A man whose bid to become a police officer was rejected after he scored too high on an intelligence test has lost an appeal in his federal lawsuit against the city.

 

Jordan, a 49-year-old college graduate, took the exam in 1996 and scored 33 points, the equivalent of an IQ of 125. But New London police interviewed only candidates who scored 20 to 27, on the theory that those who scored too high could get bored with police work and leave soon after undergoing costly training.

 

Most Cops Just Above Normal The average score nationally for police officers is 21 to 22, the equivalent of an IQ of 104, or just a little above average.

 

Court OKs Barring High IQs for Cops - ABC News

A cross we have to bear.

Agree or Disagree with this practice?

 

And on a side note, I don't think anyone that has a facebook account could work for that police department, every time someone posts they took one of those online IQ tests their score is about 125 and up.

When I was new to Maysville and jobless, I went to a small environmental testing company for an interview. They gave me what I thought was a remedial math test. After finishing, they told me they wouldn't hire me because I would probably be looking for another job real soon.

A cross we have to bear.

 

And I'm halfway kidding. The couple of times I took legit IQ tests, the results were in the low 130's. Not shabby, but not Mensa material either.

It's not the only line of work where someone isn't hired for being "over-qualified".

 

Of course, my mischievous side wants to say, "Great! Nothing like shooting for the middle."

And I'm halfway kidding. The couple of times I took legit IQ tests, the results were in the low 130's. Not shabby, but not Mensa material either.

 

Actually it is, 131 used to be their cutoff. Go for it!

Actually it is, 131 used to be their cutoff. Go for it!

 

And here I thought it was 140.

 

I'm a stupid.

I strongly disagree with this practice. I do see some of the rationale, especially with some of the 1970s thinking that dominates some police departments. However, with the fast pace of technology police departments need to hire the smartest peeps they can get their hands on.

I think it's ridiculous! Why wouldn't you want the smartest guys you can find. If you are worried about them leaving, continue challenging them or put them on the fast track to management (or whatever it's called in the police dept). Stupid, stupid, stupid.... I guess they don't want the fastest or strongest guys either?! :no:

I strongly disagree with this practice. I do see some of the rationale, especially with some of the 1970s thinking that dominates some police departments. However, with the fast pace of technology police departments need to hire the smartest peeps they can get their hands on.

 

True. However, are they going to be able to afford those people? That is a bigger concern, IMO. Yeah, you'll have a few that want to do it because they want to help but most will take the money...which isn't in civil service.

True. However, are they going to be able to afford those people? That is a bigger concern, IMO. Yeah, you'll have a few that want to do it because they want to help but most will take the money...which isn't in civil service.

 

I think it is hard for the government to manage a meaningful pay scale for police officers. In my opinion you need worker bees and you need true specialists however you can't pay the specialist like you need to because of traditions, ranks, unions, contracts, politicians, jealous co-workers, super jealous superior officers that majored in behind sucking, etc. You get the idea.

I always think smarter is better, as long as common sense is also present. Construct the job so you can challenge them and hopefully get them to stay.

I strongly disagree with this practice. I do see some of the rationale, especially with some of the 1970s thinking that dominates some police departments. However, with the fast pace of technology police departments need to hire the smartest peeps they can get their hands on.

 

I agree. I understand the worry that someone might become bored and do a bad job or quit, but I don't see how you could glean that from an arbitrary score on an intelligence test.

I agree. I understand the worry that someone might become bored and do a bad job or quit, but I don't see how you could glean that from an arbitrary score on an intelligence test.

 

Bad combination when you're toting a badge and gun. See the other 10 threads in this forum.