The decision by Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government to remove the requirement of a university degree to become a police officer is being met with skepticism by those who say a degree makes for better officers.
The stated reason for the change was to get more officers on the streets to address an increase in auto thefts, assaults, break-and-enters, and random acts of violence. Matt Yeager, a University of Western Ontario professor emeritus in criminology with 51 years’ experience, says there is a need for more officers but doubts that lowering requirements is the right solution.
