Police Science, A.A.S.

Degree: Associate in Applied Science
HEGIS Code: 5505
Curriculum Code: 2080.PLS
Business & Public Service Division

Pre-Admission Recommendations: Sworn police officer affiliated with a NYS certified law enforcement agency (or a student that is accepted and succesfully completes the Police Basic Certificate); and 24 semester credit hours of collegiate instruction with Quality Point Average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 system. Not recommended for students just out of high school (or 18 YOA) because of age requirements for police basic certificate and taking civil service police exams.  
Career Opportunities/Further Education: Law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities and campus and industrial security. Graduates also receive certification from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services which certifies the student to attend an abbreviated Police Equivalency Course (six week course) if hired by a police agency.

Program Description

The Police Science Degree Program at SUNY Erie has been designed to provide students interested in pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice with the opportunity to attend the Police Academy as part of their program studies. The first year or 34 credit hours of study is intended to provide the student with a foundation in criminal justice, English, and social science courses that will smooth their transition into the specialized courses given in the second-year Academy program (Police Basic Training Course).

Students can then go on to pursue their careers with a law enforcement agency or elsewhere in the criminal justice system. Graduates of this program are not restricted to a career with a law enforcement agency. They also have the option to transfer their credits and pursue a four-year Bachelor of Science degree at another college or university.

Program Competencies

Upon graduating from the Police Science Program, the officer will be able to:

1. Firearms and Weapons  - Attain a level of proficiency set by the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services for the proper use and handling of their police service weapon, meeting or exceeding a score of 80%.   Shooting is done at the range in a timed and distance course meeting both the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Law Enforcement Training Academy standards.  Recruits must demonstrate proper technique for both spraying OC pepper spray while at the same time successfully protecting possession of their firearm while being sprayed (weapon retention exercise).  Achieve a score of 80% or higher on the written test on the use of force including the use of deadly physical force.
2. Operation of Police Vehicles and Traffic - Achieve a level of proficiency that demonstrates the safe and proper handling of a police vehicle under routine driving conditions and under emergency response situations where controlled speed is utilized.  They are taught and then tested on a course that meets the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Standards and the Law Enforcement Training Academy standards.  Recruits are evaluated on a scoring metric table adjusted for time and performance and achieve a passing grade of 80% or more for the course. 
3. Report and Note Taking  - Properly prepare complete and grammatically correct police reports based on scenarios given to them comparable to real-life situations encountered by police officers.   Evaluation of their reports is based on completeness, grammar, and sentence structure acceptable for police work. Recruits must score 70% or higher to pass the course.
4. Community Policing - Illustrate in writing (term paper) a proven or proposed community policing practice/theory that could be utilized in improving and fostering good police-community relations.  Conduct a five-minute oral presentation on the application of a community policing practice/theory in a real-life situation.  Recruits must achieve a passing grade of 70% or higher to pass the course. 
5. Emergency Medical Services - Successfully utilize emergency medical procedures mandated by the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services.  These skills include administering CPR, applying a tourniquet, demonstrating the use of the Heimlich maneuver, and other skills taught in this class.   They must also pass a final exam achieving a score of 80% or higher.
6. Physical Fitness/Defensive Tactics and Arrest Techniques - Display a level of physical fitness mandated by the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Law Enforcement Training Academy.  These standards are based on national standards referred to as the Cooper Standards, which set minimums for the run, sit-ups, and push-ups adjusted for age and gender.  Recruits must achieve a score of 70% or higher.   For Defensive Tactics and arrest techniques, recruits are taught the proper use of force tactics to be used for arrest and defensive tactic situations.   Recruits must perform these skills before final evaluators and earn a score of 80% or higher. 
7. Law/Criminal Procedures - Interpret and be able to demonstrate the application of the New York State Penal Law, Criminal Procedure Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, and other ancillary laws.   Testing and evaluation are conducted through a series and combination of quizzes, a major law exam, and practical testing of recruits applying this knowledge in various situations/scenarios.  A pass/fail is used for scenarios and a score of 70% or higher for classroom tests.    

Department Notes

Classes in the third and fourth semesters are all taken in one 20-week session at the Law Enforcement Training Academy.  It is recommended that students complete the first two semesters at SUNY Erie first but it can also be done in reverse order.  Candidates must apply to the Law Enforcement Training Academy separately the semester before they plan on attending.   They should also be 20 years of age on or before the law enforcement academy begins classes. 

Curriculum

Total Degree Credits: 63-64