NCJ Number
144693
Date Published
1993
Length
174 pages
Annotation
The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates equal opportunities for qualified individuals with disabilities and equal access to both private and public employment sectors, including police agencies.
Abstract
Law enforcement's response to the ADA has focused on resolving questions related to police recruitment and entry- level selection procedures. The ADA will continue to have an impact on police management, particularly in terms of strategies to accommodate sworn police officers with permanent job-related disabilities, the police collective bargaining process, and approaches adopted by police agencies to control the budgetary demands of managing sworn officer disabilities. The current study identifies future issues and trends relevant to the ADA's implementation by police departments and presents strategic and transition management plans to support the implementation process. The author notes that the future of law enforcement will be challenged by disabled police officers who present an additional component of workforce diversity. Additional research is recommended to explore the impact of the ADA on the civilianization of sworn police officer positions, police training, and the ability of a police officer to physically control a threat to his or her safety. Appendixes provide supplemental information on the inclusion of disabled persons in the police workforce. Endnotes, tables, and figures