Pennsylvania police department lowers physical fitness standards in effort to boost recruitment numbers

The Philadelphia Police Department is facing a shortage of officers, prompting them to reconsider recruitment strategies. They lowered physical fitness requirements for entry.

To close the gap, policies on tattoos, previous drug use, physical fitness and college credits are all being reconsidered. Los Angeles is offering housing subsidies. Other departments, like Washington, D.C., are offering signing bonuses of more than $20,000. Several states have expanded eligibility to noncitizens, while others have changed the minimum age of officers to 18.