NEW YORK - MUNICIPAL POLICE TRAINING COUNCIL - HEIGHT, WEIGHT AND PHYSICAL FITNESS STANDARDS FOR POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATES

• NCJ Number: 50125
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 33 pages
• Corporate Author: New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE STANDARDS FOR HEIGHT, WEIGHT, AND PHYSICAL FITNESS FOR POLICE OFFICERS SET BY THE NEW YORK STATE MUNICIPAL POLICE TRAINING COUNCIL REPRESENT A CAREFUL BALANCING OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES INVOLVED.

Abstract

ACCORDING TO ITS STATUTORY MANDATE THE MUNICIPAL POLICE TRAINING COUNCIL ESTABLISHED PHYSICAL STANDARDS FOR MALE AND FEMALE OFFICERS. THE COUNCIL'S PROMULGATION OF STANDARDS RECOGNIZES THE MULTIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES TO BE FAIR TO PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES, AND TO DULY CONSIDER THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. VALIDATION OF THE COUNCIL'S STANDARDS WILL REQUIRE THEIR EXAMINATION OVER TIME, AND THE COUNCIL IS AUTHORIZED TO AMEND THE STANDARDS IN ACCORD WITH THE RESULTS OF SUCH EXAMINATION. NO RELIABLY VALIDATED EVIDENCE HAS INDICATED THAT SEX IS A BONA FIDE OCCUPATIONAL QUALIFICATION FOR THE POSITION OF POLICE OFFICER, AND THE COUNCIL HAS MADE NO SUCH DISTINCTION IN SETTING THE STANDARDS FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS. ALTHOUGH THE PREVIOUS HEIGHT STANDARD HAS BEEN ELIMINATED, A MINIMUM HEIGHT STANDARD MAY BE CONSIDERED IN THE FUTURE IF SCIENTIFIC STUDIES VALIDATE HEIGHT AS A FACTOR IN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICE WORK. TABLES OF ACCEPTABLE WEIGHT AFFORD APPLICANTS THE POSSIBILITY OF ACCOMMODATION ACCORDING TO THE VARIETY OF BUILDS AND BONE STRUCTURES. THE STANDARDS OF PHYSICAL FITNESS INVOLVE TESTS OF ENDURANCE, STRENGTH, SPEED, AND AGILITY. THE SAME TESTS ARE ADMINISTERED TO BOTH MALE AND FEMALE CANDIDATES. INCLUDED IN THE PROMULGATED STANDARDS ARE THE REQUIRED MEDICAL STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES, THE CONDITIONS TO BE CONSIDERED AS DISQUALIFYING, AND THE CRITERIA FOR ALLOWANCE FOR EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. MEDICAL CRITERIA INCLUDE STANDARDS FOR VISION, HEARING, VARICOSITY, AND COORDINATION. THE REQUIRED CLINICAL TESTS AND PROCEDURES ARE LISTED AND DESCRIBED, AS ARE THE QUALIFYING PHYSICAL TESTS. DIAGRAMS OF THE PHYSICAL FITNESS TESTS ARE PROVIDED. THE LISTING OF SPECIFIC CAUSES FOR DISQUALIFICATION DOES NOT LIMIT THE EXAMINERS WHO MAY DISQUALIFY FOR ANY CAUSE WHICH TENDS TO IMPAIR THE PRESENT OR FUTURE HEALTH OF THE APPLICANT. (TWK)