NCJ Number
18285
Date Published
Unknown
Length
149 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT EXAMINES THE NEED FOR A PHYSICAL FITNESS STANDARD FOR POLICE OFFICERS, WHICH CONSIDERS JOB-RELATED INJURIES, SITUATIONAL DEMANDS, AND THE PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE OF SAN JOSE POLICEMEN.
Abstract
FOUR ON-THE-STREET POLICE WORK TASKS WHICH OCCUR WITH SUBSTANTIAL FREQUENCY ARE STUDIED USING SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS. IN EACH CASE, A DISCUSSION OF VARIABLES PRESENTS THOSE FACTORS WHICH HELP TO ASCERTAIN THE OUTCOME OF THE SITUATION. IN ADDITION, 523 INDIVIDUAL CASES OF ON-THE-JOB SITUATIONS IN WHICH SAN JOSE POLICE OFFICERS WERE INJURED WHILE PERFORMING A WIDE RANGE OF PHYSICAL WORK TASKS ARE STUDIED, ANALYZED, AND CLASSIFIED. SPECIFIC VARIABLES ARE IDENTIFIED AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO VARIOUS WORK TASKS NOTED AND DISCUSSED. THE PHYSICAL FITNESS LEVEL OF CITY POLICE PERSONNEL AT THE TIME OF THE STUDY WAS ALSO ASSESSED, USING A STRATIFIED SAMPLE OF 58 POLICE OFFICERS. THREE CATEGORIES OF PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE TASKS WERE ADMINISTERED: LABORATORY TESTS, STANDARD FITNESS TESTS, AND TYPICAL POLICE TASKS. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF MEN ON THE POLICE FORCE WHO WERE CLEARLY UNFIT AND SHOULD BEGIN A FITNESS PROGRAM. THE NEED FOR A MINIMUM PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT IS DISCUSSED AND FITNESS STANDARDS IN POLICE TASK SIMULATION TESTS ARE ESTABLISHED. A TEN-WEEK PHYSICAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR POLICE CADETS IS OUTLINED, INCLUDING CURRICULUM AND LESSON PLANS, AND PHYSICAL FITNESS STANDARDS FOR POLICE PERSONNEL ARE RECOMMENDED. RESEARCHERS SUGGEST THAT PHYSICAL STANDARDS ARE NECESSARY FOR UNIFORMED POLICE PERSONNEL, APPLICANTS, CADETS, AND BEAT OFFICERS; THAT INJURIES ARE CLEARLY RELATED TO THE PERFORMANCE OF PHYSICAL TASKS DURING THE COURSE OF POLICE WORK; AND THAT THERE WERE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE JOB WHOSE PHYSICAL FITNESS LEVELS FELL BELOW THOSE OF THE AVERAGE AMERICAN. A 44-ITEM BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS A DESCRIPTION OF AND GENERAL INFORMATION ON POLICE SIMULATION TESTS, A LIST OF 164 CRITICAL MOVEMENT (PHYSICAL) TASKS IDENTIFIED BY SAN JOSE POLICE OFFICERS, AND COPIES OF POLICE OFFICER ACCIDENT AND INJURY REPORT FORMS.