Hearing Impaired Ex-Cadet Wins Case For Reinstatement

A federal jury awarded a former police cadet $847,785 in damages, deciding that the hearing-impaired man can safely serve as a police officer in Boston, more than four years after the police academy pulled him out of the academy graduation for perceived hearing lapses.

Staff Writer・Editorial

Read Staff's Posts

February 14, 2002

1 min to read

Richard Dahill Jr., a Boston native who has worn hearing aids in both ears since he was three, testified that his hearing has never been a problem in his jobs as a lifeguard and teacher in juvenile detention centers and it would not impair his abilities as a police officer.

Police Department attorney William V. Hoch argued that Dahill’s impaired hearing would endanger colleagues and citizens, as well as himself. Hoch said Dahill failed to hear gunshots and verbal commands in police academy training exercises.

Nevertheless, after the verdict, the Police Department’s legal adviser, Mary Jo Harris, said the department probably would not appeal the decision, which requires the department to reinstate Dahill as a police officer.

Topics:Training

More Training

Man in a blue blazer lifting his shirt to reveal a concealed handgun in a waistband holster while standing outdoors.

Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty

What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.

Blue graient background with logos for InVeris, Caldwell, and FATS.

Training•January 14, 2026

Caswell Live Fire Spins Off from InVeris

Caswell Live Fire has spun off from parent company InVeris, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Caswell’s founding. Over the past 100 years, Caswell has developed pioneering solutions that support military, law enforcement, and commercial clients worldwide.