THE IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL FITNESS AND ITS

EFFICIENCY IN THE POLICE SERVICE

INTRODUCTION

Law enforcement officers must maintain the highest level of physical fitness at all times as it is
mandated from the moment they are hired.  At the recruiting office, they begin their training. They
practice under a variety of conditions that they must withstand and be able to sustain. The unfortunate
fact is that a large number of police officers don't keep up with their training and workout routines or
maintain their physical and mental fitness.

Police officers are pledged to serve and protect the public, so they must be capable of doing so. If they
are out of condition, they won't be able to manage a lot of situations, like having to chase a suspect on
foot who they think has committed a crime. They must restrain the suspect after they have him or her in
custody. In addition to using their physical strength, they will need to be able to handle the demanding
and perilous circumstances they are in.

A police officer is a representation of the entire force and represents it to the general populace when
they see one on the street. A lean and fit officer can make a positive impression on the public, including
criminals. If appropriate programs are put in place to emphasize the value of physical fitness among law
enforcement officers and encourage continuing physical fitness throughout an officer's profession, the
overweight donut-eating stereotype may soon be a thing of the past.

OBJECTIVES

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The problem is a lack of information regarding the connection between physical fitness requirements set
by police departments and pertinent work-related outcomes, such as reported incidences of injury,
illness, and absenteeism among police officers. The degree of physical fitness among the police officers
in each department will be determined by the study using whether or not there is a mandated policy
requiring the maintenance of ongoing physical fitness requirements in those agencies. To compensate
for variables including the duration of mandatory regulations, various city features, and other police
department variables, several independent variables will be used.

SIGNIFICANCEOF THE STUDY

Society has an issue with physical fitness. Today, the vast majority of people are unhealthy. When one of
these individuals is a police officer, this poses a serious issue. Police officers work in physically
demanding professions and need to be in excellent physical condition to do their jobs well. In other
words, during a physical confrontation with a subject, the officer must be able to control the subject,
talk to the subject, and be able to physically secure with him or her. Their physical fitness is crucial to
ensure the safety of themselves, their fellow officers, and most importantly, the public. A police officer's
physical condition is crucial to survival.
“Fitness is very important for two reasons: one is the fit for duty aspect,” says Lieutenant Arnold G.
Walker, Fitness Director, Buffalo Police Department Academy. “We need to be fit enough to perform the
kinds of duties we are hired to do (chase a suspect, go into a bar and break up a brawl), and the second
aspect is longevity. There is a great difference between the longevity of the civilian population and law
enforcement. "A fit officer is a better officer,” Walker continues. They can do their job better, and they
feel better about themselves. It reduces sick time, reduces injuries on duty, and it reduces the incidence
of cardiovascular disease.” (Strandberg, 2004).