The lack of physical fitness in the Garda

whisky_galore · 18-11-2014 02:33PM

nc19 wrote: »

Maybe a portion of the male guards are but 95%of the female guards ive dealt with have arses the kardashians would be proud of

Pity they've got least sexy Police uniform ever. Like something you'd find on a building site or the bargain bin at Guiney's.

fergie24 · 18-11-2014 02:44PM

The Garda aka traffic core have no need to be fit.

FullblownRose · 18-11-2014 02:47PM

I suppose several of them tackle the crims and their combined weight pins them to the ground for long enough to taser them. I have noticed a few lardy gardai walking around town.

FullblownRose · 18-11-2014 02:57PM

Personally, I think they should be fit as a fiddle and equipped with the best of , say, BMW's, for the times when the little sh1tes in subaru imprezas involve them in car chases, and the best advanced driver training, they should be the elite force.

Graces7 · 18-11-2014 03:10PM

Hold the Cheez Whiz wrote: »

This.

The last time I visited my family in the US, I could not believe how sloppy so many of the police officers were. Like, could not bend over and tie their shoes fat. There should absolutely be an annual fitness test (sprint and distance running, push-ups, climbing/obstacles, etc). Hell, the existing standards aren't even that high (something like a 9-minute mile pace for 1.5 miles in Chicago).

Ask youtube for "walmart people" and you will see that the cops there have no problems catching folk....

AudreyHepburn · 18-11-2014 03:35PM

Sigh....do we really need another Garda bashing thread?

Can you all not just accept that not all Gardai are useless uneducated overweight tossers? That the majority of them in fact do a good job and a tough one that most of the naysayers would balk at doing?

yourdeadwright · 18-11-2014 03:42PM

Recently i have a friend who didn't make the cut for the Garda he is 6'2 and fit as a fiddle, strong andcardio related fitness and actually very intelligent, very Friendly basically ticks everything you would expect a Garda to be,

Now at the same time he didn't make the cut i know a local girl who's 5'3, she'sunfit . basically she's fat , has always been abit of a toe rag soemone you couldn't hold a converstation with out saying," Yeeeee ye know what i mean " ten times and somehow shemade it,

If you knew both of them , you’d serious question the Garda recruitment onhow she was the one who made it,

FullblownRose · 18-11-2014 04:19PM

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

Sigh....do we really need another Garda bashing thread?

Can you all not just accept that not all Gardai are useless uneducated overweight tossers? That the majority of them in fact do a good job and a tough one that most of the naysayers would balk at doing?

I do think they have a hard job, I do have some resect for them but there are some aspects of their job that I don't think I could cope with, that's why I'm not a guard, but look at the post after yours. It's not unreasonable when people look at the guards and wonder about some of them, sometimes. We're all as entitled to question the gardai as anybody else and they are, in some ways, questionable.

Potential-Monke · 18-11-2014 04:32PM

chrissb8 wrote: »

Well if I know and talk to Gardai I certainly can give an opinion that they've told me what their jobs like. Although they can be busy at times they have their lifes that they mostly can attend to. You make it sound like it's all go go go for them all the time. The fact is it's not. Gardai are in court only once or twice a month because the fact is that they are called to scenes of crimes where there are already eye witnesses to testify. They largely don't have to be in court unless they see a crime first hand or there is a lack of cctv or other evidence. How do I know this? because I have talked to them. Lot's of jobs are stressful. Yet again so what. Don't go gorging yourself on foods that aren't good for you. Thankless? who cares?! it's their job! You make it sound like they go above the call of duty all the time. The thing is they don't.

They have the time to spare an hour most days to go the gym or some other exercise. Gardai get gyms paid for and even have gyms in some stations. Loads of people are even busier then them. It's called self control and discipline. Something that most gardai are severely lacking. There should be no leeway. Their job is to catch criminals and they should stand a good chance of doing that from the best equipment they can get to being in the shape to stand a good chance of doing it.

