pregnant in academy?

[st10455]

Does anyone know what happens if you get pregnant or find out you are pregnant after being sworn in?

[mcsap]

I don't know for sure BUT I would be willing to bet that the person would be removed from the class as there would be no way to complete it. ( at least in that current academy class)

[st10455]

would they be fired?

[mcsap]

I suppose that is a possibility but that would depend on the departmental policy. I would have to believe that this issue would have been thought of and was addresed in some manner so that they are prepared if and when it happens.

[deskjockey]

I suppose that is a possibility but that would depend on the departmental policy. I would have to believe that this issue would have been thought of and was addresed in some manner so that they are prepared if and when it happens.

I say there is no way that someone would be fired for getting pregnant in an academy, as it is the department's responsibility to provide a medical examination prior to an academy (at which time the pregnancy should be detected if they were pregnant prior to beginning the academy), and unless the academy has a "no sex policy" for the weekends (which I highly doubt would be in the academy's jurisdiction as having sex isn't a crime especially if it is with another consenting adult of the opposite sex). In today's age of political correctness, I doubt someone would want to be challenged in court for firing a pregnant woman. I would guess that a preg woman would be assigned administrative tasks until they give birth and recover to the degree that would enable them to complete the academy. That's just my $.02, I could be wrong.

[md123]

would they be fired

Speculation, but: No way. If someone was fired for being pregnant they could sue the dept. I cant see any dept. opening themselves up to that kind of lawsuit.

I would imagine that the dept. has some sort of maternity leave policy or they have some sort of policy regarding people who could not attend the academy because of pregnancy. I imagine they would have you start a future class if your pregnancy interfered with the one you were set to attend.

Also, if you get pregnant with a few months left in the academy it does not mean you can't finish. Many women exercise, and jog, etc. for months after they get pregnant if they feel up to it. It does not hurt the baby if you keep your heart rate at a reasonable level.

[phantasm]

There were multiple women who got pregnant during the NYPD academy, and at least one who was due right around the end of the 6 months (so she was obviously pregnant for a few months prior ot the academy). They didn't get fired, but they also didn't graduate with us. I don't think they complete the physical fitness portion of the academy. Maybe they'll be put into this next class, or the following one, but they'll have to do everything all over again, academic and physical fitness. But they do have the medical coverage.

[mcsap]

You guys are forgetting one thing, getting pregnant isn't a medical condition like an illness. It is an intentional or albeit a certain risk as a result of sex. If the academy student can't present themselves for duty due to their OWN fault, the dept. isn't going to throw them on a desk.

We are not talking about a full time officer already out on the road who would have some sort of maternity leave. We are talking an academy student who must be able to complete ALL of the tasks required including PT, SELF DEFENSE etc. They probably could dismiss as the student could not present themselves in proper physical condition to complete the class. They could also defer them to a later class. This of course would depend on the actual policy in place. The academy MUST also be concerned about liability if the pregnant student somehow suffered an injury to herself or her unborn child.

[Deputy757]

I agree with mcsap. All recruits that I know of are typically probationary employees which means they can be fired for no reason. Perhaps there are some places in the NE that have contracts and such that do it differently. I think the answer to this question will vary from agency to agency as most of the time, there has been considerable expenditure getting a recruit hired and into an academy class. Most departments, in my opinion, would take them from that class and let them do it again after they'd had the child and recovered. However, many may not (or could not) wait that long to fill a position.
BTW, it would not be covered under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.

[deskjockey]

You guys are forgetting one thing, getting pregnant isn't a medical condition like an illness. It is an intentional or albeit a certain risk as a result of sex. If the academy student can't present themselves for duty due to their OWN fault, the dept. isn't going to throw them on a desk.

We are not talking about a full time officer already out on the road who would have some sort of maternity leave. We are talking an academy student who must be able to complete ALL of the tasks required including PT, SELF DEFENSE etc. They probably could dismiss as the student could not present themselves in proper physical condition to complete the class. They could also defer them to a later class. This of course would depend on the actual policy in place. The academy MUST also be concerned about liability if the pregnant student somehow suffered an injury to herself or her unborn child.

I agree in principle with you about sex being a voluntary activity that should assume a risk, but (at least where I come from) getting pregnant isn't a crime, nor is it an activity that would/could/should result in disciplinary action. Even in the military during deployed operations where they "highly advise" people not to have sex for fear that women will become pregnant and (thus forcing the commander to ship the woman back to the US because the fallout from a pregnant soldier/sailor/airman/marine being killed would be tremendous), they are left with little to no recourse for women who do become pregnant because it really isn't a legal order (related to duty, discipline or morale) for two consenting adults NOT to have sex. I say no way they could fire the female.

[txinvestigator1]

Also, if you get pregnant with a few months left in the academy it does not mean you can't finish. Many women exercise, and jog, etc. for months after they get pregnant if they feel up to it. It does not hurt the baby if you keep your heart rate at a reasonable level.

You think all they do in an academy is jog and exercise? How about defensive tactics, Active countermeasures, boxing, wrestling? Firearms training (lead exposure). Nope, the moment she announced her pregnancy she would be put on light duty.

[md123]

This page outlines a few cases where women were thrown out of an academy class, or hassled on the job for being pregnant. The blurb does not specify if legal actions taken against the academy/dept. resulted in success for the candidate. I have trouble believing this. The articles also do not specify the dates at which this happened, and I can not attest to the credulity of the source's motives:

http://www.afscme.org/publications/p...8/pemj9808.htm

[md123]

You think all they do in an academy is jog and exercise? How about defensive tactics, Active countermeasures, boxing, wrestling? Firearms training (lead exposure). Nope, the moment she announced her pregnancy she would be put on light duty.

I didn't think of the lead exposure issue, so that's a good point. And, of course I know that you learn defensive tactics, boxing, etc. Some of this, I maintain, can be done during the early stages of pregnancy. I stated 'if you got pregnant towards the end of the class.' You are not going to box at 7 months - I am not an idiot.

[Deputy757]

Even in the military during deployed operations where they "highly advise" people not to have sex for fear that women will become pregnant and (thus forcing the commander to ship the woman back to the US because the fallout from a pregnant soldier/sailor/airman/marine being killed would be tremendous), they are left with little to no recourse for women who do become pregnant because it really isn't a legal order (related to duty, discipline or morale) for two consenting adults NOT to have sex. I say no way they could fire the female.

But you are leaving out the fact that a woman in the military that is deployed to a theater of operations most likely is covered under either the DOD's maternity leave policy or possibly the FMLA. If she arrives at boot camp pregnant, or becomes so during boot camp, she would in all likelihood receive a medical discharge.

[txinvestigator1]

If women want to have babies that is great, but they should stay home and care for their infants. They want equal rights until being equal is inconvenient.