NCJ Number
143617
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 41 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1993) Pages: 54-58
Date Published
1993
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits police agencies from denying employment to individuals who suffer a visual acuity impairment. As a result, stringent vision standards, which once eliminated otherwise qualified applicants, are now illegal.
Abstract
The potential risk to police officers who wear glasses and to the public can be minimized by identifying and understanding the unique threats these officers face. Departments can develop effective countermeasures to reduce their vulnerability. Many agencies have adopted the FBI vision standard which requires applicants to possess vision no worse than 20/200, correctable to 20/20 with any type of appliance. Officers who wear glasses or contacts must be able to function effectively under extreme stress after losing their prescription eyewear; this can be accomplished by outfitting officers with proper equipment and providing realistic training to develop, exercise, and maintain the skills necessary to overcome their vision inadequacy. Some types of equipment that prove useful under such circumstances are high visibility three-dot handgun sights, multicolored tritium sights, retaining straps, safety eyeglass frames, and military combat spectacles.