NYCLU Applauds Appointment of Applicants 35 and Older to New York Police Academy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK–The New York Civil Liberties Union today hailed the New York City Police Department’s appointment of 39 qualified men and women aged 35 and older, who had been rejected previously because of their age.
The NYCLU had sued the NYPD and the City of New York in state and federal court, saying that denying the six women and 33 men the right to join the police force was illegal. The suits have been settled with the group’s entry into the NYPD Police Academy.
“We are extremely pleased with our clients’ being sworn in as probationary police officers,” said Norman Siegel, Executive Director of the NYCLU. “Their dreams of becoming members of New York’s Finest have been fulfilled.”
“Age is an inaccurate predictor of individual capacity and limitation and cannot serve as a blanket criterion with respect to the appointment of NYPD officers,” he added.
The NYCLU had argued that denying the applicants for more than two years violated their fundamental right to be free from discrimination in employment on account of age, and was basically unfair.
“It’s been an honor for the NYCLU to represent this impressive group of individuals with so strong a commitment to providing public service,” said Beth Haroules, Staff Attorney for the NYCLU. “They will be an asset to the NYPD.”
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