This recognizes the high level of professional responsibility of officers - exceeding most other professions, as recommended by six national commissions and the Federal Courts. The goal is nationwide universal achievement of this mission. "Police Officer" is defined as any person empowered by a State or local government to have general police powers.
 
To accomplish this mission PACE activities include:

• Recommending to all police agencies that they adopt the four-year degree minimum education standard for all officers, both directly and through their professional organizations.
  
• Assisting police agencies and organizations in developing plans to implement a four year college degree requirement for both entering and in-service officers.
  
• Assisting police agencies in enhancing recruitment procedures to insure that minority and female representation among officers is both maintained and increased, with the four-year college degree requirement.
  
• Encouraging and facilitating police agencies to require advanced degrees for senior management positions.
  
• Assisting police agencies with the recommended standards with any problems encountered in administering such programs.
  
• Assisting police agencies in maximizing benefits from the higher capabilities of college degreed officers.
  
• Assisting college degreed officers in facilitating improvements in their agencies and their quality of service, including a more collegial, less authoritarian, professional environment.
  
• Conducting a national public information service to educate the public concerning the importance of college degreed officers, and respond to press inquiries.
  
• Collecting, maintaining and disseminating research information concerning the subject of college degreed officers, including legal opinions.
  
• Assisting those who are engaged in research concerning college degreed officer.

By becoming a PACE Member, you are joining a rapidly growing community of college educated police officers working together to upgrade personnel, improve performance and enhance the status of police service.

PACE has been founded solely in pursuit of public interest and has been recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. Charitable donations to PACE are tax-deductible within the limits set by law.