I am totally against police departments hiring new recruits that are 40 years-old or older. Policing is a young mans job. There I said it: “young man”.
If someone in their 40s begins a police career they will be in their 60s after only 20 years.
For many years there were actual physical and age requirement for law enforcement. Most put a max age for hiring new recruits at 35 years-old.
However, thanks to ACLU there is so-called age and physical condition discrimination to the detriment of the public.
Even today for any federal law-enforcement job the age limit is 35 and 37 if applicant is former military.
http://work.chron.com/48-years-old-old-become-police-officer-23219.html
Still there are many local law enforcement agencies that have maximum hire age rules in effect, which have been challenged but found proper in court, such as this example:
Is there a minimum and maximum hiring age?
Yes, for all titles associated with the LEE, there is a minimum hiring age. Candidates need to be at least 18 years of age on or before the Closing Date shown on the examination announcement. The only title in the LEE announcement that has a maximum age is Municipal Police Officer. Applicants over age 35 as of the closing date of the examination are not eligible for Municipal Police Officer positions, with certain exceptions. (An applicant is considered to be over 35 the day after his/her 35th birthday.) By law, applicants may reduce their age by deducting the following: (1) the amount of their military service time that falls within the location and time limit criteria for New Jersey veteran’s preference and/or (2) the amount of time previously served in certain law enforcement titles. To qualify for this provision, separation from prior service must have been for reasons other than removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency.
I would go further, there should no special hiring of officers which means no AA, and that all need to have a certain amount of reasonable intellect, mental and not PC to say it physical strength, and I will say it again physical strength for it does matter still in this world, and if by doing this most women, whites, blacks, etc.. do not get hired then so be it, I want the best.