AVALON, Pa. (KDKA) – A former Avalon police officer says she wants to spark change and get more women in uniform. She worked as a part-time police officer in the Borough of Avalon with dreams of going full-time, but her lawsuit says a physical fitness test she calls discriminatory squashed her dreams.

“Whenever I was presented with this case, I was like, ‘I thought this issue was resolved in the 90s. I thought we got rid of these barriers of entry for women in the 90s,’” said attorney Rachel McElroy.

READ MORE: Disgruntled Neighbor Who Killed 9 In Arson Fires Sentenced To Life In Prison

Terra Johnston worked as a part-time police officer in Avalon for four months before she claims the police department discriminated against her and terminated her.

She asked to get her job back, raising her concerns about gender discrimination, but according to the lawsuit, the police chief called her allegations “an insult and ridiculous.”

“My client was treated unfairly. She wanted an opportunity to be a police officer and she didn’t get a fair shot at it. Not only did she not get a fair shot, but they also didn’t follow regulations, they didn’t follow guidelines, they didn’t follow appropriate standards,” said McElroy, Johnston’s attorney.

The crux of the lawsuit claims the Avalon Police Department uses “outdated testing” that disproportionately weeds out female candidates.

According to the suit, Avalon Police required Johnston to complete physical testing to graduate from part-time to full-time. The lawsuit claims she passed it all except the window jump, where the officer climbs through a six-foot high-level window without assistance.

McElroy claims this window jump is outdated, and discriminatory if it unnecessarily weeds out certain candidates.

READ MORE: Analyst: Shortages, Supply Chain Delays Will Make An Expensive Thanksgiving Dinner

“Pennsylvania has a commission of municipal police officer training, and this commission has recommended a test called the COOPER health-based test and it’s like sit-ups and running and push-ups, and that’s the test they recommend as an entry test, and so a lot of other police departments use this test, including two of the big players, including Philly and Pittsburgh,” said McElroy.

KDKA’s Meghan Schiller asked McElroy how she draws the line between gender discrimination and the needed physical aptness for the job of a first responder.

“That’s a very good and important question and I think the big issue in cases like this is …….

Source: https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2021/10/26/avalon-police-officer-gender-discrimination-lawsuit/