Retirement change eyed in WA police reform (AAP)

West Australian police officers could be forced to retire by a certain age if they are too old for frontline duty.

Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said a mandatory retirement age was something being considered as the state policing system underwent reform.

But he stressed that what the age would be and whether it would be implemented had not been determined yet.

"I think the community expects that the police officers on the street will be fit and able to do that job, that they'll be up to the challenges they meet on a day to day basis," Mr O'Callaghan said on Friday.

"We understand as time goes by not everyone can continue to do that and what's important is that we have options for those officers in the future."

Police Minister Liza Harvey said a 71-year-old officer who was still on operational duties was among those who took voluntary severance earlier in the year.

"You have to think from the risk profile of the agency, how is that person going to be if they come up against some amped-up, methamphetamine-fuelled thug," Ms Harvey said.

"I think the officers are the best ones to have that discussion."

Ms Harvey said the restrictions in finding officers new employment would also be looked at because the current laws required officers to resign before they could be move into other roles.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24784550/retirement-change-eyed-in-wa-police-reform/