TROY -- The city eliminated college credits as a new requirement to be a police officer Tuesday in what Democrats called a politically motivated decision.

The city police department for the first time recently required at least 30 credits of college courses, about one year's work, to be eligible to take the civil service test for the jobs, which have a starting salary of $39,050 a year.

"This was our first effort instituting an educational requirement. Once we instituted it, we became aware of the limitations it imposed," said Capt. John Cooney, a department spokesman.

The department would not have been able to accept transfers from other departments unless they had the same requirements. Cooney said many departments don't require college credits and would have been eliminated as sources of new officers for Troy.

The dropping of the educational requirement came three days before the application deadline of Oct. 14 for the Nov. 19 exam. The deadline was extended a week until Oct. 21.

Councilman Bill Dunne, who chairs the City Council's Public Safety Committee, said the Tuesday change was politically motivated.

"We heard it was for a lateral transfer of a connected individual," said Dunne, a Democrat. "We're going to monitor very closely who gets chosen in the process."

The Democrats have criticized Republican Mayor Harry Tutunjian's administration in the past for using temporary appointments to hold positions for politically connected people. Last year, the council and mayor sparred over an appointment held by former public works commissioner Robert Mirch's stepdaughter.

Dunne said the Republicans were politicizing the civil service process.

Cooney said that he was aware of the Democrats' complaints.

"Our goal is to select the best candidate regardless of their background," he said.

Among Capital Region law enforcement agencies, the Albany and Saratoga Springs police departments do not require college credits to take the civil service exam. State Police and Colonie police require 60 credits, while Schenectady police mandate 30 credits.

There is a belief that an officer with a college background will exercise better judgment and is more motivated, said Robert Worden, associate professor of criminal justice at the University at Albany School of Criminal Justice.

He said studies show they make more arrests with fewer complaints.

He also said the studies don't clearly support the assumption that the college background will make a definitive difference.

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Asked about Troy's last minute-change to eliminate the educational requirement, Worden said, "I can't say I have heard of a department going in that direction."

Reach Kenneth C. Crowe II at 454-5084 or kcrowe@timesunion.com.