NCJ Number
92572
Journal
Police Stress Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1983) Pages: 16-21
Date Published
1983
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Research, personal observation, and correspondence with State and municipal police show that ongoing physical fitness training is seriously neglected, although many police departments are now considering initiating such programs.
Abstract
Physical fitness produces more professional looking police officers and thus creates a better image of the police force in the public's eye. While many law enforcement officers and citizens consider physical constitution and condition important assets of the police officer, training is not a major concern of most departments. This can be attributed partly to the introduction of the radio-equipped patrol car which removed the officer from the street. While all departments have some physical requirements for acceptance, the emphasis of training still remains on the brain rather than the body. However, 1971 survey findings that 50 percent of all arrests involve physical force demonstrates the continual need for physical conditioning. Many police departments also are beginning to realize that overweight, underconditioned police may be a factor influencing the public's negative opinions of police performance. Unfortunately, the attitudes of the public and government administrators are not conducive to making police training more meaningful. Survey responses from 14 police departments showed that while all had physical fitness training in their entrance programs, only the Ohio State Highway Patrol had any subsequent program for officers. Furthermore, weight and height requirements varied considerably, and only Ohio required a periodic physical fitness test.