When You Can't Lose Weight…Litigate! DOJ Wins Suit Against MD Police's 'Discriminatory' Fitness Test

Posted • October 4, 2024: As someone with a background in healthcare, and a general interest in first responders such as police officers being physically able to do their jobs, I am endlessly fascinated by the push to lower physical fitness standards for things like the military and police/fire departments. It's part of the insidious push to DEI-ify every aspect of life. Because diversity, equity, and inclusion are more important than public safety and people's lives, apparently. And these days, it's apparently 'discriminatory' to hold police to some sort of physical fitness standard: I'm confused https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GZDfoI3XAAEsvUi?format=png&name=large -- Yikes. 18 push-ups and 27 sit-ups in a minute are too much? Seriously? And this warrants costing the Maryland taxpayers $2.75 million?

The physical fitness exam, called the Functional Fitness Assessment Test, required applicants to complete 18 push-ups in one minute, 27 sit-ups in one minute, run 1.5 miles within 15 minutes and 20 seconds, and reach approximately 1.5 inches past their toes while seated. Candidates were allowed to take the test up to three times in one year. According to the DOJ’s lawsuit, 81% of males and only 51% of females passed at least once. “The rate at which female applicants passed the FFAT at least once is statistically significantly lower than the rate at which male applicants passed the FFAT at least once; and the female applicant pass rate is less than 80% of the male applicant pass rate,” the complaint read. There are a few things I'd like to point out here.

First, this completely undermines the Left's argument that men can play in women's sports if they identify as female. If men are able to pass this physical fitness test (which is not that rigorous to begin with) at higher rates than women, it indicates men have a physical advantage over women. But I digress. As I mentioned above, the test is not that rigorous and candidates can take it up to three times a year. Physical fitness is hard. Maintaining a reasonable caloric is hard. Both require effort, discipline, and self-control. I know this from firsthand experience, having lost 70+ pounds in the last year or so. But it can be done. The 'body positivity' movement (part of the larger DEI umbrella) encourages gluttony and laziness versus physical activity and reasonable eating (note I didn't say diet). It tells people they're 'fine' just as they are and that the world is bigoted and hateful for not accepting them. This is not true.

Being morbidly obese is a problem. It causes arthritis, inflammation, heart disease, respiratory trouble, diabetes. Years of medical science have proven this. But that's being ignored in the name of 'tolerance' and 'equity' and woke nonsense. The attorney for the DOJ said the 'underrepresentation of black and female applicants in law enforcement undermines public safety.' How, exactly, does this undermine public safety? Notice we don't get data to support that claim, just platitudes. Why? Because it's not true. In fact, the opposite is true. We entrust law enforcement officers with protecting the communities they serve. That means being able to chase down criminals, respond to emergency situations where someone's life depends on the physical strength and endurance of officers, and to be present for natural disasters or civil unrest.

Look at Asheville, NC right now -- roads wiped away and many areas are inaccessible by vehicle. How are first responders who can't complete a 15-minute mile and a half run supposed to reach these communities? How can we expect them to carry a child to safety or remove debris to free a citizen trapped in a collapsed home? We can't. On top of that, policing is a physically and mentally stressful job. One that requires officers to make quick judgements that could cost them their lives and one that puts added stress on the heart. Studies have shown a non-law enforcement citizen between the ages of 55-60 has a 1.9% chance of dying from a heart attack. That increases to 56% for members of law enforcement community. These lawsuits and the policy changes they inspire put female officers at double risk. Not only of cardiac death, but of being overpowered by a suspect and injured or killed in the line of duty.

The mentality that it's 'discriminatory' to hold police officers to a minimal physical fitness standard sends a clear message: they will put public safety and lives -- including the lives of female officers -- at risk in order to feel morally superior about being 'diverse' and 'inclusive.' When you can't carry your weight, litigate.

TheBlaze: Female, black applicants who failed Maryland State Police tests likely to receive $2.75M in back pay from discrimination suit
https://www.theblaze.com/news/female-black-applicants-who-failed-maryland-state-police-tests-likely-to-receive-2-75m-in-backpay-from-discrimination-suit
United States Department of Justice: Justice Department Secures Agreement with Maryland Department of State Police to Resolve Allegations of Race and Gender Discrimination in State Trooper Hiring Process
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-secures-agreement-maryland-department-state-police-resolve-allegations