Fitness Romance SagaOpen Discussion: Should Fat Cops Be Patrolling the Streets?
September 8th, 2010 • 32 Comments | Leave a Comment »
I’m noticing a lot of fat cops on patrol and I don’t think this trend is going to dry up anytime soon. This training video shows why an obese cop, Chris Parent (5-foot-9 and 300 pounds), was fired after an unacceptable performance during field testing due to his physical state. It was difficult for him to get from kneeling to standing, he could not fire his gun with correct form during the shooting exercise, and had trouble lifting a handcuffed (mock) suspect to standing. He eventually got his job back after he sued.
After viewing clips from Officer Parent’s training video, what’s your take? Is public safety a bigger issue when obese officers are on patrol?
32 Comments
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Jeremy Logsdon September 8th, 2010 at 14:58
Wow. Pretty powerful, but you know… as much as I hate it for him and can relate to being that size, public safety has to come first. He’s not overweight; he’s clearly morbidly obese. Would he be able to chase down a suspect, for instance?
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Katdoesdiets September 8th, 2010 at 14:58
Wow, he got his job back? hmm, makes me feel safe. I think you should be able to perform whatever job you have, yes?
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Theresa @ActiveEggplant September 8th, 2010 at 15:24
I think EVERY police officer and fireman/woman should be required to pass annual physical fitness tests. In most jurisdictions you have to pass a fitness test to even get an INTERVIEW for a position as a police officer. In my opinion, this is for the safety of the general public, the officer him/herself, AND the other officers he/she serves with. I don’t think this is any kind of discrimination at all – it’s a matter of safety, plain and simple.
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Kelly, The Glass Dragonfly September 8th, 2010 at 15:30
My daughter is very vocal on this issue. She believes, and I agree with her, that police officers (and fire fighters) should be fit. In fact, it is a such a very important part of their job that fitness workouts and training should be a part of their job. Paid. Regularly, even daily. It is not an aesthetics issue, it is a community safety issue.
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Art September 8th, 2010 at 15:31
I work in public safety, so I think I have a unique perspective on this matter.
First of all, this officer would have had to pass a physical fitness test to get his job in the first place. So, at one time, he was at an acceptable level of fitness to work at this job.
Typical police work is not active work. It is not at all what you see in the movie. For a traffic officer, most of their day is spent behind the wheel of their vehicle. I am very familiar with this. Most of my 12 hour work day is spent behind the wheel of my ambulance. This does not lend itself to fitness.
So, it becomes an issue of maintaining fitness during personal time. That is obviously where the failure is here. So, is it the responsibility of the employer to ensure that he maintains his level of fitness?
In my opinion, not at all. It would be awesome if they had more programs to help, but this is simply not the way life is. He was unable or unwilling to maintain the level of fitness required of him to do his job, and he is now clearly unable to do it properly. He should not be working as a field police officer.
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Josie Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Thanks for your perpective, Art. Just like people who work a desk job (ewwww, that’s me), officers need to find the time on their own to commit to fitness.
What’s interesting about this officer is that he was an employee for 25 years, and at some point changed positions from Detective, to working patrol. Not sure what happened there. Isn’t that a demotion?
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Art Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
@Josie, That definitely sounds like a demotion to me. Yikes.
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Kelly, The Glass Dragonfly Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
@Art and @Josie, I still don’t think, since it is a VITAL component to the job (unlike a desk job), that fitness should be a personal time requirement. Time should (ideally) be set aside for fitness within the job itself. Workout time should be paid and mandatory. It should be a PART of the job.
The way it is and the way it should be are two different things. In my opinion.
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Cheryl S. Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
@Kelly, The Glass Dragonfly, @Art and @Josie, I have a friend who is a firefighter/paramedic and she tells me there is fitness equipment in the firehouse. She has shifts where they MIGHT go out once for the proverbial kitten in a tree, and then there are other shifts where its super high intensity, actual fire fighting, heart attach rescuing calls. Point is, there is time on the job, on the clock to get fit if one so chooses.
Police work is different in that they are actually working the whole shift. I agree with you, if being fit is a requirement for the job, there should at least be fitness equipment made available at the station for officers. If I have a desk job that requires me to remain current with computer programs, my employer pays for that training, no? Why would this be any different?
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Samantha Robertson September 8th, 2010 at 16:02
The thing is, it’s not a matter of his weight. It’s a matter of his inability to do normal, every day things that could be required on the job.
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misszippy September 8th, 2010 at 16:22
I definitely think there needs to be some standards in place. Guys like this can’t do their job effectively!
