Police Question: Retirement or Dismissal or Keep Job? ?

Question

If a police officer is too old, out of shape, or not fit to handle police job duties anymore, what happens to him/her? If he/she is older, 65+ is he/she required to retire?

And if the person is out of shape or simply cannot safely carry out his police duties, is he given a chance to get back in shape to keep his job? Does he get desk duty because he can't run because of his excessive weight? And if he continues to not be fit for the job, what happens to him?

Answer 1

.   I was thinking about this today.  I'm skinny.  I always wanted fat cops to retire or be retired.  Now i realize that most police work is done with the mind.  The best cop may be the one who is thinking 1 step ahead of the bad guys.  i will do the running for him.  He can save our lives or the lives of the citizens.

Answer 2

Yes when u get old you get old duties or you work in recruitment. Did you heard last year the Sgt who was shot while he was transporting an innate the deputy was 82 yrs old.  

Answer 3

In my agency there is no maximum age.  If an officer is overweight or out of shape they are required to take a physical fitness test.  If they pass, they stay on the road (or other assignment).  If they fail, they are put on light duty and given time to get into shape in order to take the test again.  Three times in a row of failure, and they get offered a civilian job or retirement.

Yes, the street is a rough place, and you need to be in shape.  But age is not the main factor, exercise is.

Answer 4

Depends on the city and the contract.

In my city there is a mandatory retirement of 70.  Mostly it's because no one would insure someone over that age.

As far as being "unfit" to do the job, there are plenty of jobs that don't require one to run.  Again though, it would be up to the contract, union and policies in place at the particular department.

Answer 5

Around here forced retirement at sixty five unless an elected Sheriff.  Out of shape, depends on department, guidelines and man power requirements.  I seen injured officers milk the system for all they can get until forced to "retire" because they need man power on the roads.

Worst one of the bunch was an elected sheriff who had had a heart attack in office was given his old slot back as a deputy when he could no longer run for sheriff due to term limits.