Bethlehem Removes College Degree Rule for Police

The city council voted to drop education requirements to help fill 11 current police department vacancies.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in College Applications

Bold vector editorial illustration of a simple, blank brass police badge on a wooden desk, symbolizing municipal policy changes. — Bethlehem City Council voted to remove the mandatory associate degree requirement for police applicants to help address current staffing vacancies. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Bethlehem City Council passed a resolution removing the requirement for police applicants to hold an associate degree or 60 college credits. The move aims to increase the applicant pool to address 11 department vacancies.

Why it matters

The change is intended to keep Bethlehem competitive in recruitment with regional peers, such as the Pennsylvania State Police and the Allentown Police Department. An insufficient applicant pool previously made it difficult for the department to maintain its ranks.

The resolution passed with a 5-2 vote from the city council. The department currently employs other recruitment tools, including internship programs and a police explorer program, alongside a tuition reimbursement program for existing officers.

The players

Bethlehem City Council

This is the legislative body responsible for governing the city and managing municipal ordinances.

Bethlehem Police Department

This local law enforcement agency is responsible for maintaining public safety throughout the city.

Colleen Laird

She serves as a member of the Bethlehem City Council and voted against the resolution.

Hillary Kwiatek

She is a member of the Bethlehem City Council who cast a dissenting vote on the new hiring policy.

The details

The Bethlehem Police Department had long required applicants to possess 60 college credits or an associate degree before the vote. Despite these efforts to bolster staff levels, the city council ultimately opted to lower the barrier to entry to address ongoing hiring shortages.

The city council meeting where the vote occurred took place at 8:44 p.m. on October 20, 2026.
A new Complete Streets Plan is scheduled for revelation on October 22, 2026.
The next city council meeting is currently scheduled for November 3, 2026.

Culture Shift

Bethlehem's decision follows the documented trend of municipalities nationwide that are removing educational hurdles to combat staffing shortages. This shift signals a departure from traditional degree requirements as local agencies struggle to remain competitive against state and regional law enforcement.

Local residents may see an increase in police recruitment efforts, such as new flyers or expanded internship initiatives, as the department pushes to fill vacancies. This policy change aims to stabilize the size of the force, which could influence future response capabilities in the neighborhood.

The takeaway

Communities facing staffing shortages often adjust legacy hiring standards to broaden the talent pool and meet immediate municipal needs. Applicants interested in law enforcement should monitor local department updates for potential changes to ongoing hiring and tuition reimbursement programs.