Fat policemen

[SirBragalot]

AIBU to think that anyone who joins the police force should be fighting fit?
Last weekend I was walking home from shopping when a skinny guy whizzed past me at lightning speed. He was obviously running from someone. I turned around and saw two policemen chasing after him. Both of them were overweight. They were struggling to keep up and were out of breath. So I thought, good luck with catching skinny! It was not the first time I saw policemen carrying extra weight. What is going on? How are they supposed to catch up with members of the criminal underworld who are usually skinny, fit and run like cheetahs?

Wtaf is it with all the police bashing threads at the mo????

In my force they actually take fitness REALLY seriously. Yes you have the fitness test during recruitment and then lots of times again during your first 2 years. You have a mandatory retest every year without fail and also during every officer safety training recap. If you don't pass it you'd be given a training programme and then retested again 2 weeks later.

Yeah we have people who are overweight. They aren't always unfit though. Myself I'm actually currently overweight, I'm a size 12 and trying to lose 20lbs, but I pass the fitness test easily!

Luckily foot chases are quite rare really. But if they happen, we will go for it.

@BellsaRinging there is in mine. Annual, not just at recruitment.

The police, people furloughed, teachers. Lots of bashing going on at the moment.

TBF it's not CV/lockdown daft questions though.

There isn't a maximum weight like someone said. There is a max bmi of 30 though on the initial police medical due to home office standards.

You have to do a fitness when you join and again if you’d like to ride a bike, bash doors down, join in riots, have fire arms, protect the royals and various other roles if you just want rolls and are happy with nee naws then there isn’t usually any more: body armour is horrible and heavy and sweaty, your utility belt is shitty and even more so when your colleagues nick your clips that attach it your belt to stop it slipping, maybe you’ve just had your refs and you’ve got a stitch which some twat had taken a picture of you buying and slagged you off for eating/buying how dare the police eat, possibly had a stitch, possibly knackered from working over time the day before and had very little sleep, already chased the twat 2 miles, lost him and he’s come out of hiding, actually unfit and don’t give a crap about your opinion. Also rugby players big bastards they are but fit.

I’m no longer in policing, but bleep test is crap, who the hell has a foot chase like that, think it’s better to say can you run 5K in X amount of time? Unless they plan on a some benny hill type situation occurring daily.

Who remembers Frank Cannon?

I used to love that show. Now there was a cop who used his brain, and he always caught the bad guy.

Fat doesn't equal unfit
SkInny doesn't equal healthy/fit

Cleared that up for you 👍

I forgot about OST...haha

I'm a slightly overweight woman in my 40s. I overtook two young, male firefighters in a 10k last year. I mean they should be fitter than this right? They were wearing full kit but still.

OP, good job riling everyone up

What about fat policewomen?

Too fat to chase and too weak to hold if the ever do catch them!

Yes, I think there should be an obligation to maintain a reasonable level of fitness to be able to do the job effectively but I also think that probably applies to most jobs.

Redglitter why did you delete that?!

@Nicknacky. On re reading it I THINK (hope) the post i responded to was being sarcastic

Actually I think the ability to stay calm and defuse situations under pressure, awful rudeness and often aggression is a trait I would value more than fitness. Whenever I've seen the police on TV I am in awe of their calm but no nonsense approach. Like all professions there are good and bad, variety within fit and healthy and less so. The skill of management is to deploy them where they would be best suited.

Police officer I know well isn't skinny, he has exceptional endurance HTH OP.

@GinDaddyRedux WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am overweight and I totally agree with op.

My Dad has an annual fitness test. Sometimes he puts on a few pounds, who doesn't but he's still fit and more than capable of doing his job.

Only men join your forces where you live? @SirBragalot

Police Officer

My cousin is a policeman. If you see him in uniform he is huge. See him without and you will see his bodybuilder physique and enormous muscles.

I'm a fat teacher. You'd hate me

Oh do fuck off.

Agree with OP - Fireforce for example, would not be permitted to get fat to the point of unfit to do the job, unlike police. I'm fat (not in a role tha requires fitness though) Its relevant and not fattist. Police should be slim and fit. They need to be so, to do their job.

Nurses
Teachers
Police.....

Who’s next?

What do you do op? Stand around watching people all day?