By Pyc Fitness
©2004-2008
Tim Frith won't be caught dead with a doughnut, at least not in uniform. The Florida Highway Patrol lieutenant wants to live down the police stereotype's stigma.
"I have a dislike for doughnuts now because of the image that was created," Frith said. "I do not frequent doughnut establishments."
A new generation of law enforcement officers is trying to keep unhealthy lifestyles and police pursuits poles apart.
State officials are set to adopt new fitness regulations for police academies this week. The goal is to give officers better leverage against crooks.
Currently, the state has no physical training requirements for recruits. This leads to poor habits, resulting in heart disease, back problems, stress and early retirements, studies indicate.
"The criminals tend to outgrow crime and the cops don't leave," said Boca Raton Sgt. Mark Sapino. "When the cops grow to 40, they've got the same clientele. Criminals don't age."
A Florida Department of Law Enforcement study found that an officer's on-duty heart attack can cost an agency as much as $750,000.
In Palm Beach County, officers' fitness came into question in 2002 when Deputy Donald Schavolt died of a heart attack while struggling with a teenager.
The fitness issue for officers in general was given international attention last November, when former Winter Haven Police Chief Paul Goward sent a memo urging "jelly belly" officers to lose weight. He was forced to resign for hurting the feelings of his police force.
In January, Florida Corrections Secretary Jim McDonough said all corrections officers in the state must get into shape by 2009 or face the consequences, which could result in losing their jobs.
"Certainly someone in the position of an officer should be fit," said Patrick Kelly, director of the Criminal Justice Institute at Palm Beach Community College. "The research will show a healthy officer is going to be able to perform on the job and be less costly to an agency in terms of sick days and general leave."
The state Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission — made up of chiefs, sheriffs and criminal-justice officers — is set for a vote on the new curriculum Thursday. It would come on the heels of an FDLE survey that determined police departments want police officers to be more fit. And they want them to stay that way.
The new proposal consists of 60 hours of fitness training and testing during the six-month academy program.
"By introducing physical fitness at the academy level ... hopefully they graduate having the will to continue to make them an officer fit on the job," said FDLE training bureau chief Pat Melton.
Police academies in Broward and Palm Beach counties already have a focus on physical training and support the proposed measures, which are based on the Cooper Institute in Dallas, a renowned fitness organization.
Police officers' fitness is encouraged in many Florida law enforcement agencies with in-house gyms, comp-time incentives and, in some cases, on-duty time to work out. But fitness and health rarely are mandated.
The Altamonte Springs Police Department is a rarity. It has a strict wellness program that requires bi-annual health-and-fitness assessments. One police officer was reassigned to civilian work in the department after failing the program numerous times, said department spokesman Officer Timothy Hyer.
Everyday job stress, abnormal hours and shifts spent riding around on patrol make it difficult to exercise and eat right, police say.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said a healthier police force is less expensive to operate. The fewer hospital visits, the less the Sheriff's Office pays in health insurance premiums. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has a 24-hour gym and physical trainers to keep its sworn officers and civilian employees fit, Bradshaw said. Besides a healthy heart, there's the obvious reason to stay fit.
"If they have to grapple with a suspect, so the suspects don't overpower them," Bradshaw said.
Boca Raton police test their officers annually. If they fail, they are encouraged to train, Sapino said. The department allows officers to use three on-duty hours a week for physical training. This year, the West Palm Beach Police Department started having all officers, including the chief, go through an annual obstacle course to assess their fitness. It is the same course potential recruits must complete in just over 6 minutes to be admitted to an academy.
"It's where they started. We're not asking them to be triathletes or long-distance runners," said West Palm Beach Police Sgt. Bill Sandman. "[But] when I'm in a fight for my life, is a suspect going to consider my age or physical ability? Is he going to treat me the same?"
Staff Researcher Barbara Hijek contributed to this report.
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