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?

I have done exercise including circuit training with
police officers of various ages and various positions for over 20 years.

Not all of them are skinny particularly when they put in all their kit, but a few of the women have given a some young male criminals an unpleasant surprise on foot chases.

Incidentally one of my brothers' discovered that a few of the people in his cycling club were police officers but they only let on their job when they retired.

Don't presume a chubby looking officer particularly a small woman has no speed and endurance.

I love how people always come out with the thin isn't always fit line and you can be fat but fit. Of course thin doesn't mean fit and some fairly fit people carry a bit of extra weight, but no-one who is obese is fit by any definition.

Agree completely that a police officer's kit is unflattering but I don't think OP is referring to officers who are a bit bulky.

Being very overweight and/or unfit must affect your performance in almost every job though.

policemen carrying extra weight

OP didn't say they were obese or very overweight.

You can carry 'extra weight' and be fit.

I have concerns about the Police - this is not one of them.

members of the criminal underworld who are usually skinny, fit and run like cheetahs
Based on your extensive research (one incident that never happened and TV cop shows) no doubt.

You really don’t get many officers who are very overweight. Off the top of my head I can only think of one in the area that I work in that’s very overweight.

However there are more than a few overweight officers in non frontline roles.

Agree @nickynacky where I work we don't have many who are very overweight. We do have more of the sex god/goddess type officers, especially the younger ones. I think many people would be happy losing a bit, I'm currently dieting myself. But there aren't many officers with a very high bmi.

I don't know anyone at work who wouldn't pass the fitness test I don't think, even those closer to retirement.

Juan My force don’t have fitness tests either.

Skinny does not equal fit

This is true, it's also true that carrying extra weight is an additional burden to your body, even if you do exercise a lot you would be fitter if you weren't carrying as much weight. As police officers often don't require Mo Farah levels of running I don't think them being overweight is a huge issue as long as they pass the fitness tests though.

Poirot was fat and he solved a difficult case every fucking week!

@nickynacky we do, frequently. New recruits are tested loads with no warning during probation including on first day. It is also the done thing if you see others doing their bleep and they are not in a big group if you are around, you join in, even if you are not in gym kit! Nobody is to run alone and we support each other through it. It's easier in a group when you can pace each other.

Currently the bleeps are all happening outside on the car park. Which is lovely in this hot weather

Eugh tag fail @nicknacky even

How are they supposed to catch up with members of the criminal underworld who are usually skinny, fit and run like cheetahs?

Sweeping generalisations OP. Think you are confusing the mafia types with crack addicts!!

snigger at the "do you live on the Jasmine Allen" estate comment.

I mean isn't it about endurance as well? I know people who don't look outwardly like huge fitness freaks but they could last a hell of a lot longer than me running. Maybe not as fast initially but I'd soon falter after about 2 minutes!

Females shouldn't be in the police force either then, most women can't outrun or overpower most men.

@Deadringer you are trolling now.

There is a good reason why women are in the police force added to that the average criminal on foot is not particularly fit.

Deadringer My mum used to agree with you, my dad was a police officer and she didn’t like him having a female neighbour for that reason.

I was merely applying the op's logic BeforeIPutOnMyMakeup

@Deadringer I don't work in the police force but I can assure you I can even outrun some men and overpowr them. If it was my job I'd have appropriate training to do so also and would make sure I was fit enough, which I am sure many female officers who already know this sexist objection is still in society work twice as hard to overcome this. And they say we're all equal sure.....

Maybe the police should hire some of those fit people who run like cheetahs?

Maybe they could hire actual cheetahs, if they eat the criminals too it would save a lot of paperwork.

dem crims would be riding on the backs of dem cheatahs🐆

Don't you have to do fitness tests to join the police? They're not going to take any rando. It is a physically and mentally demanding job.

Times change, more police in cars, c
Very few on foot

I think @MNHQ need a whole new topic

Career bashing

Police
Teachers