Texas DPS Ends Waist Measurement Rule

The Texas Department of Public Safety is modifying their policy meant to restrict troopers' waistlines. The state Public Safety Commission announced yesterday they're giving a two-percent allowance to their "command presence" standards, which includes a limit on how big troopers' waist sizes can be. In the current guidelines, male troopers are currently required to have a waistline under 40 inches and female troopers' must be under 35 inches. The waist limits were blasted by some troopers, with DPS Officers Association President Richard Jankovsky stating they caused "frustration and stress" among some employees. Jankovsky also cited a study from the Dallas Morning News that said over 200 commissioned DPS employees had passed their physical fitness test, but didn't meet the waist size requirement.