Gov. Josh Shapiro has signed a bill seeking to address the shortage of police officers in Pennsylvania, following its passage in the state House and Senate.

Known as House Bill 863, the legislation, authored by State Rep. Dan Williams (D., Chester), reduces physical fitness standards for municipal police academy recruits enrolled in “cities of the first class.” Those cities are defined as having a population of 1 million or more people, and Philadelphia is the only one in Pennsylvania.

Williams’ bill eases the minimum benchmark in a physical fitness test to the 15th percentile, from the 30th percentile, to accept recruits to the academy. That test includes sit-ups, push-ups, a 300-meter run, and a 1.5-mile run, and is scored based on cadets’ age and gender.

To become employed as a police officer, cadets would still need to meet the previous 30th percentile standards. The bill’s changes take effect immediately, and will be in place for five years.

[Maybe if they did something about supporting the police they already had or have managed to hang on to, they wouldn’t have to scrape the barrel trying to scoop up new ones to begin with. ~ Beege]