Are they based in city stations? Or busy ones even? I know lots of Gardaí, and the most active ones are in court at least once a week. Some are in court multiple times a week. Yes, some only attend once a month or so, but most go way more often than that. Sounds like your mates are in quiet enough stations. Different courts are also run differently. In quite a few cities, the Inspector will give the evidence if there's a guilty plea, otherwise the Garda is required. In Dublin city, the individual does all their own court work, so they would be in court more often. And especially with solicitors these days using any excuse to get their clients off, more Gardaí are required to attend (because if they don't, the solicitor could say he needed them as a witness and the case is struck out).

Look, i'm not defending overweight Gardai, i'm just trying to give an insight as to why they might be overweight. Keep in mind that some Gardaí may also be overweight because of an injury, job related or otherwise.

I don't know where you get the idea that Gardaí get the gym paid for them. And i don't know any (of the many i do know) who would willingly take free gym membership (or free anything), shur that'll be the next evidence of corruption! And that 1 hour a day? I don't have a family, but i'm pretty sure that if i had and was working that horrible roster, that hour would more than likely be used to be with the family (some Gardaí only get to interact with their kids for 5 hours in certain weeks due to the rosters).

You obviously have your opinion, i have mine. If your opinion was shared by everyone, then no one would be unit, let alone the Gardaí. You just have to accept that some people find it harder to keep a routine and stay fit. AGS do not make it easy, and it involves a lot more effort than most.

Sleepy · 18-11-2014 04:46PM

The Gardaí should be all fit and healthy. They should also be, however, well trained, equipped, funded and resourced. The sad reality is that Irish votes would rather not see Jacintha and Anto have to give up the Johnny Blue or even pay for the water they use so we'll leave them underfunded and under-resourced and have a good old bitch about them instead.

AudreyHepburn · 18-11-2014 04:58PM

FullblownRose wrote: »

I do think they have a hard job, I do have some resect for them but there are some aspects of their job that I don't think I could cope with, that's why I'm not a guard, but look at the post after yours. It's not unreasonable when people look at the guards and wonder about some of them, sometimes. We're all as entitled to question the gardai as anybody else and they are, in some ways, questionable.

But this thread doesn't really seem to be about questioning anything. It seems to be about Garda bashing and criticizing using the same tired old arguments.

They are not all questionable, they are not all useless, lazy, overweight fools and pretending otherwise is foolish.

Fuhrer · 18-11-2014 05:15PM

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

But this thread doesn't really seem to be about questioning anything. It seems to be about Garda bashing and criticizing using the same tired old arguments.

They are not all questionable, they are not all useless, lazy, overweight fools and pretending otherwise is foolish.

People just think there should be physical standards for the police.

Its not unreasonable to expect that, it should be mandatory in my opinion.

Butterface · 18-11-2014 08:43PM

Most of the Gardai I've come into contact with through the years have not been fat or obese. Although I've usually known them through playing sports with/against them.

I do think that physical fitness should be a priority for the Gardai. However I'd never be surprised to see a rotund copper. One profession I'm often surprised to see overweight members of is the health profession, especially doctors. My OH's GP is late 30s and very overweight.

Starokan · 18-11-2014 09:22PM

I think it should be a basic requirement that Gardai who are patrolling regularly should be physically fit. It makes sense given the demands of the job, I would say the majority of gardai have a decent level of fitness overall.

oceanman · 18-11-2014 09:40PM

yourdeadwright wrote: »

Recently i have a friend who didn't make the cut for the Garda he is 6'2 and fit as a fiddle, strong andcardio related fitness and actually very intelligent, very Friendly basically ticks everything you would expect a Garda to be,

Now at the same time he didn't make the cut i know a local girl who's 5'3, she'sunfit . basically she's fat , has always been abit of a toe rag soemone you couldn't hold a converstation with out saying," Yeeeee ye know what i mean " ten times and somehow shemade it,

If you knew both of them , you’d serious question the Garda recruitment onhow she was the one who made it,

id say it was the 'very friendly' bit that screwed him!

