"My father told me when I was a kid all the time, 'You're gonna be either a lawyer, a doctor or a teacher,' and I always took to law, and I always knew I wanted to be a prosecutor," said Utica College Practice, Fraud & Financial Crime Investigation Professor Bernard Hyman Jr.

That drive translated to almost two decades in the Oneida County DA's Office, and now Bernard Hyman is the Professor of Practice, Fraud and Financial Crime Investigation at Utica College.

"I'm teaching another course called, 'Combatting Injustice,' and we're talking about police reform in that course, and some of the recommendations that might be out there. We're hoping to put together some recommendations that we can send along to some of the political leaders out there," he said.

A 2013 Department of Justice report says about 1 percent of police agencies require a four-year degree, and 10 percent require a two-year degree.

Hyman is one of the school's professors who believe that's a problem as studies suggest educated police officers receive less complaints and use less physical force.

"That's one of the things that we try to teach here. So that's what keeps me motivated," Hyman said of officers using less physical force.

It sounds like a no-brainer then, right? Make college degrees mandatory for policing positions. Well, it's not that simple.

The Utica Police Chief wants a more diverse police force. And, with recruitment already down, another requirement may not help.

"Any further education does help in our profession. My only concern is that especially our minority communities may not have the availability or the resources to go to college," said Utica Police Chief Mark Williams.

Hyman realizes there are hiring concerns.

"That's one of the concerns that the law enforcement professionals have, is that it would have somewhat of an impact on their ability to recruit, but there are other issues in recruitment that can be addressed that might solve that problem," he said.