Police Chief resigns after sending an interesting e-mail to his officers........

[Terminator]

Winter Haven, Florida - It's dinner time in Winter Haven, which means many of the local fast food places are hopping with business. The drive through at McDonalds is packed, Long John's is busy, and so is Burger King and Taco Bell. But the other thing these places have in common is the customers they don't have, which are Police Officers. Significant because Winter Haven Chief of Police Paul Goward sent an e-mail to his 83 sworn officers saying lay off the burgers, booze, and ice cream. The subject line asked, "Are you a jelleybelly?" It went on to say "…we didn't hire you unfit and we don't want you working unfit."

The public is applauding the chief for being direct.

Winter Haven Citizen:
"If you are overweight, how can you catch someone, so I think they should be physically fit."

Winter Haven Citizen:
"There are so many people that are overweight."

Winter Haven Citizen:
"In the navy and the marines you have to be a certain weight, so police should be a certain weight also."

But Chief Goward wasn't Chief for very long after that e-mail. He resigned after complaints surfaced that his e-mail was "offensive". Police Officers told me the majority of the department supports him and see the e-mail for what it is… strong leadership.

Perhaps in the end, you the viewer might have to just read between the lines on this story. City Hall never called us back and the Chief said he really couldn't talk on camera about this. All we know is that a respected cop with 36 years experience isn't on the job anymore, all because of an e-mail with the subject line asking "are you a jellybelly?"

An important footnote here... a police officer recently told us that a new Chief has already been hired. But as mentioned, no one from City Hall called us back, so we can't confirm it.

[Motorwaycop]

It is only right that street officers mainain some degree of fitness.
I am relatively ancient for a strret cop and expect to be able to keep up with the others.
However there are some that I simply coudn't work with, like the officer who is unable to pick something out of the footwell of the car without stopping and getting out, they are so portly in the waist region.
You may have to rely on these officers in a physical situation and there are some you feel would be as much use as a chocolate fireguard!

Anyway its late and I've still got to fit in my ten mile run!

[gozling]

they sure can lay on a guy lol

[K9brando]

The cops get older as the crooks get younger. You gotta be able to keep up. Have you ever fought someone half your age and thought that the fight should have been easier? I am overweight but most people don't try me anyway because they know they can out run me which is just fine by me.

[gozling]

even though i am fit... being a girl against an 18 year old kid
its not a good match lol... they out run me all the time.. its the brains that make it work
set up that perimeter fast and call the dogs... i havent lost one yet!