EveAlex · 18-11-2014 09:44PM

Included in the group of students are those with degrees in Law, Business, Biotechnology, Social Studies, Environmental Engineering and Sociology, and masters in Criminology and Human Rights in Criminal Justice. Some of the students have been working as engineers, fitness instructors, psychiatric nurses, carpenters and plumbers. There are both senior and minor camogie and football players represented in the group of students

source - Garda.ie

http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=13993&Lang=1

18-11-2014 10:16PM

chrissb8 wrote: »

Gardai get gyms paid for and even have gyms in some stations.

Their job is to catch criminals and they should stand a good chance of doing that from the best equipment they can get to being in the shape to stand a good chance of doing it.

Gardai get gyms paid for? Where? By whom? I can assure you they do not!.
Some, a small number, of stations have gyms, equipment paid for by gardai themselves & maintained through weekly payments to their social club.

Catching criminals doesn't mean physically running after them! It means solving crime, which doesn't really require physical fitness.

I've said already, and I'll say again, its very very few times that gardai actually need to run after someone.

Yea, its nice to look at physically fit people. TBH, I hate the look of fat people, anywhere really!
It doesn't stop the guy in the shop serving me though.
This is stupid.

AudreyHepburn · 19-11-2014 09:37AM

Fuhrer wrote: »

People just think there should be physical standards for the police.

Its not unreasonable to expect that, it should be mandatory in my opinion.

It's not unreasonable at all. I never said it was to be fair.

I just don't think that this is what these sorts of threads are about anymore. For some reason people in this country seem to go out of their way to whinge and moan about the Gardai because it's the thing to do or because for whatever reason they seem to despise any and all forms of authority.

DoYouEvenLift · 19-11-2014 09:49AM

They could have mandatory training for an hour three times a week or something, lots of people who are even into bodybuilding only do that amount and get by. Ideally you'd be aiming more towards general endurance training and possibly strength/fighting training to make sure if it happens they are as capable to carry out on-foot chases and arrests as possible. Combine physical superiority compared to the average person and the batton and slight protection gardai have on them at all times and you'd have a pretty solid police force who aren't afraid to take on even the scummiest of knackers

bubblypop wrote: »

Gardai get gyms paid for? Where? By whom? I can assure you they do not!.
Some, a small number, of stations have gyms, equipment paid for by gardai themselves & maintained through weekly payments to their social club.

Catching criminals doesn't mean physically running after them! It means solving crime, which doesn't really require physical fitness.

I've said already, and I'll say again, its very very few times that gardai actually need to run after someone.

Yea, its nice to look at physically fit people. TBH, I hate the look of fat people, anywhere really!
It doesn't stop the guy in the shop serving me though.
This is stupid.

Aren't detectives the ones who actually solve the crimes?

19-11-2014 11:13AM

DoYouEvenLift wrote: »

They could have mandatory training for an hour three times a week or something, lots of people who are even into bodybuilding only do that amount and get by. Ideally you'd be aiming more towards general endurance training and possibly strength/fighting training to make sure if it happens they are as capable to carry out on-foot chases and arrests as possible. Combine physical superiority compared to the average person and the batton and slight protection gardai have on them at all times and you'd have a pretty solid police force who aren't afraid to take on even the scummiest of knackers

Aren't detectives the ones who actually solve the crimes?

Detectives are guards.
Have you never seen uniform guards in court?

EveAlex · 19-11-2014 11:40AM

DoYouEvenLift wrote: »

Aren't detectives the ones who actually solve the crimes?

uniform look after the bulk of volume crime in fact

Potential-Monke · 19-11-2014 11:58AM

Thing is, Gardaí do not need to be able to run marathons. What's better served to them is burst fitness, the ability to be able to catch the criminal within the first few seconds if they run. Realistically, you won't see a Garda running for 5+ minutes after someone. At that stage, other units should be involved, all in vehicles. And those who run have a fairly high chance of getting away if not caught within the first minute or so.

