MARYLAND STATE POLICE ACADEMY 261

time and talent, to the organization of Police-Community Relations
Councils to establish vital channels for effective dialogue, mutual un-
derstanding and genuine cooperation. The vacuum created by public
apathy and often mute hostility is at last being supplanted by aware-
ness that the extraordinary prevalence of crime in a time of prosperity
can only be defeated by the concerted efforts of public support, multi-
faceted governmental action and professional law enforcement.

It is the latter, an increasing demand for professionalism, that most
significantly reveals the transition of public values. Law enforcement
is winning recognition as a true profession, a discipline requiring
special skills and creative talents.

This in itself will be a stimulant and a challenge for it necessitates
a redefinition of standards and the provision of educational oppor-
tunities heretofore unknown. Gradually our institutions of higher
learning are developing curricula in police science to equip future
law enforcement personnel with the techniques and the academic
background requisite to a professional career. Several of Maryland's
community colleges have established degrees in police science and,
now, plans are in formulation to provide a four year program based on
a police science major at the University of Maryland. The growing
complexities and sophistication of this era have had a direct and tre-
mendous impact on the law enforcement profession. Comprehension
of such diverse but related fields as psychology, constitutional law and
computer programming are becoming essential to assure effective per-
formance of law enforcement personnel. This practically dictates the
provision of college level training and continuous education programs
for our police officers.

However, this realization of a need and means to assure profes-
sionalism can only be successful if it is inextricably linked with com-
mensurate recognition, reward and remuneration of the professional
law enforcement officer. We have seen this reflected in the increasing
trend to divorce law enforcement agencies from political influence.
Selection, promotion and appointment of police personnel must be
predicated solely on merit with total disregard to political contacts or
considerations. We have learned a dismal lesson from past experience
where the entanglement of politics and police has inevitably resulted
in graft and corruption.

Not only is the State obligated to insure the prestige and integrity
of the law enforcement profession but to work toward the establish-
ment of realistic standards of financial compensation that can compete