Man who scored too high on police test loses federal appeal
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NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) _ A man whose bid to become a police officer was rej=
ected after he scored too high on an intelligence test has lost an appeal i=
n his federal lawsuit against the city. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appea=
ls in New York upheld a lower court"s decision that the city did not discri=
minate against Robert Jordan because the same standards were applied to eve=
ryone who took the test. "This kind of puts an official face on discriminat=
ion in America against people of a certain class," Jordan said from his Wat=
erford home Friday. "I maintain you have no more control over your basic in=
telligence than your eye color or your gender or anything else." He said he=
 does not plan to take any further legal action.

Jordan, a 49-year-old college graduate, took the exam in 1996 and scored 33=
 points, the equivalent of an IQ of 125. But New London police interviewed =
only candidates who scored 20 to 27, on the theory that those who scored to=
o high could get bored with police work and leave soon after undergoing cos=
tly training. The average score nationally for police officers is 21 to 22,=
 the equivalent of an IQ of 104, or just a little above average.

Jordan alleged his rejection from the police force was discrimination. He s=
ued the city, saying his civil rights were violated because he was denied e=
qual protection under the law. But the U.S. District Court found that New L=
ondon had "shown a rational basis for the policy." In a ruling dated Aug. 2=
3, the 2nd Circuit agreed. The court said the policy might be unwise but wa=
s a rational way to reduce job turnover. Jordan has worked as a prison guar=
d since he took the test.