(NewsNation) — Police departments across the United States are lowering or eliminating education requirements in an effort to combat staffing shortages.

A 2017 National Policing Institute survey found that 81% of agencies require a high school diploma.

While more than 700,000 law enforcement officers were employed in the U.S. two years ago, the highest in a decade, the majority of agencies remain understaffed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The agency projects that number to increase by 4% by 2033.

From New York to California, police standards changing

In Dallas, police recruits no longer need college credits to be eligible to apply for the force. Instead, the minimum education required is a high school diploma or GED and three years of work experience. The city hopes the

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