Definitions

Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)
This is a governmental or public agency having a law enforcement responsibility that employs LEOs.

Functional or Job Simulation Testing
A method of evaluating the LEO’s ability to safely perform a job function by performing testing in the work environment or a partial re-creation of the work environment.

Guidance
Information to provide assistance to decision makers. The intent is that the police physicians would use their professional judgment in conjunction with this information to reach an appropriate recommendation. The guidance document is to be used by the police physician to make an individualized assessment, and should not be used as a regulation or a standard.

Individualized Assessment
The evaluation of the LEO by a police physician which will consider the medical history, precipitating factors, likelihood of recurrence in the individual being evaluated, and the effects of any medications taken by the LEO, as well as the duties of that specific LEO.

Job Functions
See chapter on Essential Job Tasks.

LEO
Law enforcement officer.

Medical Evaluation
An assessment by a physician of the medical data collected on an individual (e.g., past medical history, review of systems, family history, occupational history, social history, physical examination findings, laboratory testing, imaging, and other testing).

Medications
Substances taken for therapeutic effect. This includes both prescription and non-prescription drugs.

Patrol LEO
The LEO, uniformed or not, providing public safety services to the public, and who patrols to prevent or detect crime, or respond to calls for service, or initiates a response to a situation based on the LEO’s observation of a situation, or directs traffic on foot or in a vehicle. Patrol LEOs may work in cars, or on foot, or may use other types of vehicles and transportation including vans, prisoner transport wagons or vehicles, trucks, bicycles, scooters, motorbikes or motorcycles, horses, boats, and aircraft.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Equipment used to prevent the user from having contact with hazardous agents (chemical, biological, or radiological). Examples would include non-permeable gloves (for chemicals or blood), and respirators (for airborne pathogens such as tuberculosis or influenza).

Police Physician
This is the physician who is retained by the AHJ to advise it on medical issues. These issues could include the appropriateness of an individual performing LEO duties, as well as necessary work restrictions. The police physician is the individual who reviews medical information provided by the LEO’s treating physician. The police physician may also be the treating physician, although such an arrangement may create a conflict of interest.

Restrictions
Functional job limitations determined by the police physician based on medical information.

Sudden Incapacitation
Without adequate notice or warning, the inability to perform job functions (e.g., maintaining control of weapons, and vehicle operation).

Treating Physician
The physician who is providing medical treatment to the LEO. This physician provides medical information to the police physician so that the police physician may advise the AHJ.