The Rise and Fall of the Police College

Professional, formalized training for police in the United States is a relatively new concept. Formal police training programs didn't begin appearing until the latter part of the 19th century, and the NYPD, considered one of the best trained police forces in the world, did not establish a meaningful training program until 1909. The NYPD quickly recognized the relationship between training and professionalism, and two police commissioners during the early 20th century also recognized the correlation between education and professionalism. Their efforts led to increased levels of technical police training, as well as an effort to elevate the level of police education to the status of an institution on higher learning, like a college. In fact, for a brief period of time their efforts became reality with the establishment of a police college. This is the story of that institution-the rise and fall of the New York Police College.