I have had a big interest in law enforcement for a long time now, and plan on getting a Bachelors in Criminology, but I was born with a lazy eye, not the cosmetic but the kind that impairs my vision. It's very poor, around 20/200 uncorrected, but my strong eye is nearly perfect, and correctable to 20/20. I have no problems reading or seeing things, but I'm afraid my impairment may result in me not getting a job with any police agencies. I'm working to correct my vision more, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to correct it to the standard needed. My local sheriff's office requires a vision of 20/100 correctable to 20/40 in your weak eye. If anybody has an experience in law enforcement and/or experiences the same issues I face, do you have any advice, or happen to know if police agencies will look past this, especially considering I'll have a bachelors in criminal justice?

You wouldn't get accepted into the academy in Sweden, I'm pretty sure of that. It's better to contact your local department directly, or any other department, to ask the question directly. 

Even the RCMP is pretty much the same in vision requirements, but with todays technology you may be able to get it corrected, I'm not sure how that stuff works though.

 

 

 

I have had a big interest in law enforcement for a long time now, and plan on getting a Bachelors in Criminology, but I was born with a lazy eye, not the cosmetic but the kind that impairs my vision. It's very poor, around 20/200 uncorrected, but my strong eye is nearly perfect, and correctable to 20/20. I have no problems reading or seeing things, but I'm afraid my impairment may result in me not getting a job with any police agencies. I'm working to correct my vision more, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to correct it to the standard needed. My local sheriff's office requires a vision of 20/100 correctable to 20/40 in your weak eye. If anybody has an experience in law enforcement and/or experiences the same issues I face, do you have any advice, or happen to know if police agencies will look past this, especially considering I'll have a bachelors in criminal justice?

 

Depends on the department. Some would be willing to overlook it if you can prove that it would be no issue or liability. I, like you, have a lazy eye. But I've had so many "exercises" since I was little, that I can control it when needed. :P

What kind of exercises? Or did you just patch it when you were younger?

I know around here you need to be able to correct any impairments to 20/20. I don't know anything useful about vision impairments but I would think that it would be possible for you to have it corrected, be it through glasses/contacts (if possible) or medically. 

I know around here you need to be able to correct any impairments to 20/20. I don't know anything useful about vision impairments but I would think that it would be possible for you to have it corrected, be it through glasses/contacts (if possible) or medically. 

I already have glasses, but I might be able to train it better. I'm mostly hoping that I'm able to just be accepted into a police force, I can see just fine so it shouldn't affect me at all really.

Where are you from ? Like geographically speaking what police forces are you near that you would apply to? 

 

Canadian Police Forces tend to have standards based on Province wide regulations (except the RCMP).. the RCMP which used to have quite strict Standards 20/20 Corrected and 20/40 uncorrected... lowered threes I just can't recall off hand what it is now..

 

I know the Constable Selection System (CSS) in Ontario still requires those former RCMP standards, 

 

does your impairment also effect your night vision or peripheral vision? Because these will all be tested as well. 

 

I know the feeling of having a vision impairment deter you from your dream I have a colour deficiency and for the longest time believed I could never be a copper.. then one day I said meh I'll go do the other test that is sufficient (the Farnsworth- D15) and passed. So don't give up. 

 

But as I said before an idea of what Forces you are interested in could help us, help you! 

 

 

I'm in the states, more specifically from Nebraska. I would either be applying for the Lancaster County Sheriff's Douglas County Sheriff, or if all else fails, the state patrol of Nebraska. The state patrol is a little more lenient on it, but I would rather be a Deputy Sheriff than a State Trooper . But I still plan on becoming an officer, the only problem is, I plan on getting a bachelors, so I have to ask, is it worth going to college for 4 years for a degree I can't us?

Edited January 24, 201412 yr by yeahbzl

What do you mean by "can't use"? If the vision issue means you can't join a police force, many other jobs are more likely to hire a college graduate. It obviously depends on the price of school if it's worth it, but "can't use" is sort of an odd concept.

It's not all about the job though, I'm paying for a piece of paper, when I could be paying for actual education in a different field. Assuming I can't get a job in the police force, that is. But like I said before, it's something I'm really interested in, I'd really like a job as a police officer, so it's something I'd really like to work at.

Maybe you could go to an optometrist? Sit down and discuss with them and say "look, i want to be a police officer and the thing that is holding me back is my eye sight. Is there anything i can do to improve it?"

 

They can sit down with you and help you out, i did that when i had to go to physiotherapy for my back (the back and eye is different but still.. it can be helped, especially with the technology today)

Depends on the agency and the State requirements for a law enforcement officer.

 

Here in MI for example, the standard for LEO certification is 20/20 correctable in both eyes.

 

Also, if your eyes prevent you from getting a regular LE job, look into corrections jobs. Standards tend to be a tad easier, and their not as competitive.