Should law enforcement officers be in decent shape?

[ZachnElli]

Yes, I think they should be in decent shape. There is a city just next to us (Bellevue, NE) that is dealing with this issue now with an officer they fired for being morbidly obese. He is a street cop and they showed a training tape of him on the news and he had alot of trouble getting up from a one knee shooting position, I mean, he basically couldn't get up. He refused a desk job and he was fired. He fought it and won, because the physically fit wording wasn't specific enough. But his first day back to work, they suspended him. Don't know where it's at now as this was very recent. But I don't think he should be a street cop, unless he lost some weight, morbidly obese is just too heavy.

 

[lillygator]

I think if they are actively in the field yes, they should be in shape.

 

[DawnCt1]

Absolutely. The public's safety and their own safety may depend upon it. DH has been in the Army Reserves for 29 years. He still has to "tape out" and cannot exceed the weight standard for his age. I think the same standards should apply to police officers and fire fighters as well.

 

[jaminmd]

I think so. DH is federal LE & he has a state of the art fitness center at work. I'm jealous because I'd love to have access to it. Anyway, he never uses it. I think it's mostly the young guys that do.

I think the older they get, the more stubborn they get. Most of the obese guys that he works with are ready for retirement.

 

[minkydog]

Yes, I think they should be in decent shape. There is a city just next to us (Bellevue, NE) that is dealing with this issue now with an officer they fired for being morbidly obese. He is a street cop and they showed a training tape of him on the news and he had alot of trouble getting up from a one knee shooting position, I mean, he basically couldn't get up. He refused a desk job and he was fired. He fought it and won, because the physically fit wording wasn't specific enough. But his first day back to work, they suspended him. Don't know where it's at now as this was very recent. But I don't think he should be a street cop, unless he lost some weight, morbidly obese is just too heavy.

They showed that on TV? I'd be so humiliated.

Absolutely. The public's safety and their own safety may depend upon it. DH has been in the Army Reserves for 29 years. He still has to "tape out" and cannot exceed the weight standard for his age. I think the same standards should apply to police officers and fire fighters as well.

I think that police & firefighters should have the same standards as the armed forces. For their own health and the safety of others.

I also think that nurses and other healthcare providers(CNAs, PTs, OTs, RTs) should have better standards of health. I'd propose that they need to keep their BMI no higher than the "overweight" range. I'm a 52yo nurse; I have gained 88-lbs in the last 14 years, putting myself solidly in the "obese" catagory and alarmingly close to "morbidly obese." I know how bad it is--If I have to run from one end of a long haul to the other I am just about winded. I have to calm my own heartbeat before I can even listen to theirs! And it's not just me; there are many, many healthcare facilities who employ overweight-to-morbidly-obese nurses. I hate to think what message I'm sending to patients--do as I say, not as I do. Doesn't work in raising kids, and it doesn't work in educating people about their health.

Sure, I can still do my job. But I could do it better if I lost some weight. I've already lost 28-lbs. And I see a lot of our public servants who could go on the treadmill with me.

 

[LisaR]

I also think that nurses and other healthcare providers(CNAs, PTs, OTs, RTs) should have better standards of health.

That reminded me of something. My son has tons of food allergies and when he was first diagnosed, I made an appointment with a dietitian. She came out and introduced herself and I immediately said, "thanks for your time but I don't think you will be a good fit for us," and I turned around and left. I truly don't think I am the type of person to judge someone by their weight. If I am walking through the mall, I am not looking at people thinking, "they need to workout, lose weight" etc. But if I am going to pay someone $250 to educate me on proper nutrition, I want someone that isn't obese.

 

[shortbun]

LEO should absolutely be in decent shape.I'm not saying be able to run a 10k BUT at least a mile without falling to the ground gripping their chest. Someone here said that the best cop they ever worked with 'drank like a fish.' Knowing what I know about people who drink to excess, that worries me. I would hope the police officers would have their addiictions identified and be working to stay sober. It would scare me if a cop showed up when I was in trouble smelling like stale booze or worse yet-drunk.

 

[minkydog]

That reminded me of something. My son has tons of food allergies and when he was first diagnosed, I made an appointment with a dietitian. She came out and introduced herself and I immediately said, "thanks for your time but I don't think you will be a good fit for us," and I turned around and left. I truly don't think I am the type of person to judge someone by their weight. If I am walking through the mall, I am not looking at people thinking, "they need to workout, lose weight" etc. But if I am going to pay someone $250 to educate me on proper nutrition, I want someone that isn't obese.

Yeah, I would have the same reaction. I went to a nutritionist a few months ago, genuinely looking for guidance getting my eating habits under control. My BMI was 38 at the time. The nutritionist was my age and weighed about 105-lbs. She was super-thin, scary thin. I'm sure she had an eating disorder. She looked over my diet, looked at me, and said,"You just need to drink milk 3 times a day." Uh...no. I need help getting control of my eating and I can see that you wouldn't have a clue about healthy eating if it bit you on the butt.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I can't believe all the people in law enforcement on this board. Can we start our own thread? We really need one!
My DH just did his first triathlon this past weekend. He is 41. He is in great shape...perfect for chasing after all the bad guys that run on him!

I second that!!!

THAT IS A great IDEA...THE ONLY TIME PEOPLE REALLY TALK ABOUT COPS IS WHEN THEY ARE WHINING lol no one knows what it is like to live your life with this...the stress and the worry.

 

[Hercules10]

If they're in the field and protecting us then, IMNSHO, yes they need to be in shape.