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Lisa September 8th, 2010 at 17:10
This is an interesting discussion! Normally I’d be on the side of the person being discriminated against for being fat….but not in this case. I work in law enforcement and it AMAZES me how many are overweight and obese. If your job is to “serve and protect” in ANY manner, they need to be fit and able to perform all job duties. I don’t want to be sitting at my desk working and be attacked by a felon because the Officer or PO can’t run fast enough to save me.
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RogLaw September 8th, 2010 at 18:14
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what kind of litigation the police department who hires an officer who is unable to do his job due to physical limitations opens itself up to? Simply put, if you can’t do your job, and you’re given feedback on what you can do to change this but you don’t do anything about it, then yeah its time for you to find new employment.
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Steve September 8th, 2010 at 18:26
I think he force could have given him time to get into shape instead of firing him on the spot, but I do not believe he should be patrolling the streets in that condition, no.
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merri September 8th, 2010 at 19:38
I think that all police should have to go through an annual or semi annual performance review for physical fitness, and if they don’t pass, then they have to have desk jobs. But it shouldn’t be based on how overweight they are, just how they can perform their job. It’s definitely a safety issue if the police aren’t able to protect us. There are probably some overweight police who can still pass these tests, and some average weight police who can’t. Actually, this should go for police, emt’s, gym teachers and personal trainers as well.
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Tamara September 8th, 2010 at 20:04
Like Merri said above: their weight isn’t relevant, but their fitness is. I’m sure there are some buff “fat” cops out there who could chase and pin any criminal down, as well as skinny ones who couldn’t win an arm-wrestling match with a teenager stealing a candy bar. Not only should they be required to undergo periodic fitness assessments, but regular training should be incorporated into their work schedules to make sure they pass them.
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River September 8th, 2010 at 20:14
I seriously got the title wrong
I think weight becomes relevent when it is at the point it just is obvious the person cannot be fit. But I don’t think anyone should be punished for their weight. More and more firms motivate their workers to be fit, arrange weight loss challenges or offer gym memberships and such. So a cop has to be fit and they all should be provided, encouraged and supported to stay fit. We all know this is not easy. We all need some sort of support system, help in one way or the other.
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Sagan September 8th, 2010 at 20:17
See, I think that the problem is that this was “allowed” to happen at all. Police officers are SUPPOSED to be given the physical test once every year (at least, the Canadian Mounties are – I’m not sure about other police forces). Making sure that this happens would ensure that the officers are physically able to do their job. If the officer has a desk job, then I don’t see that it’s necessary to be physically fit for their job (health is something different). But for officers whose JOB it is is to be physically in good condition, then yes, they definitely ought to be fit.
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Debra September 8th, 2010 at 20:50
I really think if you are hired into a position that requires that you meet a minimum level of fitness to safely and effectively perform your duties then it is your responsibility to maintain that level of fitness and the employer should have the right to discipline you once you no longer meet those requirements.
Maybe FatCop shouldn’t be fired but demoted to a desk position and put on probation.
The military has a weight program for members who fall out of the acceptable weight range. They used to affectionately call it “the fat boy program” but once that became un-PC the changed it.
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Jules - Big Girl Bombshell September 8th, 2010 at 21:49
WOW! Great discussion topic! I have to agree with Art, in some areas because I too use to work in public safety. He is correct that it is not all like the movies. Most of the job is in your car, writing reports, and very little movement. Public safety works long hours, shift work and rotating positions and shifts. Depending on the department, a desk job is NOT a promotion or demotion, it is a couple of years rotation. Sometimes, they work 12-16 hour shifts.
Fire personnel do get to use work time to work out, most fire stations have a gym and they cook their meals, so it is healthier. Officers are usually grab and go or restaurant food. It’s hard to “go home” for dinner as it can’t be planned.
I don’t think he should have been fired and I can understand how he got his job back. But, I am sure there were conditions or a probationary period.
GREAT discussion Josie!
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Joslyn @ missfitbliss September 9th, 2010 at 0:21
I had to laugh when I read the title of this post. I was just talking about this same subject while driving down South Street in Philly a few weekends ago. All of the cops were patrolling on foot, and I didn’t see one that weighed under 300 pounds.
I think there’s a time for social sensitivity, and when public safety is in question, I say throw the sensitive stuff out the window. If you can’t chase down a suspect, get a new job.
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emergefit September 9th, 2010 at 8:38
Granted peoples lives (might) be at stake with public safety professionals, but to me this reflects a very American trend of, “Hey, just because I”m fat and out of shape doesn’t mean it’s ok for the cops to be that way.”
