I'm currently in the process and will continue to persue my career in LE untill I have cross that threshold. And when I'm on interviews, or at a PT test or just out and about in my everyday life I observe LEO's and their mannerisms, physical conditioning, etc. What I have noticed vastly are LEO's for lack of a better term...not in top physical conditioning. As an outsider (right now) I say to myself at times "what would this LEO do in a foot chase pursuit, hand to hand combat (if such an incident unfolds) or during the next PT test in their respective department (if required)?" It bothers me to a degree because the very thing(s) preached to me in each department I apply for is to some degree not practiced, I don't think I'm alone on this. I know the "bad guys" are working out, running, lifting, etc. Isn't it the responsibility of a LEO to stay 5,10,15 steps ahead of the "bad guy"?!?! Is physical fitness taken lightly?!?! or is it just a handful of LEO's that "don't stress it"?!?! I myself am a amateur bodybuilder and in MMA training. In every PT test i've always placed top 3 even against the Military boys. I love the gym and know my conditioning will to some extent help me with the rigor of academy and as such, when my time comes. Just looking for various LEO's prospectives, opinions and knowledge....Thank you.

All I can say is one thing that one of my trainers taught me is to never assume someone is out of shape or not at their best at conditioning or can't fight back just because of their physical appearance. Just because an officer may not look like Arnold Schwarzeneggar doesn't mean they aren't in good condition. I understand your POV though, just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents lol.

elaken says ...

True, just look at Roy Nelson. He doesn't look like an athlete.........at all, but he can bang with the best for sure. He's got great conditioning to boot.

I agree! As cliche as it sounds, everyone comes in different shapes, sizes, etc. And some people, well, they can't either gain the weight or lose the weight but can still be in good shape and healthy.

Long irregular shifts, lack of sleep, stress and the fact that at 3am there is NOWHERE to eat where the food is anywhere near healthy make it hard sometimes to stay in shape.   Not an excuse, just an observation from one who is trying to find the time and energy to be in better shape!!!!!

I'm really starting to get iritated. Iron Brock let me explain a few things.  First off overweight doesn't mean out of shape.  Many officers, myself included are overweight.  This has to do with lifestyle.  I don't have time to work out since I average about fify hours a week at my cop job and then also have a second job to go to.  As far as running.  Before you put a cop down for being out of breath why don't you put on a cop uniform with cop shoes, cop gear and a vest then run a a half mile climbing over fences and going around buildings all the while dodging holes and uneven pavement and cautiously rounding corners to ensure you are not ambushed all the while talking on the radio to coordinate your backup  then come back and complain about this officer.

But wait there's more.  When I was in the best shape of my life working out three to five days a week I still couldn't catch a cold, I am and always have been a slow runner.  You can't fix slow.  With that being said I still managed to catch pretty much everyone who ran.  You don't state your age but come back when you are fifty like me and have this conversation.  Talk to officers with bad knees, or bad backs who can't train.  Comments like yours really piss me off.  You look at a guy with a belly and think he's not capable.  When in uniform I carry pepper spray, and impact weapon, a gun and soon to be issued tasers.  I've also been training in martial arts since 1984 with all that I'm still forty pounds overweight but won't take an arse whipping from anyone.  With your attitude I'm willing to bet your fat FTO will be impressed.  Grow up why don't ya.

mmmm......you get 6 hours of sleep? Good for you! LOL in all seriousness your posts are dead on right. Just because someone is "built" does not mean that they will make/be a good police officer. Is it niceto be physically fit? Sure it is! Not everyone is born from the same mold though........and we aren't all robots.

