Maryland State Police agrees to settlement with Department of Justice lawsuit A total of $2.75 million will be refunded to female and black applicants who failed the physical and written exams.
The physical fitness test, called the Functional Fitness Assessment Test, requires applicants to do 18 push-ups in one minute, 27 sit-ups in one minute, run 1.5 miles in 15 minutes and 20 seconds, and reach approximately 1.5 inches from their toes. It was done. Stay seated. Candidates could take the exam up to three times in a year.
“The underrepresentation of Black and female applicants in law enforcement undermines public safety.”
According to the Justice Department lawsuit, 81% of men and only 51% of women passed at least once.
“The rate of female applicants passing the FFAT at least once is statistically significantly lower than the rate of male applicants passing the FFAT at least once. “less than an 80% applicant acceptance rate,” the complaint states.
The police officer recruitment test, which is a written test, included four components: mathematics, reading comprehension, grammar, and report writing ability. To pass, candidates had to achieve a total score of at least 70% for all sections combined, and a minimum of 70% for reading comprehension, grammar, and report writing skills. There was no minimum required score for the mathematics component. Candidates may take the exam four times in one year.
Approximately 91% of white applicants and 71% of black applicants were successful at least once, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit claims that both the FFAT and POST used by MDSP to screen police officer applicants are “not job-related or consistent with business necessity.”
The Justice Department argued that MDSP vetting “disparately impacts” women and black candidates.
“MDSP's use of POST unfairly excludes African American applicants, and its use of FFAT unfairly excludes female applicants from employment in the Corps,” the complaint states.
MDSP was accused of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
On Wednesday, the Department of Justice announced MDSP has reportedly agreed to settle the lawsuit.
“The Maryland State Police discriminated against Black and female applicants by using a hiring test that unfairly and unlawfully excluded them from employment,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said in a video statement. Ta.
“Under this agreement, the police force will adopt new tests, extend priority hiring opportunities to previously disqualified applicants after completing a new lawful selection process, and extend priority hiring opportunities to applicants who were unfairly disqualified by the old test. “We will be distributing $2.75 million in relief payments to those affected,” she continued. “The underrepresentation of Black and female applicants in law enforcement undermines public safety.”
As part of the agreement, MDSP will hire up to 25 candidates who previously failed the exam if they pass the new exam.
Secretary of State Police Colonel Roland L. Butler made the announcement. statement “The Maryland State Police is committed to meeting the consent decree guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Justice and remains committed to supporting our sworn officers, protecting our communities, and serving the people of Maryland.” We will work on it.”
The settlement still needs approval from a federal judge.
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