NW Valley Times

Grand Canyon University (GCU) has introduced a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement Advancement, an online program designed to meet the evolving needs of law enforcement officers. The program is part of the justice studies department within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The initiative was developed by Dr. Cornel Stemley, a justice studies instructor, and Kevin Walling, chair of the department. It aims to equip officers with education necessary for promotions and leadership roles in a rapidly changing policing environment.

St. Johns Police Chief Lance Spivey exemplifies the importance of education in law enforcement. "I would never be a police chief without a degree," said Spivey, who holds a doctorate and serves on GCU’s Law Enforcement and Public Administration Advisory Board.

The degree program allows officers to receive credit for their academy training and focuses on enhancing critical-thinking skills essential for addressing contemporary challenges in law enforcement. "Our program helps that officer who has been working three or four, or even eight or 10 years, and needs a few courses for his degree to get a promotion," Stemley explained.

As of October, 105 students are enrolled in this new degree program. The curriculum includes developing research skills to address issues such as homelessness and mental health challenges within communities.

Stemley emphasized the importance of understanding data-driven decision-making in modern policing: "An officer needs to understand the structure and different ways of looking at knowledge – principles, philosophical theories."

The degree also prepares officers for further academic pursuits like GCU's master's in criminal justice/law enforcement, which can lead to roles such as crime analysts.

A capstone course designed by Stemley allows students to create community policing strategic plans focused on understanding specific community dynamics. "When we say human-centered, we mean that the focus is on truly understanding the people within a specific community," he said.

This educational approach aims to improve communication skills among officers and reduce complaints through better engagement with diverse populations.

For more information about this program or related content, contact Grand Canyon University senior writer Mike Kilen at [email protected]