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Council hears first reading to remove maximum hiring age for police officers
Summary
Council considered an ordinance to change the city's maximum age for original appointment as a police officer. Staff said Ohio law sets a default maximum of 35; the proposed ordinance would alter the local limit to broaden applicant eligibility.
At first reading, council considered an ordinance to repeal and replace Oxford Codified Ordinance section 1.27.12, which sets a maximum age for original appointment to the Oxford Police Department. The change aims to remove or modify the local hiring-age limit so the city can consider otherwise qualified applicants older than 35.
“As you know, the Ohio Revised Code … sets the maximum age to hire a police officer for municipalities at age 35,” said JJ, the staff speaker on the item. JJ told council other nearby municipal law-enforcement agencies have changed or eliminated similar limits to expand their hiring pools. He said the city has seen potentially strong candidates, including retired military personnel older than 35 who pass physical testing but are ineligible under the current ordinance.
Councilors expressed support for expanding the applicant pool. One councilor said, “I’d like to think that wisdom comes with age, and that it’s a benefit,” and another noted the proposal would help certified candidates relocating from other states who face Ohio certification timelines.
Why it matters: removing or raising a maximum hiring age can broaden the range of qualified applicants and potentially improve recruitment for small municipal police departments. The item was presented as a first reading; no final vote was taken.
Ending: The ordinance will return for second reading and formal action at a future council meeting.