19-11-2014 12:06PM

I was cycling home from college one night along the Stillorgan dual carriageway. Outside the Montrose hotel there was a leather clad Garda with a motor bike trying to clock motorists speeds with the hair dryer.

I had to try and stifle my laughter at the shape of this particular specimen, a cross between Brian Cowan and a Cadbury's cream egg. In leather.

Fuhrer · 19-11-2014 12:12PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I was cycling home from college one night along the Stillorgan dual carriageway. Outside the Montrose hotel there was a leather clad Garda with a motor bike trying to clock motorists speeds with the hair dryer.

I had to try and stifle my laughter at the shape of this particular specimen, a cross between Brian Cowan and a Cadbury's cream egg. In leather.

Yeah, those uniforms dont do any favours to in shape people, the hefty guards must have some serious swamp balls from the sweat in them

19-11-2014 12:15PM

Fuhrer wrote: »

Yeah, those uniforms dont do any favours to in shape people, the hefty guards must have some serious swamp balls from the sweat in them

Yes I'm sure it really "seals in the juices"

djburchgrove · 19-11-2014 12:27PM

Swipe a Garda's lunch and I tell ya they'll be after you quick enough!

elefant · 19-11-2014 01:03PM

Don't know about the police in Ireland as I've never really taken any notice of their physical fitness before. I suppose that might be because they are generally quite average in size and fitness so it hasn't been anything to remark upon.

In the Netherlands though a large percentage of the police you see walking the streets tend to be seriously imposing. I rarely, if ever, see an overweight Dutch person anyway and the Dutch are the tallest people in the world on average, but some of the police here are monsters. You would not want to cross them.

I've also never seen a fight here on the streets, though of course correlation doesn't equal causation.

riddles · 26-02-2015 04:46PM

From the many Gardai I know all I can assume in their recruitment process they profile quite clearly for people who have not achieved anything academically or otherwise. Most likely failed I.T. courses and doing jobs where progression is unlikely. In this way they can be molded into non-questioning employee's who will walk the beat sit in a car staring down the road or dealing with pikey's and scumbags etc. Also there is no performance management or standards of any kind which leads to apathy in any organisation. If you profile any employee demographic working in such an environment you will find a lot of overweight people. If go into an Irish hospital for example non obese employees are as rare as hens teeth. The real culprit that has lead to a disengaged police force is the revolving door legal system which is above reform and serves principally the feed the needs of barristers, solictors and Judges.

ShowMeTheCash · 26-02-2015 05:00PM

kerry4sam wrote: »

Under-estimate the fitness of members of our Irish Police Force at your peril. Those guys & gals are whipped into shape in no time in Templemore I can assure you.
I know numerous members who cycle; swim; run marathons; do triathlons; even know two members who have completed more than a few iron-man comps.

I worked with one member, that for his height he would be classified as overweight, but if he set his sights on you, he would have you chased & pinned down faster than you can 'run'!

Their are some serious issues present in the force, not one person can say otherwise to that, but some take serious pride in their fitness and maintaining decent levels comparable to their time in Templemore.

Be cautious I am saying 'Some' and not the majority. I wouldn't mind seeing them being sent up for regular fitness tests if I'm honest but the monies just ain't there.

Chance your arm against one & see how you compare fitness-wise if you like,
kerry4sam

Pffffffffftt bunch of fat boys the lot of them, not a Gardai in the land that could catch me

Steven81 · 26-02-2015 05:18PM

Why do guards need to be fit anyway, they are not going to run after anyone for fear of something happening to them or being lead into a trap. They just need ignorance and you are in.

The lack of physical fitness in the Garda

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