Im 19 and I asked the same exact question when I was 16. I hated seeing the bad guys ahead of the cops in physical fitness. I asked my Dad who is a retired NYPD sergeant in the Organized Crime Control Bureau about it. First of all my dad is 54 years old, and he can still lift more and run farther and faster than any of my friends, or anyone I know, so I think he is a prime example of what a police officer should be. He could "wipe the floor" with anyone half his age. So I asked, how come all police aren't as strict with their fitness as you? He told me that as you get older, a lot of cops just have the younger guys do the running and the older guys drive. Which makes sense, because as a cop, you have a whole team of backup behind you. This is coming from New York though where you are given a partner during patrol, not all places do this. 

mmmm says ...

I'm really starting to get iritated. Iron Brock let me explain a few things.  First off overweight doesn't mean out of shape.  Many officers, myself included are overweight.  This has to do with lifestyle.  I don't have time to work out since I average about fify hours a week at my cop job and then also have a second job to go to.  As far as running.  Before you put a cop down for being out of breath why don't you put on a cop uniform with cop shoes, cop gear and a vest then run a a half mile climbing over fences and going around buildings all the while dodging holes and uneven pavement and cautiously rounding corners to ensure you are not ambushed all the while talking on the radio to coordinate your backup  then come back and complain about this officer.

But wait there's more.  When I was in the best shape of my life working out three to five days a week I still couldn't catch a cold, I am and always have been a slow runner.  You can't fix slow.  With that being said I still managed to catch pretty much everyone who ran.  You don't state your age but come back when you are fifty like me and have this conversation.  Talk to officers with bad knees, or bad backs who can't train.  Comments like yours really piss me off.  You look at a guy with a belly and think he's not capable.  When in uniform I carry pepper spray, and impact weapon, a gun and soon to be issued tasers.  I've also been training in martial arts since 1984 with all that I'm still forty pounds overweight but won't take an arse whipping from anyone.  With your attitude I'm willing to bet your fat FTO will be impressed.  Grow up why don't ya.

 

 

 

^^Such an ignorant responce, First off sir I never used the word fat. I stated of not being in top physical conditioning. Your rant of an attack is not warrented. My direction of asking for an LEO's pov was not remotely close to a verbal bombardment. Mr./Mrs. eric99245 and DD3 for example have both given me a short synopsis of their daily lives which inturn has given me a little insight upon my pondering. As I stated before I'm on the outside looking in (for now) into the world of LE. If your intent is to respond back in malice then so be it. Your showing of sinsitivity on this subject doesn't help. I'm seeking insight and knowledge  from those who are in the position of where i'm soon to be. Positive construction not destruction sir. Thank you.

Excellent job ajsdaddy... I was trying to figure out a way to respond to his last posting without sounding like more of a jerk than I already do!  Everyone is different and everyone is good at different things.  We all chose to do this job for a reason.  Those of us who are already on the job (or at least most of us) have some experience in these things and have more leway with our comments to each other.  As someone who wants to be in LE, you haven't earned that leway yet.  And as was just stated, you need to learn to have a thicker skin!  Don't make comments about people on the job and then try to chew-out someone on here... not a good way to make friends!  I hope get a chance to pursue what you want to do, but don't think you are entitled to ANYTHING just because you want to do it and because you think you are more physically capable than someone else.  End of rant.  Thanks for listening.

IRON_BROCK says ...

I hope no one misconstrue's what i'm saying. Ok, the saturday that just passed...watching cops. Two officers approaced the house, identified themselves to the suspect. The suspect says let me put my dog away, closes the font door and bloted out the back. One of  the officers chased the suspect and I swear he was going to die by the time the foor pursuit was over. He could barely get a word out from his breathing...you can clearly tell he was hurting during and after the run. But it's in a LEO's job description to be up to par and ready for those types of situations.  Sorry for the rush, got a meeting to go to......

It sounds like he got the perp in the end anyway, so whats the debate for? Officer 1 suspect 0, end of story. Be careful when you bring up COPS, that will almost never go very well.

Darn, can't get to that link on this computer. I'll have to look when I get home.

rarebit says ...

elaken says ...

Be careful when you bring up COPS, that will almost never go very well.

