Abstract
This study determined relationships between an agency-specific fitness test battery (PT500), and a work sample test battery (WSTB) in law enforcement recruits. Retrospective analysis on 219 males and 34 females from one agency was conducted. The PT500 comprised: push-ups, sit-ups, and mountain climbers in 120 s; pull-ups; and 201 m and 2.4 km runs. The WSTB comprised: 99 yard (90.53 m) obstacle course (99OC); body drag (BD) with a 165 pound (75 kg) dummy; 6 foot (1.83 m) chain link fence (CLF) and solid wall (SW) climb; and 500 yard (457.2 m) run (500R). Partial correlations, controlling for sex, calculated PT500 and WSTB relationships (p < 0.05). Stepwise regression determined whether fitness predicted WSTB performance. The 500R related to all PT500 assessments (r range = −0.127–0.574), 99OC related to all bar push-ups and mountain climbers, and BD related to none. The CLF related to sit-ups, pull-ups, and 2.4 km run; SW related to mountain climbers, pull-ups, and 2.4 km run (r range = −0.127–−0.315). Push-ups, pull-ups, and 2.4 km run were involved in predictive relationships for 99OC, CLF, SW, and 500R (r2 range = 0.217–0.500). To perform better in the WSTB and job-specific tasks, developing upper-body strength and aerobic fitness may be beneficial.
Highlights
Law enforcement is a demanding profession and can place great deal of physical stress on those employed in this vocation
Academy training is where law enforcement academy (LEA) instructors and Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitators will train recruits to tolerate the physical rigors of the profession, while teaching the necessary procedures and skills required for the job [9,10]
The 500 yard (457.2 m) run (500R) correlated to all tests in the PT500; the 99OC correlated with all tests except push-ups and mountain climbers, significance equalled 0.05 in both cases
Summary
Law enforcement is a demanding profession and can place great deal of physical stress on those employed in this vocation. On-duty law enforcement officers (LEOs) may be required to push, pull, lift, carry, or drag objects or people at any time during their shift [1]. In addition to these physical demands, LEOs must perform job-specific skills, including driving vehicles [2], discharging firearms [3,4], defensive tactics [4,5], civilian or partner rescue, vaulting obstacles, and pursuing and apprehending suspects [6,7,8]. Public Health 2018, 15, 2477; doi:10.3390/ijerph15112477 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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