The Connecticut House of Representatives passed a bill allowing officers to transfer to another municipality’s department without having to take a physical agility test. Whether or not a physical agility test is given is up to the department.
HB 5294 is now under consideration by the state Senate. If passed, medical exams, background checks, credit checks and a polygraph test would still be required for transfers.
“The bill maintains the professionalism of the current standards, but also allows for some flexibility for police officers,” said State Representative Ed Jutila (D-East Lyme).
State Representative Stephen Dargan (D-West Haven), House Chairman of the Public Safety and Security Committee was successful in getting compromise language that removes the need for a physical agility test to qualify for a transfer, while maintaining most other vetting procedures.
“I would like to thank all sides for working together to attain this compromise,” said Rep. Dargan. “The process of getting the best candidate is upheld while not lowering the standards of that process. If an officer retires from one department, municipalities now have the option of waiving the physical agility requirement.”
This story is based on a press release.