Speaking of which, remember this epsiode?

http://dumpalink.com/videos/One-legged-cop-catches-druggie-2fec.html

Now thats an inspiring vid.

ok, i'm seeing how it works. LEO's such as shock and mmmm can go off on me and state claims i've never made and it becomes gospel but LEO's such as eric99 and DD3 (I greatly appreciate it) who've helped me to understand in what I was asking about through my experience in the LE process, their positive understandment get's no credit. So when I ask as I've stated several times in order to obtain knowledge and gain insight from LEO's and their pov....I know now that for those LEO's who are willing to help me positively, their will be those who are going to impose their negativity.

ShockUSMC87 says ...

IRON_BROCK says ...

I started this thread asking for a LEO's pov, what are their personal standards or their stance in so many words. I never claimed to be better than anyone. Yes fitness is important to me but I am also pointing out what departments are preaching to me and others aspiring. I humble myself to all those LEO's who've made it but being falsely accused especially if badly misquoted and stating claims I did not make I will not tolerate. I'm here to seek knowledge and a few members, a couple I've already named have given me excellent insight on this subject matter. Nothing mmm said was constructive, he made it personal. The very life he lives in LE is the same one I want for my career, why would I attack , belittle him or as he put it...piss him off? That's not my purpose for being here. Once again thank you to those who have shared what its like from the inside, I just want to absorb what it takes to make it and excell and I don't know I will ask.

 

No twinkle toes u have already crossed the line. Your an ingorant wanna be. You wanna come on here and disrespect a LEO, especially a senior one at that? no no no, it doesnt work that way, I dont know if u got the memo on how it works in LE world, but now u got it nancy.

Your a wanna be who calls himself a subject matter expert based of his miserale existence after watching non-stop episodes of Cops. You have NO idea what a hard day is. You go to the gym? Wow tough guy......I go to the gym too, I also went to the weights in my combat outpost in Iraq.....but I have over 5000 posts on this site and u wont find one of them stroking my ego about how much better I am than the next guy. No, I got respect.

Knowlege and wisdom trump fitness all day every day.....cause Im here to tell u, I can catch most suspects that run right now, but guess what? You have to do a thing called a report afterwards and I cant do that right now without a senior LEOs help. Another reason why wisdom and knowledge is better than fitness is cause when a suspect runs off and gets tired, all the LEO needs to do is have his info(which they typically do) and then go issue a warrant after filing out a proable cause affadavit.....those types of perspectives come only after years on the job.

So while ur busy standing the mirror convincing urself that ur gods gift to earth in a sorry excuse to disguise ur overwheliming insecurites, you may want to show some respect cause u have no concept of what this job is about or what it entails.

In fact u have no grasp or clue on what life is even about.

Your stay will be short. Comin here and pissing off while disrespecting a senior LEO is quickest ticket off this site.

Take ur ball and go home sally, your mom is callin u............

                    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNN brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                       By the way your name says it all ironbrock, You are not Brock lesnar that's for sure, and you did insult by your opening comment, when and if you make it I think you will be regretting your comments.  I would take an over weight partner with age then an younger in shape arrogant jerk any day. Guys like you come in as an rookie and either get others hurt or your self hurt or just get your self in trouble and burn out quickly, i've seen it happen.  If you want to do this job knock down the attitude a little and think before you speak.

77748 says ...

elaken says ...

True, just look at Roy Nelson. He doesn't look like an athlete.........at all, but he can bang with the best for sure. He's got great conditioning to boot.

Thats a very funny example. The guy can bang. When he jumps and sits on top of the cage and rubs his belly. Priceless.

I have went from 222 to 215 since Dec 27th,2009. No sugar eating  fruits and vegetables really watching what you eat.

Exercising heavily,  miss the junk food but important to stay healthy and live a long life.

 

Roy's huge gut is his best asset. Did you see him destroy Kimbo with it?