Dallas PD: Bring Me Your Former Dopers, but Those Over 45 Need Not Apply

**TXCharlie** · 01-07-08, 09:37 PM

http://www.nbc5i.com/news/14991493/detail.html

How is excluding all applicants over 45 years old going to help the Dallas cop shortage??? - Who the Hell is running this committee, Bozo the Clown? (see the part I highlighted in red below)

Committee To Review Dallas Police Hiring Standards
Committee Will Review Proposed Relaxed Hiring Standards

POSTED: 7:02 am CST January 7, 2008
UPDATED: 9:47 am CST January 7, 2008

DALLAS -- The Public Safety Committee will review the Dallas Police Department’s plan to relax hiring standards Monday.

Video

Dallas police officials said people who made mistakes as kids should be allowed to be productive citizens. The officials said they were missing out on valuable candidates by not allowing people who had used drugs like marijuana or cocaine fewer than five times to apply.

Dallas police currently consider any drug use after the age of 15 to be a disqualifier in the application process. Officials said they want that to change the age to 21.

Police said the new standard would be similar to the FBI’s current standards.

The committee will discuss the proposed changes at Dallas City Hall in the afternoon.

For More Information:

Proposed Disqualifiers

Exerpt of this document:

Proposed Adjustments
to Sworn Disqualifiers

Dallas Police Department

January 7, 2008

Proposed Changes
(Civil Service)

�� Current: Be at least nineteen and one-half years of age at the time of taking the written examination

�� Proposed Change: Be at least nineteen and one-half years of age and not have reached forty-five years of age on the date the Civil Service written examination is given.

**Bob Loblaw** · 01-07-08, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

Dallas police currently consider any drug use after the age of 15 to be a disqualifier in the application process.

that's pretty tough...I know I wouldn't be able to get through that, and I've lived a pretty vanilla life, with the exception of 2 college years when I partied slightly hard.

**TXCharlie** · 01-07-08, 11:05 PM

I can understand that... But the age limit is what REALLY gripes me.

Most of the DPD brass is probably over 45, or very near it, so I assume they're gonna quit voluntarily when they reach 45, just to avoid appearing to be hypocritical.

**Lazy Fed** · 01-07-08, 11:34 PM

Chuck how old are you again

**TXCharlie** · 01-07-08, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by Lazy Fed

Chuck how old are you again

53 - I just had a birthday last week

If they pass this stupid rule, maybe I can apply, let them reject me, and sue Dallas in Federal Court for $10 million.

That's age discrimination, and the fact that there are thousands of police over 45 doing a good job proves it - How can they get away with this? They're not the Federal Governmant, which doesn't have to obey its own anti-discrimination laws - Cities have to obey Federal law, don't they?

**Lazy Fed** · 01-07-08, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

53 - I just had a birthday last week

join CBP!!! defend the nations borders!!!

**TXCharlie** · 01-08-08, 12:03 AM

Don't the CBP have an age limit of 39?

**Lazy Fed** · 01-08-08, 12:06 AM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

Don't the CBP have an age limit of 39?

chuck chuck chuck do you not pay attention to anything I post on here

Border Patrol the guys in green have an age limit of 39 , CBP the guys in blue does not

**TXCharlie** · 01-08-08, 01:49 AM

Originally Posted by Lazy Fed

chuck chuck chuck do you not pay attention to anything I post on here

Border Patrol the guys in green have an age limit of 39 , CBP the guys in blue does not

Sorry, thanks for straightening that out Lazy Fed

- Do I look on the USA Jobs web site for those openings? Don't worry, I'll find it!!! Thanks again.

**k-9max** · 01-08-08, 02:06 AM

Haha, 45 years old wow, the cites around here will not hire after 34 years of age. whats up with dat shit.

**Pudge** · 01-08-08, 02:21 AM

Chuck, you can't apply and be over 45. But working there past 45 is fine.

This isn't anything new, and frankly it's a pretty open policy. As K9 Max said, it's usually 34 here

**conalabu** · 01-08-08, 06:38 AM

There are good reasons for some policies.

**TXCharlie** · 01-08-08, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by conalabu

There are good reasons for some policies.

It's like I said before: ALL employers would prefer not to hire older people, and they have good reasons too (sometimes to get more bang for their training buck, sometimes for perceived safety reasons, sometimes they just want a younger image) - But it's still illegal and morally wrong, Con.

