Exercise!!! Or you can't keep your job!

Once again I have passed the physical fitness test for my department. Every year officers are required to pass a STANDARDIZED PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST. I don't know how STANDARD it really is.

Here are the requirements;

You must:

Run 1.5 miles in 16 minutes or less

Jump vertically at least 13 inches

Do 25 sit ups in 1 minute

Do 25 pushups no time limit

Bench press at least 75 percent of your body weight one repetition.

There are variables(hence the lack of satndardization).

You can just pass and thats fine. You get an award for reaching masters only if you are a female, or over 40, if you can;

Run 1.5 miles in 13:30, do 40 situps, 40 pushups, jump 19 inches, and then just bench press the bare minimum. This awards you 4 hours paid leave if you can complete the test at masters.

Or for me, since I am 29, and a male, I can go for Elite only. I must Run the 1.5 miles in 12:12 or less, do 52 situps in a minute, 50 pushups, jump 24 inches, and bench press 100 percent of my body weight. This would award me 8 hours of paid leave for Elite status. This year was one of my personal best, although I missed the elite status AGAIN!

Run 11:36, situps 48, pushups 65, jump 24, bench press 145 percent(200 lbs).

I find this to be quite disheartening since I bust my ass to stay in shape and the damn test is not equal even though they say that it is. I am frustrated by the fact that so many of my fellow officers who have trained me and taught me all that I know are struggling, and have been facing the loss of their jobs when they are so very close to full retirement. The departments should respect and reatain age and experience. If they want to lose good people because they only want to have people who run like gazelles and can bench press a buick then they are doing a good job.They will have only those who look tough and have no experience that comes with age and the cander that comes wtih those of older generations. I am sorry for my brothers who are losing this fight and I wish you all the best and I wish there was something I could do to help. Someday I will be older and maybe not in the best of shape. Will I have to worry that all my years of service may have been for not. Is it not alright to age? We work hard on the job. I walk at least 15 miles a day, I am on my feet all the time, we are always understaffed, and we go hands on with the assholes of the community on a daily basis. I think we may deserve just a little more cushion when we fall, some understanding, some appreciation. Don't trade in experience and age like a leased vehicle and get a newer never been driven or tested model.

On the other hand I agree that cops should try to stay in good shape. It's safer, and inmates work out all the time and so should we. But thats the dilema. With all the work load and the crazy hours and the stress, who wants to exercise? I want to get drunk and crawl in a hole for an hour a day just to function after a long shift. I would respect those who made the policies if they did our job and they came out from behind their desks. They can make the policies, they want our service and protection, but can't pass the P.T. test. Such beurocracy! It's all for a lower insurance rate and they know it! Nobody cares how high my cholesterol is, but me and the insurance company. They make it sound like they give a shit but the bottom line is that my poor health would be a liability. Nothing more. It's discriminatory and flat out wrong to make me submit to medical questionaires, a blood draw twice a year, body fat check, and to charge me 300.00 if I don't complete a healthy living and smoking sessation program. This stuff is none of their business. My finances and my health have nothing to do with my job. If I am sick they have alotted sick leave. If you want to know why I don't feel well, it's private info and it's between me and whom I chose to share that with. They violate their own policies on this every day! What happenned to privacy?

I am sorry for those who are losing their jobs. I hope you all are well and thank you for teaching me so much, it was invaluable. One more year down and many to go...

Lord I ask for courage
Courage to face and Conquer my own fears...
Courage to take me Where others will not go...
I ask for strength Strength of body to protect others And strength of spirit to lead others...
I ask for dedication Dedication to my job, to do it well Dedication to my community To keep it safe...
Give me Lord, concern For others who trust me And compassion for those who need me...
And please Lord Through it all Be at my side...

Author Unknown