Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

A lot of the LEO's in this area are big (obese) men, especially those with the SO. What concerns me is the possibility of one of these guys having a heart attack if he had to exit his vehicle fast, to run a foot race with some young dirt bag who had just committed a crime.

We have quite a few with us as well. My agency just instituted an annual PT test you have to pass each year, or else you'll be suspended. Problem is, the PT test is a joke. If you can't pass it, you shouldn't have a job.

I've heard the saying that police work is a young mans job, but I think it is more of a fit mans job. When I was a deputy sheriff there was a poster hanging up in the weight room. It depicted a bunch of inmates in prison lifting weights and underneath the picture it said the following:

"THEY HAD THEIR WORKOUT TODAY, DID YOU?"

I am not in the same shape I was in as a 20 year old Marine, but I am still in good shape at 33. I try to eat relatively well and exercise on a regular basis. I got into a foot pursuit about a month ago with a 17 year old and kept up with him for 3 blocks until HE quit.

I am getting older.

The bad guys are getting younger.

I am NOT going to die because I was out of shape.

One of my partners is NOT going to die because I was out of shape.

We owe it to ourselves, our partners, and our families to stay in good enough shape to get home alive.

Before I leave, when I asked the kid why he ran, he told me "Because most of you cops won't even chase us when we run, you go a few steps and quit." Now they know, I will chase them. :biggrin5:

Yeah, I hate seeing the out-of-shape LEOs. At least we have the liesure of not being in uniform, as (like any other agency) we have our share of embarassingly fat walking heart attacks. I know it may sound like a double standard, but seeing a fat guy in uniform just seems to get under my skin more than seeing the plain-clothed guys.

Now, with that said, I take pride in staying in decent shape. I have fallen off the wagon these last two months with an insanely demanding work schedule, being on the road the better part of 10 weeks. Still, I think I am in better shape now than wqhen I came back from boot camp at 18. I may not be as fast, but I am more well-rounded, with a better balance of strength and endurance. I am 37 and have yet to be outrun. :)

I am 37 and have yet to be outrun. :)

Let's race.

I get in the fat cop jokes whenever I can at work (I love self deprecating humor). Of course I am also quick to point out that according to my agency standards I am considered obese. I am a little slower than I was at the academy, but a lot stronger. I gained back 20 lbs since graduating the academy, but approx 5 lbs of it is muscle. The rest is the holiday 15, and will be gone by spring.

Fortunately there are only two officers I work with who are really overweight. One is an idiot, who unknowingly places himself in danger a lot and doesn't think anything of it. This guy will come up with all kinds of excuses of why he wasn't in danger, but it boils down to he has no LE mindset. I will do almost anything to not work with him. The other is very observant and is very aware of what is going on around him. Even though he is overweight I don't think he is going to have any problem taking care of business if he gets into a scrap (he has a very physically demanding side job).

I am 37 and have yet to be outrun. :)


I appreciate that. As a guy who can run fairly well, I will say that I am no marathon runner and no speed demon. I'm pretty average with my running - which I still think is pretty good for a 235lb guy. But I always appreciate the guys who can do the running part better than I. Two of my old partners were smaller (155-180) but could run like the dickens. They'd chase them down, and I'd lay the whoopin. Worked out nice for everyone but the bad guy.

Let's race.
Do you really want to cast that stone? :) Pick the distance, get a witness and post the time. (And yeah, I have ebeen called a bit competitive a few times). :D


I appreciate that. As a guy who can run fairly well, I will say that I am no marathon runner and no speed demon. I'm pretty average with my running - which I still think is pretty good for a 235lb guy. But I always appreciate the guys who can do the running part better than I. Two of my old partners were smaller (155-180) but could run like the dickens. They'd chase them down, and I'd lay the whoopin. Worked out nice for everyone but the bad guy.

