Vision requirements?

Question

Does anyone know why a police department would have a vision requirement for both corrected and un-corrected eyesight?

Answer 1

Absolutely.

You need corrected vision of a certain requirement to ensure that you can do all the day to day things that need to be done... (driving, reading, seeing people, etc.)

You need UNcorrected vision of a certain quality because police work doesn't happen in an office. On the street, violent or unexpected events and encounters occur. If you lose your glasses/contacts during one of these, you need to have "backup vision" good enough to survive until you can get back to your "A game".

Answer 2

The above poster provided a great response with respect to the specific question.

Also, some departments do not have a vision requirement except an officer shall have eyesight corrected to 20/20.

However, if you are trying to apply for a department and your eyesight does not fall within the requirements, then you may consider LASIK eye surgery.

You may read about it here if it applies to you:

http://www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery/lasik.htm

Answer 3

They don't want anyone on the job who is a Mr. Magoo, if he should lose his glasses or contacts while performing his duty. It is a safety hazard to that person, his partner, and the general public. A case in point is the infamous FBI shootout in Florida, where two heavily armed thugs killed and maimed, I think, about 7 FBI agens in a gunfight. Lead Agent Ben Grogen, who can see fine with his glasses, lost them in the melee, and was practically blind while engaging the enemy wad was KILLED as a result.
So even if your vision is correctable to 20/20,and your unaided vision is worse than 20/200, you will NOT cut it in law enforcement.