HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania State Police are agreeing to pay more than $2 million into a compensation fund and are changing physical fitness standards to settle a lawsuit over how its trooper hiring practices ruled out otherwise qualified women.
The U.S. Justice Department announced the proposed settlement Tuesday of litigation that was launched seven years ago. A federal judge must give the final approval.
The state police also agreed to make it a priority to hire up to 65 women for entry-level trooper positions.
The Justice Department lawsuit claimed that nearly all-male recruits met initial physical readiness tests, but about 30% of women failed.