Thanks, brother. Remember that I was a 400 hurdler in college and then ran a lot of 5-10Ks regularly after college. I was one of those guys who had to work to gain the weight. Of course, I am happy with my weight now and will probably start getting fat or something now. :)

My hubby is in excellent shape. He hits the gym almost every day and if not at the gym he is doing his MMA classes. He is prepping for competition right now - I swear I should buy stock in GNC and Protein Shakes! I would be freakin loaded by now! :coolgleamA:

We were at his police christmas party and everyone was telling me stories about him and how he is one of the few guys that can chase down a guy single handed, scale fences and then lay the smack down with his MMA moves!

They find it all quite comical as do I but he takes it seriously! His nickname is Superman at work. Yes, I laughed so hard when I was told this! :lol:

I want in on this race. At 44 years of age, I can still pick them up and lay them down! Switch, you may have to spot the "old man" a little bit! :biggrin5:

Wow Switch, the 400 meter hurdles! That's a MAN'S race. Did you run any other distances? The college I went to wanted me to run track, but it was during spring training for football. I did not want to lose my position, so I declined to run. I always wished I had given it a whirl. Oh well. Be Safe.

My college coach used to say he could clock my 40 on a calendar. :skep:

He aslo used to say "Thank God you play fullback, 'cause if you were a runningback we'd have to change the name to walkingback. :skep::skep::skep:

I ran only the 400 hurdles in college. My 400m was usually sub 49, but it was run back-to-back with hurdles so I never ran the 400.

In high school, I did the high jump (mediocre with terrible form, usually getting around 6'), 100m (sub 11 most days), 300m lows and 4x100 relay. I ran cross country and was a diver in the off-seasons. I lettered all 4 years in them, but wasn't particularly good in either one, usually goofing around and enjoying the off-season mentality (maybe a bit toomuch). :)

My college coach used to say he could clock my 40 on a calendar. :skep:

He aslo used to say "Thank God you play fullback, 'cause if you were a runningback we'd have to change the name to walkingback. :skep::skep::skep:

LOL

Sounds like a supportive guy. :D

My college coach used to say he could clock my 40 on a calendar. :skep:

He aslo used to say "Thank God you play fullback, 'cause if you were a runningback we'd have to change the name to walkingback. :skep::skep::skep:

It's always amazed my how fast some of those huge guys in the NFL are.

I've never been a particularly fast runner. I was always towards the back of the pack in school races. But that's not something you can do much about. Running speed is something you're born with or without. I used to have a lot of endurance though. My best bragging rights came from running down a local high school track star who had fled a burglary. We went about a mile and little of it was down a sidewalk, it was mostly through back yards and over fences. He was fast, but not in real great shape apparently.

But staying in shape is something you can do something about. I started working out in high school when I played baseball and continued to until after I retired. As I've said before, I never cared about getting big muscles, but I wanted to keep my body fat down and my heart from exploding when I was arresting some 17 year old kid.

Until the drug lab emphysema caught up to me, I had a gym membership long before it was the popular thing to do. For years, those around here were in old buildings with nothing but free weights. Some time in the mid 80's, they put workout rooms in all the precincts, but I never used them. Young cops can't seem to lift without ear piercing music going all the time.....:skep:

We don't have an annual fitness test and I wish we did. When I was working, we had men and women who were embarrassing obese. One woman's *** was so wide that her gun holster was nearly horizontal. I have no idea how she could draw it. I worked next to a guy who, when we met for coffee always had pancakes w/ extra butter. That was just the coffee break, I have no idea what he ate as his main meal!:nonod: Big is one thing, obese is something else.

It's always amazed my how fast some of those huge guys in the NFL are.

Personally, I don't think 5.0 is terribly slow for a 235lb fullback who has a 550lb squat....and doesnt play D1.

Personally, I don't think 5.0 is terribly slow for a 235lb fullback who has a 550lb squat....and doesnt play D1.

That's pretty good, I think.

