MUCH OF THE DEBATE OVER THE VALUE OF COLLEGE TRAINING FOR POLICE OFFICERS REFLECTS UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. UNIVERSITY TRAINING IS NOT SUPPOSED TO PREPARE A PERSON ONLY TO INVESTIGATE ACCIDENTS AND FILL OUT FORMS. INSTEAD, IT IS SUPPOSED TO GIVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SYSTEM BEHIND THE FORMS, THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THE ARREST TAKES PLACE, AND THE LEGAL CONSTRAINTS ACCOMPANYING THE POLICE ACTION. THE AMOUNT OF LAW A POLICE OFFICER MUST KNOW TO HANDLE EVEN THE SIMPLEST ARREST WOULD TAX THE ABILITIES OF A LAWYER. COLLEGE CAN HELP THE OFFICER LEARN TO EXPRESS HIMSELF WELL IN WRITING, AN ESSENTIAL ABILITY FOR FILLING OUT NARRATIVE FORMS AND FOR ADVANCING THROUGH THE RANKS. IT CAN HELP HIM READ WITH UNDERSTANDING, NECESSARY IF HE IS TO KEEP ABREAST OF THE FREQUENT LEGAL AND TECHNICAL CHANGES IN HIS FIELD. IT CAN ALSO BROADEN HIS CONTACT WITH NONPOLICE PERSONS. BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF BEAT WORK, POLICE OFFICERS OFTEN HAVE LITTLE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY; AS A RESULT IT IS EASY FOR THEM TO DEVELOP A JAUNDICED VIEW OF THOSE THEY SERVE. BY WIDENING THE OFFICER'S CIRCLE OF ACQUAINTANCES, COLLEGE CAN LESSEN PREJUDICE AND DEVELOP UNDERSTANDING OF PEOPLE.