Expert: Jack Toomey - 5/30/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello Mr. Tooney, I was recently diagnosed with fultiment ulcerative colitis and had a total colectomy done and had my colon completely removed, I am 21 years old and just turned 21 and at this time i was in the hiring process for the highway patrol and recently made it to their background investigation, I am scheduled to have reconstructive surgery done where they will take my small intestine and create a "reservoir" or a new colon in simple terms, for me. I read in the medical DQ's of POST that ulcerative colitis is a automatic medical DQ, but my question is.. what if you have had it surgically corrected or cured as in my case? My background investigator only told me that as long as it isn't constantly a problem in the future you shouldn't have a problem. I also had to tell my investigator that if i had to take the medical portion of the hiring process i would have to take a waiver due to the fact that i have a temporary ileostomy (artificial opening) in the meantime, until i get my reconstructive surgery...




ANSWER: Omar,

While I sympathize with you and your medical issues there is no way that I can give you a "yes" or "no" answer.  Your are quoting from something called "POST" which is probably something unique to your state and does not apply to many other states.  In MY state the individual police departments give medical exams and the county doctor makes the determination whether a certain medical problem would disqualify the candidate from being a police officer.

In addition you are telling me about medical terms and conditions that I have never heard of.  

I realize that you are reaching out for some encouragement but your best source of information is going to be the recruiting officer who you are dealing with.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: P.O.S.T. stands for police officer standards and training, it is a mandated course and/or standards of training provided by the state of California.

http://www.post.ca.gov/ I apologize i know it is hard to understand some of the things im throwing around as i never knew of them myself until i was diagnosed, it seems officers that have had ulcerative colitis "inflammation of the colon" and have had a total colectomy done, ie. entire removal of their colon, and have had reconstructive surgery done have kept their jobs and are still currently on patrol but what concerns me is if i haven't gotten the job yet will there be a chance for me?, but my assumption is like any medical problem, the candidate that is more "healthier" in those terms, will most likely be a more suitable choice for the job and will most likely have the upper hand over me, i will speak to the recruiter regarding this matter, it seems this will just be another obstacle to get over, but my passion is very strong for law enforcement. hopefully things work out for me.

regards

omar

Answer
Well there you go.  Where I live POST stands for Police Officer Survival Training and every officer goes through it every couple of years.  But I knew that is not what you were talking about.

The only thing that I can surmise is that the officers that you speak of already have passed their probationary period and thus are protected by the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Acts) which says that you cannot fire someone for a disease or injury sustained while an employee.  However it does usually protect people who do not have the job yet.

Good luck to you.