High school football in Texas is second only to the Baptist religion. I played my freshman year (before I had my major growth spurt) and damn near got killed. I think that was the point in my life that I decided I really didn't like pain and switched to baseball. I got good enough to get a college scholarship for that. Too bad I drank it away......:banghead:

My high school coach though was really into training and that's where I developed my workout habits. I've always tried to overcome any lack of talent with determination.

Do you really want to cast that stone? :) Pick the distance, get a witness and post the time. (And yeah, I have ebeen called a bit competitive a few times). :D



Nothing long distance, I'm old and fat. Once around the track maybe...

Let's race.
Gregster, I don't mean to butt in regarding your 'sword fight' with Switchback, but I'll race you regarding yard work. I'm fast (and mean)...and I have Stihl powered yard tools. Game on.

:cheers:

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm280/Cochese_bucket/0625091644-01.jpg

That pic scares the sh1t out of me everytime I see it!

That pic scares the sh1t out of me everytime I see it!

Tim the Toolman Taylor on juice.......:iagree:

IMO, you have to be in good shape. People size you up the moment they lay eyes on you. This includes everyone from the old lady reporting a break in to the guy who has a warrant. They ALL evaluate you as an officer and will base their opinion of you on how you look. This could have disastrous results if the guy wants to take a poke at you. Having a giant gut and a dusty firearm won't help you out at all.

Gregster, I don't mean to butt in regarding your 'sword fight' with Switchback, but I'll race you regarding yard work. I'm fast (and mean)...and I have Stihl powered yard tools. Game on.

:cheers:

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm280/Cochese_bucket/0625091644-01.jpg

Let's arm wrestle. :biggrinjester:

Dayum switch sub 49 in the 400? I was an 800m and half miler in highschool, moved to 3000 in college. I admit by no means am I obese nor was I ever, but I definitly let myself get out of shape. I just recently got back into running after meeting up with some old high school xc teammates. I ran a 5k recently and wont say the time but was happy with it.

for the record I WAS a 4:38 miler and did a 16:28 5k in high school!

We have a few big guys and I always hear new rookies talk smack on them. The problem is i'd rather have my 6-2 285lb sgt who can't run back me up in a fight than the 5-7 135lb scrapper who can chase a guy but not do anything once he gets him! There is a fine balance I suppose.

Those were some smoking mile/5k times, danninator! I imaigine were are in the same boat, looking back to the "good ol' days" when we could really move. LOL

Also, I am with you. I try to preach "balance" to people. There is no good in having a lot of "fight" in you, but not being able to get to the fight. Conversely, what good are you in getting to the fight quickly, but having no "fight" in you. :)

Gregster, I don't mean to butt in regarding your 'sword fight' with Switchback, but I'll race you regarding yard work. I'm fast (and mean)...and I have Stihl powered yard tools. Game on.

:cheers:

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm280/Cochese_bucket/0625091644-01.jpg

I don't want any part of that race, how about Bullit vs. Goat?

We had a very big guy on the force who was about 6 foot tall and weighed at least 300-325 pounds. One day while on patrol, he slammed on the brakes, threw open his door and took off like a jack rabbit, scaled a 6-8 foot fence and caught a teenager who he had seen snatch a woman's purse. I didn't see it happen and was wondering what the heck happened. By the time I got to him, he had the kid cuffed and leading him back to the vehicle.
There was a Krispy Kreme donut place in our area who gave free donuts to LEO's on the night shift, who would drop by when they were deep frying them. This guy loved donuts and would eat a box of a dozen hot ones at a time.

It's a little known fact that Cincy was edited out of the final production cut... Studio politics and a disagreement over who makes the best java is what I heard...

http://i46.tinypic.com/idzz37.jpg

They certainly are behind me. I just ran a 26:?? 5k earlier in the month. I was just happy I finished!

It was always a goal of mine to break 50 in the 400... the problem was I couldn't break 53 seconds. Nor could I get below 2:05 in the half, yet for some reason I was able to hold pace for the mile. Apparently my legs weren't meant for moving fast. Just steady.


