Are cops usually fitness freaks?

Question

i know cops have to work out a lot to have a good physique in order to take out the bad guys, but do they have to be fitness freaks? ive seen many fat cops around, but there are more big tough looking cops. do cops have to be one of the most strongest and toughest when they hit the gym? im sure they arent health freaks because they eat a lot of donuts, but i was wondering if they were fitness freaks?

Answer 1

No- a cop does not want to have the image of not being able to control a situation.  If they are grossly overweight, people stop taking them seriously.  The opportunity is also there if the violator wants to get away-he sizes up tactics, physical appearance, stance, etc to see if the officer is on the ball.  If not then they take advantage of you and sometimes try to get away.  I personally use my verbal skills to keep me out of trouble while working.  Also if I feel I am getting too heavy, I diet to keep the fit appearance...I wanna go home at night...



As for donuts, this goes back to the 70's when 24 hour donut shops were targets since they were the only ones open.  The shops started offering free donuts and coffee, hoping to keep the cops there so they would not get robbed.  Funny how "all cops eat donuts" now...  

Answer 2

No they dont have to be fitness freaks, nobody does. To them its not a matter of being the strongest and toughest in the gym. they just want to be as strong as they can be as well as tough on the job.

Answer 3

I must say I see two types of cops...

I see the very fit ones and I also see a good number of real fat cops too!

I think PD's should have better fitness standards.

Answer 4

I used to run, 40 miles a week. Hill walking. Cycling. Rowing. Light weights. Retired with serious back problems caused by a struggling prisoner. Some of the guys I worked with were seriously fit,other just donut monsters. Lived on fried food and beer.

Answer 5

I should hope so! Cops have to chase down and tackle bad guys as well as project an image that discourages conflict. If that means being built like Mr. Universe, so be it. We pay their salaries and we should demand that they be in top physical condition.

Answer 6

there are generally cops of all types. Just like any job, you will have the ones that are fit and enjoy working out, and then you have others that do not like it (or don't have time). I don't know any officers that like donuts.  

Answer 7

I take my fitness very serious, especially seeing as how I just got back from my second tour in Iraq.  But cops aren't fat because we eat donuts (I hate donuts and haven't had one since childhood) and "we are lazy", trying out running the radio.. Its the job, the time we have to put into it, court time, over time and here in Massachusetts the details.. 70+ hours a week put into work while working a swing shift on over nights, and lets add in family time.  Going to the gym is a very hard task to do when your are burnt out.  And you might see fat cops, but the amount of people that get arrested in my department that are fat far exceeds those of us on the job who are fat.  And most departments here in the Northeast are union so if they want certain physical standards they would have to be negotiated in our contracts and the time we would be required to spend in the gym, the city would have to pay us.

But a little off topic, this whole country of ours is disgusting. Its the people who work a 9-5 mon-fri. job that are obese you should worry about, they have plenty of time to go to the gym.