform will inspire similar changes across America, making it a safer and more trusting nation. The men and women protecting and serving ourselves, our family, and our friends is generally under-qualified and this needs to change. We demand police officers and state troopers be required to complete a college education!