Cops, Firefighter, military, whatever, all face the same eating issues and problems that the general population face. They are surrounded by stress, live in a world full of Pop-Tars and French fries, and they are no less suspect to that temptation/addiction than other individual’s.
Yes, the should be able to perform, but the junk food shoes they walk in are no different than yours Fat America. Lest you not judge….. your job is not on the line and you are still fat America.
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erinsgobragh September 9th, 2010 at 10:12
I’m sorry I have a daughter now. I want to know that if I am ever in a situation where my or my daughter’s life is at risk that a police officer will be able to do their job to the fullest. If you commit to being a police officer staying in shape should be part of your job. This is a very important job and you need to be physically fit to preform it!
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Rita @ The Giggly Bits September 9th, 2010 at 11:38
Ok, my husband is a federal police officer up here in the Canada and I won’t want that guy backing my guy up. Period. I want someone who can run jump and fight as his backup.
It’s true though, there’s alot of sitting and paperwork that people don’t see but they have to pass a obstacle course test within time frames or there are consequences. It’s not sure hard but it weeds out severe impairments.
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marisa n September 9th, 2010 at 13:57
Uh, not sure if this was already said but traditionally you remained employed if you perform the duties required of your job well. If you fail to perform any key components or are no longer able to perform to the minimum requirements, you are at risk of becoming unemployed. This police officer was no longer able to perform his duties to their min. requirements so it seems logical that his position should become available. Perhaps the reasons for his firing SEEM discriminatory but there are many jobs that require physical agility or stamina (ex: stylists, firemen, those who work in the service industry standing up all day etc) and if one is not able to perform one aspect of those jobs due to lack of physical health, then he/she is usually let go!
I often wonder about the overweight cops I too frequently see. I think they need some sort of department motivation and/or fitness programs. Perhaps insurance discounts for being healthy and free or discounted gym memberships.
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Jody - Fit at 52 September 9th, 2010 at 15:21
I hate to say but if a person has to be physically fit to perform their job than that is what it should be… if you can’t catch the robber or abuser or whoever it is or you can’t fight the fire.. well, you can’t protect the public & that is the job. There were requirements to get the job & they should continue to meet them…. I want my life in the hands of a person that can do the job.
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Laura September 9th, 2010 at 19:16
I feel like if he can’t perform his job, he needs to find a new vocation. Public safety comes first. How can he expect to serve and protect when he is so out of shape for his job? Being healthy and in shape is part of his job…
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Quix September 9th, 2010 at 23:08
I think as long as someone can pass the testing, I think it’s fine. There is skinny fat and overweight and fit, and I’d rather someone who can do the job protect me. If they can’t, then they need to be taken off the street until they CAN pass the test. I think it’s only fair.
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Pocket September 11th, 2010 at 10:31
As others have mentioned it would of been nice for some sort of program to be available for him (& others) to enroll to maintain a healthy state of physical and mental being. Firing him might have been a little to drastic. I wonder if they could have put him on desk duty until he can patrol the street again, since he passed the physical part of the program at one point in time
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mels September 13th, 2010 at 3:48
i think what we’re seeing here is similar to why some people don’t like the idea of female cops. no, hear me out: we do tend to be physically smaller and weaker than men, and i believe that all officers should be held to the same standards. if you can do the things a cop is expected to do, you’re in. if not, regardless of your gender or size, you’re not capable of doing the job. it’s not discrimination; it’s making sure that your abilities match the demands of an important role.
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papawow September 13th, 2010 at 10:31
Wow. I would have never thought they would have fired him, only give him a desk job or something. I suppose though, he wouldn’t be able to chase down a bag snatcher if he needed to, or fit in a desk chair.
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Upset cop September 20th, 2011 at 12:45
Look I’m a police officer and I’m physically fit Because I know my life and the lives of others depend on it. Yes I’m stressed yes I have personal issues on top of being on patrol 6 days a week but I feel that my health and fitness is part of my job. That cop did not get obese overnight. And I know that his fellow officers told him of his weight.it was lack of responsibility on his part and his supervisor’s part to let him get that big. Policemen get paid very well, well enough to put in some extra time at the gym. And as for desk jobs… No every officer must be fit. It is not about the position it’s not ok to be fat just because your at a desk. You
still represent the department when not at the desk. And you have police authority 24/7. So if a fat cop is off duty and witnesses a crime he’s equally worthless. And no I wasn’t fit my whole life I worked hard over time to better myself for me and the community I protect
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