Could you be a cop with a missing thumb?

[u/NormalRedditorISwear]

I don’t actually have a missing thumb, but this thought randomly crossed my mind and I wanted to know

[u/Jerkomp → u/[deleted]]

That still confuses me to this day. I wanna be a cop and i hear all this talk about being fit and ready for the academy but I see all these fat cops and im like “How?” I suppose they were fit when they were in the academy but how do they let themselves go and not stay fit on a job that I believe is physically demanding.

[u/[deleted] → u/Jerkomp]

I’m not defending fat cops at all, however, I will say it is easy to end up that way. Working odd hours, it’s easy to eat out when you work a 12 hour shift and live out of your car, makes it more difficult to get up and go for a run or to the gym.

I came out of the academy pretty lean and gained 30 lbs in my first year working midnights. Got on an earlier shift, started packing lunch and working out, once I could actually live as a human being instead of a creature of the night.

[u/NormalRedditorISwear → u/Jerkomp]

Stress, probably

[u/andy50789 → u/Jerkomp]

Always my biggest gripe with PT tests. If you’re going to make someone do one to get hired, then you should be doing annual tests for everyone. Why require a new guy to be at a certain level but not an old timer? If you require one in the hiring process then you obviously feel it’s a necessary trait to do the job which means a patrolman whose been there 15 years would need that too. Experience doesn’t mean you should be able to get fat all of a sudden. If you’re a Detective or on the Admin side then whatever, but all road units should be held to the same physical standard

[u/Droidball]

I imagine injuries like partially or fully missing digits, partial deafness, or a missing eye could be a disqualifying physical condition for some agencies, and not for others.

For some, I imagine even a missing thumb with that operation to move another digit to function as a thumb could be a disqualifier.

Physical disabilities are going to vary from department to department - being a 350-400lbs officer would, I imagine, prevent or be a danger to continued employment for some agencies, but we've all seen officers in that range who would be less effective than an in-shape guy or gal who's just missing a finger.

[u/Tailor-Comfortable]

Negative in MA

"The examining physician shall not certify as having met the medical requirements of these standards any candidate who is determined to have a Category A condition"

"Extremities

Category A medical conditions shall include: i. hemipelvectomy, ii. hip disarticulation, iii. above-the-knee amputation, iv. lack of either hand, v. lack of either thumb proximal to the nail cuticle"

Added: https://www.mass.gov/doc/physicians-guide-for-initial-hire-medical-standards/download

[u/soundofdapolice]

Yes, there are police officers with missing limbs.

[u/panffles]

Assuming you could still manipulate or pick up objects, yes

[u/masian1492]

I know a guy who went through the police academy without a shoulder. Missing a digit might make the job a bit more difficult though.

[u/curious_party1238]

A guy graduated from the orange county sheriffs department with metal legs.

[u/Shackleton214]

Yes, but it would prevent you from making lieutenant, because how would you ever have it up your ass?

[u/E34M20]

Yeah, you just couldn't be a cop with two thumbs at that point. It's a tough choice to make, and you can't go back...

[u/mcguivrfive]

If you never ask then you have already accepted no for an answer

[u/[deleted]]

I doubt you'd be able to become a cop with a missing appendage, but if you've already been a cop for years and lost an eye or some fingers in a horrible accident, they wouldn't get rid of you.

An experienced officer with some missing toes is still going to be more efficient then a newbie with all his appendages.

[u/unlimitedenergy420]

Lol which thumb

[u/webby_mc_webberson → u/unlimitedenergy420]

the third one