variety of areas including criminal justice, sociology, visual arts
and educational management. “Having a degree is not a requirement, but it just has become our culture,” Mattern said. “I
think everybody here takes their professional development very
seriously. They want to be the best cops that they can be. As part
of that, they’ve all been very committed to higher education and
to professional development.”
The department recently celebrated three officers earning
their bachelor’s degrees from Columbia College at a small ceremony aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Sgt. Chris Karrer,
Cpl. Kain Gallaugher and Cpl. Chris Anderson graduated in
October with degrees in general studies and minors in criminal
justice.
“It’s something I should’ve done a long time ago,” Anderson
said. “I personally feel that a college education is important.” After high school, Anderson obtained an electrician’s certificate with
plans to join the family air conditioning business. A ride-along
with his brother-in-law changed his career choice and he joined
the Los Alamitos PD 16 years ago. After he and his wife welcomed their second child in 2007, Anderson decided to go back
to school. An 80-mile work commute, along with varying shifts,
homework and raising two small children made for a stressful
start to his college career. “The first two years were pretty rough,”
he said. “It was really tough to try and balance and figure out
how I was going to do it.” He took a class at a time until he could
make room for more.
With perseverance, Anderson, 40, obtained his degree. Anderson said he intends to go for his master’s degree in business
administration. A college education, he said, complements officers’ tactical training. “It causes you to process and analyze things
in a way you never did before,” he said. “Education gives you a
different perspective.”
Mattern said since there has been a shift in his officers pursuing higher degrees, there are fewer lawsuits filed against the department, fewer citizen complaints and less use-of- force incidents.
“I just fully believe that educated cops make better cops,” Mattern
said. “In my experience, they make better decisions out in the field,
they develop their critical thinking skills and their communication
skills are better. It makes for a more professional police department,
and gives us more credibility in the community.” ■
Jaimee writes for www.BehindTheBadgeOC.com
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