Overweight police officers

Sykk wrote: »

Looking at that thread on the female police officer who sued the GMP over failing her fitness test reminded me of a thread I wanted to make before...

Even today I saw two police patrolling around Camden street.. One of them was so big, covered in sweat and red in the face from walking that I thought he was going to have a heart attack... I see big fat gardaí all the time.

I know the police are there for things other than theft, harassment etc, but these people are meant to keep the peace.. How could an obese man make chase should somebody cause distress nearby? He couldn't, so he doesn't deserve the job...

That guy would have struggled to get into his car never mind hastily catching and apprehending someone.

Should our police officers (all of them) not have to regularly pass fitness tests?! Yes/No?

They should have to pass an annual fitness exam. If they failed, they would have 60 days probation. If they fail again, they are gone.

I think age and position (detective vs. foot patrol) can be taken into account (marginally) but I really really hate seeing fat, wheezing police officers - it does not inspire confidence.

there is a fitness test to join the gardai tho after joing there isnt

i have a cousin who failed joining the gardai because he was such a fat bastard. and i mean huge, luckily mammy made a phone call to a local councilor, who i shall not name, got him a retest in a months, my cousin lost all the weight in the month, passed with flying colours and put it all back on again.

just saw him last night, HUGE

i do agree that gardai should have to pass a fitness test at least annually.

exceptions for age & office staff maybe

I can't remember the last time I seen an overly obese member of AGS.. But I understand people's concern's here re. a member who can not run after an offender - but then I think to myself 'self, when was the last time you seen a member of AGS run need to run after someone' - and I can't remember when!.

At least in Dublin they have fast car's, motorbikes, bicyles & helicopters to help find someone.

And its a little unfair to compare guards to members of the defence forces.

There is huge focus on physical fitness in the defence forces, so much so that we have the Defence Forces school of Physical Culture (you'll have seen its personnel on Operation Transformation).

In most barracks we've got state of the art gymnasium with PTI's (Physical Training Instructors) and time set aside for personal training.

And at unit level we have both PTI's & PTL's (Physical Training Leaders).

We've an annual fitness test, if you fail this your retested.. I'm not sure how many times your allowed fail, but its not a lot.

Continue to fail and you'll be given a programme to follow, with the guidance of a PTI and dietary advice if needed.

The last resort is that you can be taken away from your unit for a period of time and sent on a special full time programme - can't remember what its called but the lads unkindly refer to it as 'Fat Camp'

Members of AGS don't have all that at their disposal, but then again we don't work their awful shifts

When we're expected to run its with a weapon, flakjacket, battle vest, back pack.. Through mud, tree lines, up and over hills and mountains etc etc.

So its not fair to compare the two jobs.

Given the nature of a guards job I think to expect them to do all that you'd have to double their numbers & halve their workload.

Lastly, if your really concerned about the fitness profile of AGS or anything else you'd be best advised to lobby your local government TD and protest at the embargo on recruitment - talking from experience with the D.F. - when there's a recruitment embargo the age profile shoots up rapidly, with that you'll get more sickness & medical issues, moral will suffer - guards will be less motivated and criminals will be pissing themselves laughing all the way to the bank and home again with YOUR money

Ellis Dee wrote: »

A lot of them in Portlaoise are fit enough. It's the least you'd expect considering how much time they spend playing golf out at the Heath.:rolleyes:

Golf keeps people fit?..

Damn, gonna cast off the Judo jacket, feck the gym and jogging - and I'll buy a set of golf clubs :cool:

maddragon wrote: »

There is talk of taking away the military service allowance portion of soldiers pay if they fail the fitness test. Also, for entrants to the DF since 2000 (I think), they have to have their medical and fitness test passed in order to extend in service from 9 to 12 years and also from 12 to 21 years. As Makikomi says, continued failure of the fitness test will have you medically boarded and discharged from the DF. Longer serving soldiers have a bit more leeway.

Yup, thats an important inclusion.. We also undergo an annual medical and in order to pass that (important for extending your service, promotions, career courses, oversea's service etc) you must also have passed your fitness test.

Just thinking, the ladies really should be chucking themselves at us - such a fine, fitter body of men you won't find