As officers and civilian employees become more aware of their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), they are asking chiefs for accommodations to help them do their jobs. Unless chiefs are prepared to deal with such requests, they risk violating the ADA and exposing their municipalities to significant damages.

Under the ADA, public employers must provide reasonable accommodations to the known physical and mental limitations of qualified applicants and current employees with disabilities. This includes all employees—even temporary, part-time, and probationary officers.