A man whose bid to become a police officer was rejected after he scored too high on an intelligence test has lost an appeal in his federal lawsuit against the city.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York upheld a lower court’s decision that the city did not discriminate against Robert Jordan because the same standards were applied to everyone who took the test.
“This kind of puts an official face on discrimination in America against people of a certain class,” Jordan said today from his Waterford home. “I maintain you have no more control over your basic intelligence than your eye color or your gender or anything else.”
He said he does not plan to take any further legal action.
Jordan, a 49-year-old college graduate, took the exam in 1996 and scored 33 points, the equivalent of an IQ of 125. But New London police interviewed only candidates who scored 20 to 27, on the theory that those who scored too high could get bored with police work and leave soon after undergoing costly training.
Most Cops Just Above Normal The average score nationally for police officers is 21 to 22, the equivalent of an IQ of 104, or just a little above average.
Jordan alleged his rejection from the police force was discrimination. He sued the city, saying his civil rights were violated because he was denied equal protection under the law.
But the U.S. District Court found that New London had “shown a rational basis for the policy.” In a ruling dated Aug. 23, the 2nd Circuit agreed. The court said the policy might be unwise but was a rational way to reduce job turnover.
Jordan has worked as a prison guard since he took the test.
I’ve got money that say’s he is white.
I know a lot of police officers with high IQ’s
My cousin rose to Deputy Chief of a major police force, Studied and became a lawyer while he was on the force, speak Spanish like a native, and is now retired from polkice and working for the Government in a foreign country.
Spanish speaking country.
Turning anyone down for being too smart isn’t done by smart people. This town is run by idiots.The Judge doesn’t sound all that bright either, but I bet the farm he wouldn’t have turned down a black.
If cops are not to bright, would certainly be a partial explanation as to why many cops are opting to shoot dogs that are known to be relatively harmless.
Excluding candidates for "too high" an IQ will have the net effect of disproportionately excluding white and asian candidates, which is likely the real reason for the rule. It makes no sense to assume that a smart cop will leave due to boredom, rather than just applying for a more senior position like detective.
I’ve also heard that those with high IQ’s are frequently refused for applying as cops, because they get tired of it too quickly. Personally, I think it’s really because they don’t blindly follow orders as well.
Perhaps they were afraid he might point out obvious violations of the Bill of Rights.
Happened to a fellow I knew years ago. Scored high. What a shame. Few know the law.