Anyway I digress, i'm now going to go look at old pictures of me with long hair and short shorts running races and picking up women.

Dude, fiber and water. That's all I'm saying.



http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm280/Cochese_bucket/0625091644-01.jpg

...how about Bullitt vs. Goat?
Road course, game on.

Drag strip, game off.

:lurk5:

Road course, game on.

Drag strip, game off.

:lurk5:

Awww can't you handle my 400 ponies?

Awww can't you handle my 400 ponies?
That's correct, I can't compete with that kind of HP on the strip...but I could give you a run for the money in the twisties since that's what the '01 Bullitt was designed to do.

That's correct, I can't compete with that kind of HP on the strip...but I could give you a run for the money in the twisties since that's what the '01 Bullitt was designed to do.

Maybe, but don't discount the goat's handling...

Maybe, but don't discount the goat's handling...
I'm not discounting the Goat's handling ability...but you can discount my driving ability...I suck at [performance] driving. So I guess you'll win. Anyway, I do challenge you [or anyone else] to a yard work race...I'm fast [and mean].

:biggrinjester:

I'm not discounting the Goat's handling ability...but you can discount my driving ability...I suck at [performance] driving. So I guess you'll win. Anyway, I do challenge you [or anyone else] to a yard work race...I'm fast [and mean].

:biggrinjester:

My lawn tractor is way faster than yours.

I'm not discounting the Goat's handling ability...but you can discount my driving ability...I suck at [performance] driving. So I guess you'll win. Anyway, I do challenge you [or anyone else] to a yard work race...I'm fast [and mean].

:biggrinjester:


i'll compete. My yard front and back, pushmowed, edged, and weedeated, in 50 minutes. I set the record a few weeks ago. It's just shy of 1/4 of an acre though.

i'll compete. My yard front and back, pushmowed, edged, and weedeated, in 50 minutes. I set the record a few weeks ago. It's just shy of 1/4 of an acre though.
That's pretty good time, cntryboy0531. I may have you beat, however. Only takes me 11 minutes on this end...but we only have .003 [point zero zero three] of an acre. I'm a city slicker. Are you accounting for the time to get the equipment out/put away? I am.

:db:

My lawn tractor is way faster than yours.
I'm sure it is.

I don't have a lawn tractor.

I'm a city slicker.

:crazy:

My lawn tractor is way faster than yours.
Oh yeah?

I have my old skateboard [Gordon & Smith deck with Gull Wing trucks].

It's fast [and mean] regarding yard work.

:biggrin5:

http://www.imboc.com/forums/imagehosting/558748c35001679f8.jpg

Oh yeah?

I have my old skateboard [Gordon & Smith deck with Gull Wing trucks].

You have to have gotten that while in the Navy. There's no way y'all in Cincinnati rate G&S gear!

You have to have gotten that while in the Navy. There's no way y'all in Cincinnati rate G&S gear!

Actually, I purchased it at a surf shop in Bradenton, Florida during high school sometime between 1978 and 1982 [I believe it was in 1979]. I used it for transportation to and from class during college. Currently, our son's friends make fun of me at the local Cincinnati skate parks because the board is so old. They call me 'the geezer'. I hate that. Punks.

:skep:

They call me 'the geezer'. I hate that. Punks.

:skep:

Me too. I yell at 'em to get off my lawn!

In 1990 I so badly wanted the Christian Hosoi Rising Sun board, but being a poor kid I had to make my own. I bought a no-name deck, grip tape, grind rails, a matching pad to do tail stops, trucks and wheels. Told my Dad I wanted to put it together on my own, so he gave me a phillips screwdriver and let me install everything myself.

I started on the bottom, screwing in the trucks, rails and kick plate. Flipped the board over and tested it 'neat' to make sure everything was fastened gudantaught. Realized after almost busting my *** a couple times that it was good a time as any to put grip tape on that slick top.

