Philadelphia police leaders on Monday said the state’s new, lower fitness standards have helped the department shore up its recruitment numbers.

Capt. John Walker said 51% of people passed the fitness test during a recruitment event last month, according to local ABC affiliate WPVI-TV.

That’s up from 36% at the department’s previous recruitment event where the higher standards were in place.

In total, 100 of the 265 applicants passed their entry exams. Capt. Walker said written and training standards remain unchanged.

The lowered fitness requirement comes from a new law that seeks to address Pennsylvania’s officer shortage.

The law says applicants must score above the bottom 15% of people for their age and gender in long- and short-distance runs, bench presses and sit-ups to make it into the police academy. Recruits previously had to score above the bottom 30% of people during their fitness tests.

However, recruits need to finish the academy in at least the 30th percentile to become a full-fledged officer.

Over 1,300 police department vacancies exist throughout the state. Philadelphia has a shortage of over 800 vacancies in its 6,000-officer police force.

• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.