Dude - those qualifications date to 2012...the rules were different before that (and changed partially because of Philly's long, undistinguished history of endemic police corruption). Most DO have military backgrounds. There were also programs to increase minority numbers that eased standards for officers. I live here...I work with them. I also am well aware of the special programs that exist specifically to get folks minimum requirements that wouldn't meet the standards of most schools. It is also irrelevant...the bottom line is that we can fight over semantics, numbers of credits...etc...but the reality is that the things they encounter on a daily basis are complicated and diverse...there really aren't many (or any) people bright enough, or educated enough in such a variety of factors, to make across the board knowledgeable enforcement a realistic goal. It is unrealistic to expect the police to be subject matter experts on all of the laws they enforce.

There are also always vague laws like disturbing the peace, or causing a disturbance that can be used where the person gets sited because the officer finds a behavior annoying. Sure - you can fight it with due process, but by the time you're at that point, you've already lost. I was actually arrested in college for "theft of leased property." That sounds pretty ominous, no? What really happened is that I didn't pay late fees on some video tapes and the owner of the shop had a relationship with the local DA...they used that charge to intimidate college kids into paying late fees. Of course it's non-sense, and of course it would never stick - but I actually was arrested for this and had to get it expunged. Was it all dropped? Of course...but I still had to waste several days and a tank of gas fighting it. We even debated suing the town...but the difficulty in surmounting the assumption of good faith in a case like this is challenging to say the least.

If you ant to fight over semantics - we can:

• Option 1: EDUCATION
  Sixty (60) college credits with an overall grade point average of at least 2.0 at an accredited college or university. 2.0 and 60 hours is hardly a rigorous requirement.

• Option 2: EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
  Education equivalent to completion of standard high school AND two years of full time, active military service with an honorable discharge. Many have this combination.

• Option 3: EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE/CERTIFICATION
  One year of full time employment as a commonwealth or state certfied Law Enforcement Officer which has been within the three year period prior to the closing date of applications. Please refer to the current announcement for specific dates. CERTIFICATION: Possession of a Commonwealth or State Law Enforcement Officers' Certification (this position is now open to candidates from any other state in the nation) Translation - you can become an officer without any college experience, or even a high school diploma, if you were employed and certified by others without those requirements. Admittedly, this is not how the majority apply.

• Option 4: EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
  Education equivalent to completion of standard high school AND successful completion of the Philadelphia Police Explorers Cadet Program, which shall have included a minimum of two years service with the Philadelphia Police Explorers Cadet Program, including 672 hours training offered by the Philadelphia Police Department and an additional 298 hours of community service or external training. This is likely the most common option...and requires no college course work.