I put the board upside down and traced the outline onto the back paper of the grip tape and cut out the form. Removed the paper and slapped the tape on the board and MAN did it look good! At least I thought so until I realized I just covered up all 8 screws that held my trucks on the board.

And that was the reason Sarge never swapped those out for better trucks. :rolleyes5:

cPz020r6Oag

TbqVUBbCjP4

:biggrin5:

So... this thread went from Fat Cop bashing to Skateboard building within 3 pages.... :biggrinjester:

Never underestimate a fat guy.

He deadlifts his weight several times a day... which could be a problem for you skinny guys. :lol:

He may be slow, but unless you make the first blow count, you could bounce your fist against blubber all day long with little results. :skep:

TbqVUBbCjP4

:biggrin5:

Personally, as a native Californian, I am offended to see the label "b movie" at the top of this post :icon_bs:

Secondly, that's Tony Hawk doing the trix, who would later show up in this movie driving the pizza delivery truck. Now, pay your respects to the Man.

When that movie came out, I was in 8th grade. It sure as hell wasn't seen as a B movie in SoCal!

I wasn't sure if it was Tony Hawk or Rodney Mullen... and, yes, shame on me for referring to it as a b movie... :beatdeadhorse5:

btw, I was an "extra" in that movie... lmao!

Ldpc9Dh78ik

the full version of the Devil's Backbone race here - from 1:48 in this clip:

AN5AF5xwwfg

to 5 - 6 mins here:

vod3PFinkLk

Those are some cool vids posted. Thanks for them.

I made a crude skateboarding vid last winter while riding my G&S board. I titled it 'Skate Or Die'.

Probably a reposted vid...

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm280/Cochese_bucket/th_M2U00843.jpg (http://s298.photobucket.com/albums/mm280/Cochese_bucket/?action=view&current=M2U00843.flv)

You still Got It! :thumbsup:

http://www.techepics.com/files/bmw_skateboard.jpg

That's pretty good time, cntryboy0531. I may have you beat, however. Only takes me 11 minutes on this end...but we only have .003 [point zero zero three] of an acre. I'm a city slicker. Are you accounting for the time to get the equipment out/put away? I am.

:db:


Kind of. I dont take into account gassing up the push mower when I first start. However, I included the time of putting the push mower away and breaking out the weedeater/trimmer combo.

It was great time. Usually I take a couple breaks in between cutting and such to catch my breath as during the summer it gets way too hot down here to do it in one swoop. But the last time, I had the weather on my side and jogged while doing it all and got it done in about 50 minutes, can't remember the exact time. Think it was somewhere between 45-50 minutes, no more, no less.

I am all that is man.

:biggrin5:

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm280/Cochese_bucket/th_M2U00843.jpg

I saw a guy on TV with that exact expression. It might have been a COPS episode. He was on the roof of a car naked. They had to tase him.

I saw a guy on TV with that exact expression. It might have been a COPS episode. He was on the roof of a car naked. They had to tase him.

ahhh the PCP induced thousand yard stare... :lol:

My best friend here at work is a beast of a man at 6'4" 345lb's. He is very respected for his physical strength and athletic accomplishments outside of work. We both powerlift year round and he is an amazing lifter. He benches 605lb's, and is training for the world drug free squat record. He is at 900lb's now and is obsessed with it. (1005lb's)
We both also play semi-pro football for the Buffalo Gladiators, and again he is at the top of the food chain on the field too. My biggest concern is that this size is not healthy, and when I met him 7 years ago, he was only 280lb's.

My father was a huge man too, built like a brick doo-doo house, but died before the age of 60. My buddy is not your typical obese officer in the sense of what some of us see, but that much size is always a bad thing IMO.

I have to get the point across to him of cardio, diet, and life changes now before it's too late.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll268/jimbellah/129032245640011486.jpg

My lawn tractor is way faster than yours.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll268/jimbellah/129030748391460994.jpg