Philadelphia ending college requirement for police recruits

The Philadelphia Police Department is moving to end a requirement that recruits have at least two years of college credits as it struggles to hire enough officers.

At the same time, Commissioner Richard Ross wants to raise the age requirement from 19 to 22 to ensure rookie officers are more mature.

Both changes were approved April 20 by the city’s Civil Service Commission.

The city Administrative Board will weigh in Friday. Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney is a board member and supports the proposals.

Philadelphia now has about 6,100 sworn officers, about 400 short of its ideal number.

An Arizona State University criminologist tells The Philadelphia Inquirer only about 10 percent of local departments nationwide require recruits to have two years of college credits. Fewer still require a four-year degree.