WASHINGTON — The Montgomery County Police Department will permanently relax a mandatory college requirement for former military or law enforcement officers who want to join the force.
“It’s going to give us a brand new pool of people to look at,” said Capt. David Anderson with Montgomery County Police.
Beginning immediately, candidates who haven’t earned 60 hours of college credit, but have spent three years on a police force, will be able to apply to the department through its website. This targets former and current members of military or civilian police forces who have had arrest powers.
The country department will conduct it’s 24 hour open recruitment day Saturday, from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Anderson said the requirement prevents the department from testing officers who never attended college. It’s been frustrating turning down applicants because of the rule.
“A lot of them have the skill sets and the aptitude to do the job,” Anderson said.
Anderson expects to see 300 submissions on the department’s website.
Anyone who misses the Saturday window will have to wait until October for another chance to apply.
Correction: The original story said the change in policy was for one day only, when in fact the relaxation of the college credit requirement is a permanent change.
