Will this disqualify me?

[Dan208]

I've decided that I want to persue a career in law enforcement. I'm 32 and have a clean record (except for an MIP when I was 16), stable job history and am currently going back to school. I've also been a volunteer firefighter for almost 10 years.

Anyway, I was born with a heart condition. I have a coarctation of the aorta. Basically, over time, my aorta can get narrower and I have to have a balloon insterted to widen it back up. My last procedure was done around 20 years ago and there's VERY minimal narrowing as of my last checkup this past spring. I have annual visits with a cardiologist. I also have a bicuspid aortic valve. Other than that I'm healthy. I have no restrictions from my doctor, I exercise and I'm constantly tweaking and cleaning up my diet.

This is what I'm worried about. My doctor said I WILL need a valve replacement, most likely in my 50's. Is this something that departments will look down on? I'm just wondering if I'd be wasting my time and any department's time by trying to become a LEO? Thanks for any advice.

[retdetsgt]

It would take a department's doctor to tell you one way or the other, but I know my old department would pass you up. Heart attacks (or any heart problem, really) are considered occupational so we won't take anyone with any problems at all. That's not saying some won't, you have to apply and see what happens. Good luck!

[G35 Mass]

Pursuing something you want will never be a waste of time. You will never know and always wonder "what if" if you don't try.

Are you cleared to meet all physical standards of the academy and the job? Can you run, gun, and fight like the rest of us?

On a more serious note: You do know we do more than just BBQ and wash our POVs, correct?

[ChesCopPodz]

On a more serious note: You do know we do more than just BBQ and wash our POVs, correct?

He did say he wanted to be a cop, not a hose dragger.

[Dan208]

On a more serious note: You do know we do more than just BBQ and wash our POVs, correct?

LOL.

I guess I could always start calling up some local PD's and asking them what their policies are reguarding a condition like this.

As far as physical standards, I have no restrictions. When I was trying to become a full time FF my doctor had no objections and I passed the CPAT on several occasions.

[retdetsgt]

When I was trying to become a full time FF my doctor had no objections and I passed the CPAT on several occasions.

Trouble is with my department at least, is that it's our doctor's opinion that counts, not yours. If you have a heart attack at age 42 when you have 10 years on, we have to pay you 75% of the current pay scale (tax free) for the next 20 years and then you retire at full retirement benefits. Our cardiologists have found heart defects in applicants that they didn't know they had after they had passed all the physical agility tests. And they weren't hired.

But as I and others have said, give it a shot. The worst they can do is say no.

[Dan208]

Trouble is with my department at least, is that it's our doctor's opinion that counts, not yours. If you have a heart attack at age 42 when you have 10 years on, we have to pay you 75% of the current pay scale (tax free) for the next 20 years and then you retire at full retirement benefits. Our cardiologists have found heart defects in applicants that they didn't know they had after they had passed all the physical agility tests. And they weren't hired.

But as I and others have said, give it a shot. The worst they can do is say no.

Thanks for the info. Like I said, I'll do some checking with the local departments around here and see what they say about it.

[mcsap]

Have you tried to see if you can meet and surpass ALL of the physical agility standards for a hiring PD ?

We do situps, bench press , 300 M run and a 1.5 mile run. All are pass fail. Requirements are age and gender based with a hiring standard and an end of the academy standard.

Our 20-29 yr olds must be able to do the 1.5 mile run in 12:18 or better to graduate from the academy.

Also, will your condition worsen with age ? Could it happen sooner than expected because the difference between 32 and 52 is a LOT.

[L-1]

While these are California's cardio standards http://lib.post.ca.gov/Publications/Cardio.pdf the principles behind them are fairly universal for most law enforcement agencies throughout the US. Print them out, take them to your heart doctor and ask him if you meet the criteria for disqualification.

As the others have said, standards will vary from department to department and the final call will be up to the agency's physician, but this should give you a rough idea as to where you stand.

[G35 Mass]

He did say he wanted to be a cop, not a hose dragger.

Was just poking fun at this confession of his:

I've also been a volunteer firefighter for almost 10 years.

[Dan208]

Also, will your condition worsen with age ? Could it happen sooner than expected because the difference between 32 and 52 is a LOT.

The coarctation is unlikely to worsen much, unless I let my health go to crap. The valve replacement is inevitable, most likely in my 50's.

[DeltaV]

My department is a lot like retdetsgt's in the sense that our pension doctors will pass on anyone who has heart problems. Florida has a law that states any heart or lung problem effecting a LEO is deemed to be job related and the LEO is guaranteed full disability benefits. Because of that our pension will not admit people who have history of cardiovascular problems, and if you aren't admitted into the pension then you can't take the job.

[retdetsgt]

My department is a lot like retdetsgt's in the sense that our pension doctors will pass on anyone who has heart problems. Florida has a law that states any heart or lung problem effecting a LEO is deemed to be job related and the LEO is guaranteed full disability benefits. Because of that our pension will not admit people who have history of cardiovascular problems, and if you aren't admitted into the pension then you can't take the job.

Mine considers any heart problem, pneumonia, hepatitis or HIV (unless there is evidence otherwise) to be occupational. We lose so many people to back and knee injuries that we have people screened closely by an orthopedic surgeon too. When I came on, I spent more time with with cardiologist and the orthopedic doctor than I did with the GP who gave me the general exam. As I said before, I know of a couple of guys, including a OSP trooper who was found to have a heart issue he didn't even know about and were flunked. Even at that, we lose periodically lose people to heart attacks.