Mr. Barnes, have you researched what the other local department qualifications are? When you mention that, "what this would cost the borough is unknown," do you happen to mention what it eventually costs the borough to hire subpar police officers simply because they attended the muncipal academy? Have you researched whether Waynesboro's character requirements are the same as other jurisdictions? Whether the actual conviction rates resulting from the current requirement are on the level with departments who do not require prior academy graduation? The amount of actual research completed by PO "reporters" is getting pretty pathetic... although it does sound like you actually spoke with someone, rather than Ms. Taylor's daily visit to the court house to read the watered down summation of the day's criminal happenings. We may be a small town, but as reporters you should take your jobs, the subject matter and the readers more seriously.