Collier, Lee sheriff's offices increase spending for college
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    Collier, Lee sheriff's offices increase spending for college

    Collier, Lee sheriff's offices increase spending for college tuition for deputies

    From NaplesNews.com

    NAPLES — For more than 20 years, Collier County sheriff's Sgt. Scott Peterson had planned to go back to college.

    Peterson had signed up for classes, but there always was a reason not to follow through. Long work hours. Overtime. A second job. Raising a family.

    Now in his mid-40s, Peterson, a detective focusing on crimes against children and the elderly, has joined the growing number of local law enforcement officers going back to school, with the Sheriff's Office footing much of the bill.

    "This was kind of a no-brainer because the agency fronts the tuition," said Peterson, who expects to graduate next year with a bachelor's degree from Edison State College. "You're just coming up every semester with the books and fees, waiting to get reimbursed on tuition. You just can't pass it up."

    Both Collier and Lee sheriff's offices have tuition reimbursement programs for deputies paid from their general fund, with each seeing a recent jump in spending on college courses for employees.

    In fiscal 2010, Collier County is expected to pay out $300,000 for tuition, up from the roughly $210,000 it had spent the previous two years. For fiscal 2011, Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk has requested $281,500 for tuition in his budget.

    At the Lee County Sheriff's Office, tuition spending doubled in fiscal 2010, rising from $187,337 in 2009 to $365,298. Although costs dropped to $256,617 in 2011, they still remained above 2009 levels.

    Both agencies offer a college payment program with the same goal: improving the education level and professionalism of their police force.

    "It's just like putting them through a policy academy to learn the basics of law enforcement," Lee County sheriff's Major Gene Simms said. "We're gaining an officer that's improving themselves and gaining more knowledge in criminal justice, public administration and human resources. They're going to bring new information to the agency that hopefully will make things better, and may be bringing cost-saving ideas."

    Each office pays different tuition rates, with a few similarities in policies.

    The Collier County Sheriff's Office offers up to $3,000 per year in tuition per deputy, while Lee pays for classes at a rate no higher than the tuition costs of Florida Gulf Coast University.

    Both agencies require students to get grades of "C" or better in associate's or bachelor's level courses, and a "B" or better grade in master's or doctorate level courses. If a deputy doesn't meet these standards, the cost of the class is deducted from paychecks.

    The reasons why more deputies have been hitting the books vary. Some do it for personal reasons; others to stay competitive in a shrinking job market.

    In Collier County, education has become a mandate for advancement. All deputies promoted to sergeant now must have at least an associate's degree, under a new policy started last year. Beginning in January, anybody promoted to lieutenant or higher must have at least a bachelor's degree.

    Lee deputies don't need a degree for promotion, but it's recommended.

    Higher education has taken on greater importance at law enforcement agencies over the years, said Mary Ann Zager, interim chair of the Division of Justice Studies at FGCU.

    "Law enforcement officers absolutely have more formal education than they did 20 years ago," Zager said. "Part of it is that we encourage officers through these tuition reimbursement programs and other incentives, like salary."

    For Peterson, there were three primary reasons for enrollment — the county picks up the check, he foresees a future in police administration and his 20-year-old son now attends college.

    "I enjoy being a detective, but I do eventually want to move up into management," said Peterson, 44. "I've had to put family first before, but now that I have a child in college, how do you instill in your children the importance of a college degree when you don't have one?"

    For three years, Peterson has been enrolled in a special program with other deputies at Edison. The college sends a professor to Sheriff's Office sites for certain classes, and others are taken online.

    The results have surprised Peterson. His police reports are more thorough and contain better grammar. Peterson's fear of public speaking also has been quelled, improving his presentations to the public and his peers.

    "It's important to write a good report, to be articulate," Peterson said. "I think that it's crucial that we present an intelligent and well-trained product to the people We need to get into the mode now that we're just like any other business."

    Neither agency has any plans to cut back on tuition spending, even as funding continues to shrink. Budgets for both offices have decreased each year since 2009, totaling $36 million in cuts.

    "I think our community wants the best-educated police force they could possibly have," Collier County sheriff's Capt. Mark Baker said. "While the sheriff has cut, he also doesn't want to cut back on training, including in the way of formal education."

    Peterson hopes the funding is there for him to pursue a master's degree starting in spring 2013.

    "As far as the future goes, obviously there are going to be more people pursuing fewer slots," Peterson said. "The higher you go, the less spots there are. A bachelor's degree is pretty much going to become the new high school diploma."

  2. #2
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    Re: Collier, Lee sheriff's offices increase spending for col

    Snooze Hound, keep these trash stories where they belong; on the naples daily ruse. Nobody is interested here.

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