The training of police officers in the last century focused mainly on the physical aspects of the job. Officers were expected to be reactive, appearing in a community only when a situation had gotten out of control. They adhered to a militaristic chain of command and were not encouraged to find creative solutions to neighbor-hood problems. In that milieu, many departments considered a high school degree all the academic preparation that was necessary to be an efficient officer. But as the new century brings new challenges and new opportunities for police officers, it also requires the police profession as a whole to reevaluate its educational requirements.