OH city lowers police recruit standards

**jmur5074** · 03-19-11, 11:59 PM

An Ohio city's decision to lower testing standards for police recruits to increase the number of black officers is being blasted by other public safety professionals, including Connecticut firefighters who were part of a successful reverse discrimination case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The city of Dayton is making it easier to pass its exam for police recruits as part of an agreement with the Department of Justice aimed at addressing the police department's low number of lack of black officers.
The two-part exam previously required candidates to score at least 66 percent and 72 percent to be considered for the job. The new scoring policy only requires job candidates to earn 58 percent and 63 percent – failing marks by most academic standards.
The new policy stems from a 2008 lawsuit in which the Department of Justice under the Bush Administration claimed Dayton was discriminatory in its testing practices for choosing police applicants.
The Dayton Civil Service Board said the new change means 748 people passed the most recent exam – though the racial makeup of those who passed was not immediately available, the Dayton Daily News reports.

Read more at the link: Public Safety Workers Blast Ohio City's Decision to Lower Police Recruit Standard - FoxNews.com

**213th** · 03-20-11, 07:49 AM

Here's a novel idea. How about they focus on recruiting qualified individuals to take the test, instead of lowering standards? There is no upside to this; if you hire someone who isn't qualified, money is just going to be wasted trying to teach them until they are eventually fired (or promoted to captain).

**Jks9199** · 03-20-11, 08:56 AM

Oh, c'mon... Why would you want to restrict the hiring process to those who can do the job?

I've always been in favor of a different take on "affirmative action." Let's really make it AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. Go out, actively work to recruit people and help them become qualified. Want more "raised in the city they'll serve" candidates? Go out, into the community, help kids see cops positively, and motivate them to stay in school and out of trouble. Same thing if you want more minority cops and the reason they aren't making it in is because they're not hitting as many of the checkpoints as others. Yeah -- it's harder. It takes more time. But wouldn't it be nice to actually reward effort and qualifications instead of lowering standards and effectively encouraging the question "is so-and-so really hired for the minority status?"

**Cidp24** · 03-20-11, 10:24 AM

They did that at a large city near here years back. The incidents of officers arrested for various malfeasance has been on the increase since then. Most of those arrested were officers that were hired after the standards were lowered. Five or six out of about 30 from the first academy class after the standards were lowered were arrested or fired. The arrests have not included any one particular race. The police department in that city has seen a serious decline in public confidence since then.

**KaiGywer** · 03-20-11, 10:49 AM

Now here's my question.... By admitting they are lowering the standards in order to get more black applicants, are they saying black people are stupid? That by itself could almost be grounds for a suit...lol

**bayern** · 03-20-11, 11:21 AM

Thank goodness they lowered their standards, now TSA checkers have a chance to advance.
When they call you a dumb cop, what can you afrgue about.

**ANI4ANI** · 03-20-11, 11:40 AM

It doesn't surprise me. However, I worked with black officers who were offended by such actions. They felt no better than their white counterparts, equal in every way. They didn't want, nor asked for any benefits due to race. BUT, I also worked with more black officers who felt they have been discriminated against since childbirth. They still blamed whites for slavery and played the race card at every opportunity.

Then the SHTF in the late 80's and a federal class action suit was filed by black officers who felt the sergeant test was discriminatory. How the hell can that be? They went to the same school I did, took the same classes, etc. They also attended and passed the police academy. Plus, worked the street for at least 5 years (since been changed to 3 years) just like white officers to qualify to take the sergeant exam. Nonetheless, after the law suit, the federal government ordered my department to promote those blacks who failed the test to the rank of sergeant, plus give financial compensation. I saw some nice new Cadillacs and BMW's being driven by those to work after the settlement was granted.

