October 2, 2008
Can someone with a slight hearing loss become a cop?
Joey asked:
I am extremely determined to become a cop. I think I have all the successful qualities that make a good police officer, but I have “a little problem.” I am naturally born with a hearing loss. I’m seeking an A.S. in criminal justice and possibly a B.S.. Does anyone know if someone like myself, can get hired as a cop regardless of a minor disability?
Jaquan
I am extremely determined to become a cop. I think I have all the successful qualities that make a good police officer, but I have “a little problem.” I am naturally born with a hearing loss. I’m seeking an A.S. in criminal justice and possibly a B.S.. Does anyone know if someone like myself, can get hired as a cop regardless of a minor disability?
Jaquan
Comments on Can someone with a slight hearing loss become a cop?
I can see it now
Defendant claims he said to police officer
I am unarmed
police officer hears
You will be harmed
love your heart BUT
NOT A GOOD IDEA
Probably yes, but it depends on the technical definition of “slight” in your question.
I think the rules probably differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction (even though they shouldn’t). I know that we’ve had a few police officer candidates come through our clinic (which is in Northern California) with known hearing losses asking two take two tests before they can enter the academy: a HINT test (Hearing In Noise Test) meaning can you understand speech in a noisy environment, and a sound localization test, meaning can you tell where a particular noise is coming from. These two components of hearing are crucial to policing because in a emergency situation, for example, you need to be able to tell which direction the sound of gunshots is coming from, and you need to be able to understand what people are yelling to you over the sound of the gunshots.
I know one person who had a severe unilateral loss could not pass the tests, but with a mild unilateral or even mild bilateral loss, you might be OK.
Good luck !
That depends on the state standards, I would check with them to see. There are various types of loss that could possibly disqualify you.
You can always contact the agency you want to work with and see if they will tell you what their hearing test standards are and get tested on your own, or contact your own doc he may know what the standards are.
Just a piece of advise, if you are looking at promotions after getting hired I, me personally, would skip the criminal justice classes and focus on some type of business management. Reasons being that when you go to the academy they will teach you what you need to know and when you promote you become more of a business manager supervising employees and working budgets, but that is just my opinion. Good luck!
If your problem can be corrected with a hearing aid, it’s not a problem. Just as someone with a vision problem can qualify if they wear glasses or contacts.
It’s according to how “slight” your hearing loss is. Also, like wuxxler said, if it can be corrected, then it probably will not matter. Before becoming a police officer, I worked around a lot of loud machinery. I have some hearing loss, especially with high frequencies. It has never affected my job as a police officer.