Employment > Medical/Vision/Hearing Standards

Please review the information listed below. All Police/Corrections applicants and select civilian classifications (Cadet, Patrol Services Representative, Crime Scene Analyst, Abuse/Neglect Specialist, and Electronic Surveillance Technician) will be required to meet the LVMPD medical Standards. This information is provided in an effort to give the applicant a better understanding of the applicable medical standards. A medical examination is administered at the end of the testing process, after a decision to hire has been made by the Review Board.

Medical examinations are given to ensure a candidate is able to perform essential functions of the position. As an equal opportunity employer, the LVMPD is committed to the laws and regulations governing employment, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. Candidates will not be eliminated based on the medical examination unless they cannot perform the essential functions of the job with, or without, a reasonable accommodation.

Please be advised that the information listed below does not constitute all applicable medical standards, but rather is a brief overview to assist the applicant in self-screening prior to entering the hiring process.

1. Visual Acuity
   1. Police Recruits and Selected Civilian Positions
      1. Near Vision:
         1. Candidates who wear Glasses or Hard or Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses
            Corrected Acuity — A minimum requirement of 20/20
            Uncorrected Acuity — No uncorrected near visual acuity requirement

         2. Candidates who wear Soft or Disposable Contact Lenses
            Corrected Acuity — A minimum requirement of 20/20
            Uncorrected Acuity — No uncorrected near visual acuity requirement

      2. Far Vision:
         1. Candidates who wear Glasses or Hard or Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses
            Corrected Acuity — A minimum requirement of 20/20
            Uncorrected Acuity — A minimum requirement of 20/40

         2. Candidates who wear Soft or Disposable Contact Lenses
            Corrected Acuity — A minimum requirement of 20/20
            Uncorrected Acuity — No uncorrected far visual acuity requirement, provided:
            • The candidate has successfully worn contacts for the preceding six months without complications prior to the medical exam.

            • The candidate agrees to replace the lenses every six months to one year or more frequently if needed.

            • The candidate agrees to clean the lenses on a regular basis as recommended by the manufacturer.

            • The candidate agrees to maintain contact lense wear and to sign an agreement. (Notice of Conditional Employment)
   2. Corrections Recruits
      1. Near Vision: Minimum requirement is 20/20. This requirement may be met with or without correction (spectacles, hard or soft contact lenses).

      2. Far Vision: Minimum requirement is 20/20. This requirement may be met with or without correction (spectacles, hard or soft contact lenses).

2. Color Vision (Police/Corrections/Selected Civilians)
   1. The Department uses the Ishihara Pseudochromatic Plate and the Farnsworth D-15 tests.

   2. Candidates who fail the Ishihara and pass the Farnsworth D-15 are acceptable

   3. Candidates who fail both the Ishihara and the Farnsworth D-15 (two or more crossings of 4 or greater) are not acceptable.

   4. The use of X-chrom lenses is prohibited.

3. Refractive Surgery (Police/Corrections/Selected Civilians)
   1. Radial Keratotomy (RK) - a waiting period of 1 year post surgery is required prior to the medical exam.

   2. Lasik (PRK) - a waiting period of 6 months post surgery is required prior to the medical exam.

   3. A review of medical, post-op records and subsequent touch up surgeries is required including the make and model of the laser used. (The candidate will need to see a specialist for evaluation).

4. Hearing (Police/Corrections/Selected Civilians)
   1. Pure-tone thresholds of audibility shall not exceed 25dB HL in either the left or right ears at the following audiometric frequencies: 250Hz, 500Hz, 1000Hz, 2000Hz, 3000Hz, 4000Hz, 6000Hz. Thresholds shall be measured adaptively under headphones using standard audiometric procedures.

   2. The use of hearing aids during testing is not permitted.