Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Do we need cops who are less fat?

From AM-NY:

New York City police officers are not required to take physical fitness tests, raising concerns that many on the thin blue line aren’t in the “finest” shape to protect the public.

Observers said fit cops are less likely to fire their guns in a chase. Further, the lack of fitness standards may bloat pension and disability costs, some contend.

City firefighters must undergo almost yearly physical exams, as do police in several other departments nationwide. And many NYPD officers concede that fitness tests are necessary.

NYPD officials would not comment, but law enforcement experts said fiscal constraints, the logistics of testing a 35,000-strong force, and discrimination concerns deter mandatory testing. Other city officials and former cops defended the status quo.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Think something will be done about their physical conditions? FAT CHANCE!!!

ew-3 said...

"thin" blue line?

Anonymous said...

For their own health a physical would not hurt. A mandatory weight program, I am not so sure that is a necessarily a good thing - should be optional.

Anonymous said...

annual fitness exams, adjusted according to age, should be simple and mandatory. there's no reason why a 40 year-old cop shouldn't be able to do 10 push-ups and run under a 10 minutes mile.

Anonymous said...

They should fit an hour or two of workout time into the cops' tours like they do in other police departments.

Anonymous said...

My only concern is that a fat cop creates a situation where the public's safety is put a greater risk.

Can fat cops run up stairwells to chase after suspects?

Anonymous said...

forget about the ability to fight crime. They dont even do that when healthy.

What makes me angry is the "medical conditions" this will lead to that just happen to kick in a week before retirement, meaning a boost in pension pay and workers compensation.

Anonymous said...

Since we're in the business of looking at data for teachers..
Why can't we pay cops according to their weight?? I mean, if you're not fit, how can you do your job effectively?

Anonymous said...

If you can't hook the last hole on your gun belt, you should be sent to a dietitian and ordered to lose some poundage.

Anonymous said...

Someone's pulling some weight to keep this issue off the radar!

Anonymous said...

Make it about physical performance, not about body weight.

That way you're promoting fitness without discriminating against fat people.

Anonymous said...

That way you're promoting fitness without discriminating against fat people.

My gut feeling tells me that's the right way to go!

Anonymous said...

Managers at dunkin donuts should be giving incentives to ban cops who they feel are overweight from ordering food.

I. M. Phatt said...

Hey! These cops need girth control pills.

Anonymous said...

Most modern police depts give extra $$ to cops that are fit.They also pay extra for a ba/bs,masters,phd,etc.Other depts also give $$$ for fluency in foreign languages.THe nypd is stuckaround 1988.They were supposed to dispatch jobs over the cars computer starting in 1996..........still not implemented.

Anonymous said...

Remember an old comic strip which featured an "Officer Pottsy"?

The fat-assed bottom line is this:

Pot bellied "pigs" can't run down perps too good...so they're likely to rely on and use their guns more often...thus endangering innocent bystanders with unnecessary shots being fired!

Anonymous said...

Managers at dunkin donuts should be giving incentives to ban cops who they feel are overweight from ordering food.
------------------------------
Again with the cops and donuts thing. I see people from all walks of life in donkin donuts, but the only cops I EVER see there NEVER order donuts, they only order coffee.

Anonymous said...

these bitches are fat.