NYPD Lowers Fitness Standards To Recruit More Women

Officers flee force in record numbers

New York Police Department will lower its standards for recruitment to allow more women officers. This decision comes at a time when record numbers of officers are being driven out by the Defund the Police movement.

After too many failed tests, the NYPD has removed the 1.5-mile timed run requirement. The decision was approved by Mayor Eric Adams (D.), despite internal disagreements. New York Post reported.

This decision to lower standards comes at a time when the NYPD is facing a significant reduction of its police force. In 2022, 3,701 officers will retire or quit. This is the largest number since 2002 following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Eugene O’Donnell, a former NYPD officer, attributed the shortage of qualified applicants to the Defund the Police movement.

“They’re the ones that did this, and they’re the ones who are going to have to live with the consequences of a department where the utterly unfit are all that’s left in the pool,” O’Donnell spoke to the Post.

Adams resolved the dispute between Keechant and Juanita Sewell, NYPD training chiefs. This resulted in a change to the recruitment process. The Job Standard Test, which is a six step course that takes 4 minutes and 28 second to complete, is now the sole physical examination.

“No cop on patrol runs a mile and a half,” said Holmes. “No one’s chasing anyone a mile and a half. Not to mention every day in the gym you’re doing a mile and a half [as part of training].”

Jillian Snider is a former NYPD officer and professor. She disagrees and says that standards should be adapted to the job’s responsibilities, not women’s abilities.

“You should have to have the same physical requirements because you’re doing the same exact job,” Snider agreed.

While murders fell 10 percent between 2021-2022, there were increases in major crimes like robberies (26%) and larceny (36%), as well as rape (8%) during that time.