Besides, according to background officers I've spoken to the qualifications for whites as well have dropped since my time. Even the military has lowered their standards for recruitment compared to times past. It's the way things operate today and it could be argued with some degree for safety concerns. I'm certainly not privy to the reasons. It just happened. So, none of this surprises me here in Ohio. A squeaky wheel gets the grease. Those representing non qualified applicants, in this case blacks, know how the system works. I'm sure at some point in time, some of those soon to be police officers will screw up big time, and you qualified whites and black officers will take the blunt of it. Nothing in today's world is created equal nor fair, especially civil servant positions. And now the police force is being attacked. Watch your back.

**Five-0** · 03-20-11, 12:08 PM

Yet another reason the feds need not have any influence in local law enforcement matters like this. Someone tap me on the shoulder when the Secret Service has to lower its standards please.

**IndianaFuzz** · 03-20-11, 12:55 PM

Virtually everything about this policy is pure fail.

**Xiphos** · 03-20-11, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by Jks9199

Oh, c'mon... Why would you want to restrict the hiring process to those who can do the job?

I've always been in favor of a different take on "affirmative action." Let's really make it AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. Go out, actively work to recruit people and help them become qualified. Want more "raised in the city they'll serve" candidates? Go out, into the community, help kids see cops positively, and motivate them to stay in school and out of trouble. Same thing if you want more minority cops and the reason they aren't making it in is because they're not hitting as many of the checkpoints as others. Yeah -- it's harder. It takes more time. But wouldn't it be nice to actually reward effort and qualifications instead of lowering standards and effectively encouraging the question "is so-and-so really hired for the minority status?"

This makes sense. Too much sense for government bureaucrat dweebs to implement. Far easier to just lowers standards.

**Jks9199** · 03-20-11, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by Cidp24

They did that at a large city near here years back. The incidents of officers arrested for various malfeasance has been on the increase since then. Most of those arrested were officers that were hired after the standards were lowered. Five or six out of about 30 from the first academy class after the standards were lowered were arrested or fired. The arrests have not included any one particular race. The police department in that city has seen a serious decline in public confidence since then.

DC lowered their standards about 20 years or so ago. They only had one "recruit" come out of the prison to go to the academy. And damn near an entire academy class that cannot testify in court. They rushed hiring, rushed backgrounds, and lowered qualifications. Seems like it worked real well... NOT!

**BigDawg** · 03-20-11, 02:26 PM

Since brains and reasoning arent important for this job anymore we might as well do away with the PT testing and the background too. Heck we could also do away with the academy and just go straight to the FTO program and let them learn everything they will need then.

**Xiphos** · 03-20-11, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by BigDawg

Since brains and reasoning arent important for this job anymore we might as well do away with the PT testing and the background too. Heck we could also do away with the academy and just go straight to the FTO program and let them learn everything they will need then.

That's too expensive and exclusive. Really all they need to do is watch "Training Day," "Cop Out," "Reno 911," and "Super Troopers." What else do you need to know? Here's a gun and badge, go get 'em!

**keith720** · 03-20-11, 04:14 PM

Lower standards equate to less quality, regardless of race.

**Motorwaycop** · 03-20-11, 06:13 PM

Ohio here I come then.
Well age/lack of immigration status shouldn't be a problem.
Hell I'd be a real minority, only British officer!

**keith720** · 03-20-11, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by Motorwaycop

Ohio here I come then.
Well age/lack of immigration status shouldn't be a problem.
Hell I'd be a real minority, only British officer!

My friend, you'd be in a special class regardless of your citizenry.

**Pudge** · 03-20-11, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by Motorwaycop

Ohio here I come then.
Well age/lack of immigration status shouldn't be a problem.
Hell I'd be a real minority, only British officer!

C'mon over! I'd be happy to have you at my agency!

**lewisipso** · 03-20-11, 10:56 PM

as part of an agreement with the Department of Justice

I beg your pardon?

**pgg** · 03-21-11, 12:12 AM

That happened to LA also. Then Rampart came along. Directly from officers hired under lower standards.

**Traffic Goddess** · 03-21-11, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by Xiphos

That's too expensive and exclusive. Really all they need to do is watch "Training Day," "Cop Out," "Reno 911," and "Super Troopers." What else do you need to know? Here's a gun and badge, go get 'em!

Slow down, meow.