Physical fitness standards: An assessment of potential disparate impact for female state police applicants
| Author | Frederick A Williams,George E Higgins |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/14613557221074984 |
| Published date | 01 September 2022 |
| Date | 01 September 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Original Research Articles |
Physical fitness standards: An assessment
of potential disparate impact for female
state police applicants
Frederick A Williams Jr
School of Criminal Justice, Kentucky State University, USA
George E Higgins
Department of Criminal Justice, University of Louisville, USA
Abstract
To improve diversity in hiring, this quantitative study examines the applicant physical fitness testing standards of the
Kentucky State Police (KSP) to determine whether the test or specific events have a disparate impact for female state
police applicants. A sample of 427 state police applicants was collected from applicant fitness testing conducted by the
KSP between 2014 and 2019. Bivariate analysis was used to compare the output of males and females. Logistic regression
was used to determine predictors for passing fitness testing. The results show a potential disparate impact based upon
significant performance differences in three of the five fitness events: bench press, 300-meter run, and push-ups.
Predictors for passing applicant fitness testing were being male, having a lower body weight and having 2 years of military
service. Sex was found to be a predictor for passing push-ups and 300-meter run. Recomme ndations suggest amending
the fitness events, establishing equitable scoring criteria based upon sex without averaging, and reassessment and evalu-
ation. Provisions for evaluation were provided.
Keywords
police physical fitness testing, diversity recruitment, police applicant testing, disparate impact theory, female police hiring
Submitted 1 Jul 2021, Revise received 21 Oct 2021, accepted 23 Dec 2021
Introduction
The low numbers of female troopers and law enforcement
officers across the USA may be in part the result of selection
process barriers such as physical fitness standards
(Donohue, 2020). This study seeks to assess whether pre-
employment physical fitness standards negatively affect
females applying to the Kentucky State Police (KSP). The
required physical fitness events are examined collectively
and individually to determine whether a disparate impact
for females is evident that prohibits matriculation through
the selection process toward employment. Although there
is a legal basis (i.e., disparate impact theory) for this argu-
ment, the primary goal of this research is not legal. The
objective is to improve employment accessibility for
female state police applicants by mitigating a selection
process barrier.
Careers in law enforcement have many physical demands
(Sorensen et al., 2000; Dawes et al., 2017). This may be espe-
cially true for state troopers who often work in isolated areas
Corresponding author:
Frederick A Williams Jr, Chair, School of Criminal Justice and Political
Science –College of Humanities, Business and Society, Kentucky State
University, 400 E. Main Street, 207 Hathaway Hall, Frankfort, KY 40601,
USA.
Email: Frederick.Williams1@kysu.edu
Original Research Article
International Journal of
Police Science & Management
2022, Vol. 24(3) 250–260
© The Author(s) 2022
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DOI: 10.1177/14613557221074984
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