State police to alter fitness standards that kept out women
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania State Police are agreeing to pay more than $2 million into a compensation fund and are changing physical fitness standards to settle a lawsuit over how its trooper hiring practices ruled out otherwise qualified women. The U.S. Justice Department announced the proposed settlement Tuesday of litigation that was launched seven years ago. A federal judge must give her final approval. The state police also has agreed to make it a priority to hire up to 65 women who were affected by the prior fitness standards for entry-level trooper positions. The Justice Department lawsuit claimed that nearly all male recruits met initial physical readiness tests, but about 30% of women failed.