PHYSICAL FITNESS FOR POLICE OFFICERS AT CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY

• NCJ Number: 52730
• Journal: Campus Law Enforcement Journal Volume: 8 Issue: 5 Dated: (SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1978) Pages: 23-27
• Author(s): J E KLINZING; J FARALDO; G BARNES
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Campus Law Enforcement Journal
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A PROJECT UNDERTAKEN AT THE CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY IN OHIO TO EVALUATE THE PHYSICAL FITNESS STATUS OF POLICE OFFICERS AND TO RECOMMEND PHYSICAL FITNESS STANDARDS FOR RECRUITMENT PURPOSES IS REPORTED.

Abstract

COMPONENTS OF PHYSICAL CONDITIONING THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS INCLUDE CARDIORESPIRATORY ENDURANCE, MUSCULAR STRENGTH, MUSCULAR ENDURANCE, FLEXIBILITY, SPEED, AGILITY, BALANCE, AND OPTIMUM BODY COMPOSITION. MOST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DO NOT REQUIRE ANY INSERVICE STANDARDS OF PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE. RECRUITS FOR THE POLICE FORCE AT THE CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY RECEIVE LITTLE PHYSICAL CONDITIONING IN THEIR POLICE TRAINING AT CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY. A PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES QUESTIONNAIRE WAS COMPLETED BY 15 POLICE OFFICERS AT THE END OF EACH SHIFT FOR A 2-WEEK PERIOD. THEY DOCUMENTED THE FREQUENCY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ENGAGED IN WHILE PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES AT THE CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY. SUCH ACTIVITIES INVOLVED BALANCING, CARRYING, CLIMBING STAIRS, DRAGGING, HITTING OR KICKING, JUMPING, LIFTING, PULLING, PUSHING, RUNNING, AND MULTIPLE EVENTS. THE LEVEL OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY WAS FAIRLY LOW; CLIMBING STAIRS, PULLING, CARRYING, AND MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES OCCURRED MOST OFTEN. TWELVE TEST ITEMS REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL PHYSICAL FITNESS FACTORS WERE ADMINISTERED TO EACH POLICE OFFICER. SIX ITEMS WERE HIGHLY RELATED TO PHYSICAL FITNESS: AGILITY RUN, 12-MINUTE RUN, BENT KNEE SITUPS, SKINFOLDS, SIT AND REACH, AND HANDGRIP STRENGTH. THE AVERAGE POINT TOTAL FOR THE 15 POLICE OFFICERS ON THESE SIX TEST ITEMS WAS 15.7 (IN THE CENTER OF THE FAIR CATEGORY). TO ENCOURAGE HIGH LEVELS OF PHYSICAL FITNESS, A REGULAR PROGRAM OF CONDITIONING IS TO BE INSTITUTED BY THE UNIVERSITY FOR ALL POLICE OFFICERS. SUPPORTING DATA ON POLICE OFFICER PERFORMANCE ARE TABULATED, AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF EXERCISES REPRESENTING THE SIX TEST ITEMS ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)