**jmur5074** · 01-08-08, 08:35 AM

I see your point Chuck.

As long as someone can pass the written test, physical test, medical physical, psych, and can be a competent officer that I can depend on...I don't mind if they work beside me.

Of course some of that comes with time (knowing I can depend on them).

Basically, if he had the training, Chuck Norris would not be allowed to apply for Dallas PD. WTF?!?!?!?

He's Chuck fucking Norris!!!

**snuffy2202** · 01-08-08, 09:54 AM

Our Department hires retired Birmingham Officers (such as yours truly)all the time. We have an excellent reputation in the community. We each have over 20 years of experience to bring to the table and we aren't full of piss and vinegar anymore. Some of our younger officers seem to get into trouble constantly, (wrecking cars, calling in sick alot, complaints, etc.) but none of the retired officers have, yet.

**conalabu** · 01-08-08, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

It's like I said before: ALL employers would prefer not to hire older people, and they have good reasons too (sometimes to get more bang for their training buck, sometimes for perceived safety reasons, sometimes they just want a younger image) - But it's still illegal and morally wrong, Con.

I suggest checking the law a little closer, I am not sure you have that entirely correct, sir. Morally, I also think that is an opinion. Obviously, from your stance, this is immoral. From mine, I am not so sure. Your health is, at the kindest, questionable. You already have a history of heart problems trying to get into a job that creates heart issues. From an administrators standpoint, past 45 y/o, you would have to go beyond mandatory retirement in order to be able to receive full benefits, if a 20 years and out. You can get all upset and riled up, but the practice of setting an age standard for government jobs has been upheld by the courts.

**TXCharlie** · 01-08-08, 11:56 AM

Well, like I said - the age standards would at least be FAIR if they fired all cops who reached 45 years old - And the standards would also be fair if they fired cops who are even more out of shape than I am... But I don't see that happening.

I'm sure your opinion would change dramatically if it affected you, which it may someday.

I'm saying that it would be illegal if a private company tried to pull the same crap, for the same reasons: Because older employers cause higher insurance costs, stay less time after they're trained, may have a worse safety record (which is HIGHLY debatable), etc etc etc. Somehow GOVERNMENT gets away with that crap.

**conalabu** · 01-08-08, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

Well, like I said - the age standards would at least be FAIR if they fired all cops who reached 45 years old - And the standards would also be fair if they fired cops who are even more out of shape than I am... But I don't see that happening.

I'm sure your opinion would change dramatically if it affected you, which it may someday.

I'm saying that it would be illegal if a private company tried to pull the same crap, for the same reasons: Because older employers cause higher insurance costs, stay less time after they're trained, may have a worse safety record (which is HIGHLY debatable), etc etc etc. Somehow GOVERNMENT gets away with that crap.

The difference is simple, Chuck. When I get to that age, I will have been in LE for a long time. And will have all that experience to back up why I need to be there still. What do you have to offer at your age?

**121Traffic** · 01-08-08, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by conalabu

The difference is simple, Chuck. When I get to that age, I will have been in LE for a long time. And will have all that experience to back up why I need to be there still. What do you have to offer at your age?

Amen. Those guys have put in their time and sweated and bled in their years on that job. And yes, i know that "they" could ostensibly also refer to people who got hired at 43 or 44...whatever. All I'm saying is there HAS to be a cutoff for hiring in this job. It's not for everyone, and you can't fault a department for hiring someone who is getting up there in years. Training cops is expensive, and the risks of the job present a degree of liability not found in most civilian sector work. That's not age-discrimination. Age discrimination is not hiring a 45 year old dude for a sales position at Abercrombie and Fitch because he's...old. This isn't the same thing...this all comes down to protecting your assets from liability, and that includes coworkers who put their lives in eachothers hands!

Sorry, you're going to find that most of us aren't going to budge on this. As far as hiring goes, 45 is pretty lenient.

**TXCharlie** · 01-08-08, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by conalabu

The difference is simple, Chuck. When I get to that age, I will have been in LE for a long time. And will have all that experience to back up why I need to be there still. What do you have to offer at your age?

About as much as some little skinny-assed recruit who I could overpower in a heartbeat, and probably outthink under preassure as well - or nothing. take your pick.