New Orleans PD Nixes College Requirement for Recruits

High school graduates are once again welcome at the New Orleans Police Department. The Civil Service Commission voted unanimously Monday to eliminate a rule requiring most applicants to have 60 hours college credit in order to qualify for a job on the force.

High school graduates are once again welcome at the New Orleans Police Department. The Civil Service Commission voted unanimously Monday to eliminate a rule requiring most applicants to have 60 hours college credit in order to qualify for a job on the force, reports nola.com.

The change, sought by Mayor Mitch Landrieu's administration, was supported by police unions, the Police and Justice Foundation, a nonprofit, and the New Orleans Business Council, who said officers are stretched too thin.

Landrieu said that he supports eliminating the education requirement despite his former police chief pushing for its implementation. The new plan allows more recruits in the front door, but gives incentives to seek higher education once they are in.

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