Ask a Cop: Can Cops Wear Glasses?

If you have a question for the police, forward it to brad.kava@patch.com and he'll send it off for you.

Question:  I want to join a police force and then eventually go into the FBI. The only problem is that my uncorrected eyesight is definitely worse than 20/200 (w/ astigmatism) and I'm color blind. What can I do? I'm currently studying Criminal Justice in college so if those factors will stop me, I'd have to change my major and career choice now.

Answer, CHP officer Sarah Jackson:

For CHP and Santa Cruz Sheriff's Department jobs, the rules for those who wear glasses are:

Those who have successfully worn soft contact lenses for 12 months need only pass a 20/20 vision test with their contacts in.
 
For glasses and/or hard contact lens wearers, their vision needs to be 20/40 uncorrected and correctable to 20/20.
 
Every applicant must also pass a color test (for color blindness).

What about other qualifications? 

Jackson adds: This is a link to our Applicant Study Guide (http://www.chp.ca.gov/recruiting/docs/asg.pdf).  There are specifics in the study guide regarding our Physical Fitness test. 

We do not have height/weight requirements but we do have minimum standards for entry into the Academy.  Those standards will be significantly higher for graduation, so I always recommend to applicants to try to double the minimum entrance standards at least.  Another thing to note is our written examination.  We have a higher than average standard for written proficiency. 

NEXT WEEK: What does it take to become an undercover officer?