NCJ Number
186474
Journal
Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management Volume: 23 Issue: 4 Dated: 2000 Pages: 525-537
Date Published
2000
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study investigates whether physical performance and anthropometric measures can predict police recruits’ handgun marksmanship.
Abstract
Data were collected on a convenience sample of 65 police recruits (54 male and 11 female) during their first block of police officer training over an 8-month period. Anthropometric measures included height, weight, upper extremity lengths, wrist and hand breadth, and forearm girth. Performance measures included maximal grip strength, grip strength fatigue, static push-up, anterior-posterior balance, side-to-side balance, 30-trigger pull test, and a test designed to “predict the potential physical ability of the participant to resolve a critical incident involving the average male suspect.” The study found significant correlations between handgun marksmanship and dominant grip strength, combined grip strength, forearm girth, and second ray length. However, significance was found only when the genders were analyzed together. A step-wise multiple regression could not generate an equation to predict shooting score from the available data. Tables, figures, references, appendix