• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Contact
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Advertise
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Subscribe
American Police Beat

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication

  • Home
  • Leadership
    • Leaders — the good, the bad and the horrible
      How not to fail as an outside chief
      Setting ethical expectations early in an officer’s career
      Go that extra mile with a smile
      Improving the promotional process for supervisors
  • Topics
    • Leadership
      • Leaders — the good, the bad and the horrible
        How not to fail as an outside chief
        Setting ethical expectations early in an officer’s career
        Go that extra mile with a smile
        Improving the promotional process for supervisors
    • Editor’s Picks
      • Off duty, but never off guard
        The tyranny of memories
        Meeting training needs on a limited budget
        Empowering through experience
        Getting ahead of the story
    • On the Job
      • Police chief: Officers likely prevented further violence in Minnesota...
        Policing and fatherhood
        2025 Top Cops
        What’s with all the gear?
        Reckless elegance
    • Labor
      • Dallas Police Department drops college requirement for police...
        Small Texas town left without a police force after firing its last...
        Port Authority Police Department welcomes 71 new officers
        The P.D. that wouldn’t go away
        Critical incidents and waiting woosah
    • Tech
      • How local police departments can combat cybercrime
        Your website is your front desk
        Telegram investigations
        Florida sheriff’s office deploys cutting-edge forensic tool to...
        A new chapter for Utah law enforcement
    • Training
      • LPVOs are the next evolution of the patrol rifle
        Training vs. practice: Improve or maintain?
        Off duty, but never off guard
        Meeting training needs on a limited budget
        Be a thermostat, not a thermometer
    • Policy
      • Cartel intelligence operations streamline cross-border drug smuggling
        Michigan Supreme Court: Marijuana odor alone no longer justifies...
        Milwaukee P.D. and schools clash over SROs
        Seattle Police Department launches new plan to curb violent crime
        Buffer-zone law blocked in Louisiana
    • Health/Wellness
      • When empathy backfires
        Navigating retirement
        Keeping work at work and home at home
        Avoiding the road to burnout
        Texas sheriff’s office hit with series of suicides
    • Community
      • Police warn of growing “jugging” crime trend as attacks spread...
        Code enforcement officers: The community’s frontline property...
        San Diego Honors Fallen Officer Austin Machitar with Park Renaming
        Battle of the Badges baseball game to support injured Missouri officer
        Temple University Police celebrate 7-year-old’s support with...
    • Offbeat
      • Not eggzactly a perfect heist
        Pizza … with a side of alligator?
        Wisconsin man charged with impersonating Border Patrol agent twice in...
        Only in California?
        Durango, Colorado, police hop into action after unusual 9-1-1 call
    • We Remember
      • National Police Week 2025
        Honoring Fallen Heroes
        What’s with the white chairs?
        The pain and sorrow of loss
        A cop and his car
    • HOT Mail
      • The War on Cops Continues Unabated
  • On the Job
    • Police chief: Officers likely prevented further violence in Minnesota...
      Policing and fatherhood
      2025 Top Cops
      What’s with all the gear?
      Reckless elegance
  • Labor
    • Dallas Police Department drops college requirement for police...
      Small Texas town left without a police force after firing its last...
      Port Authority Police Department welcomes 71 new officers
      The P.D. that wouldn’t go away
      Critical incidents and waiting woosah
  • Tech
    • How local police departments can combat cybercrime
      Your website is your front desk
      Telegram investigations
      Florida sheriff’s office deploys cutting-edge forensic tool to...
      A new chapter for Utah law enforcement
  • Training
    • LPVOs are the next evolution of the patrol rifle
      Training vs. practice: Improve or maintain?
      Off duty, but never off guard
      Meeting training needs on a limited budget
      Be a thermostat, not a thermometer
  • Policy
    • Cartel intelligence operations streamline cross-border drug smuggling
      Michigan Supreme Court: Marijuana odor alone no longer justifies...
      Milwaukee P.D. and schools clash over SROs
      Seattle Police Department launches new plan to curb violent crime
      Buffer-zone law blocked in Louisiana
  • Health/Wellness
    • When empathy backfires
      Navigating retirement
      Keeping work at work and home at home
      Avoiding the road to burnout
      Texas sheriff’s office hit with series of suicides
  • Community
    • Police warn of growing “jugging” crime trend as attacks spread...
      Code enforcement officers: The community’s frontline property...
      San Diego Honors Fallen Officer Austin Machitar with Park Renaming
      Battle of the Badges baseball game to support injured Missouri officer
      Temple University Police celebrate 7-year-old’s support with...
  • Offbeat
    • Not eggzactly a perfect heist
      Pizza … with a side of alligator?
      Wisconsin man charged with impersonating Border Patrol agent twice in...
      Only in California?
      Durango, Colorado, police hop into action after unusual 9-1-1 call
  • We Remember
    • National Police Week 2025
      Honoring Fallen Heroes
      What’s with the white chairs?
      The pain and sorrow of loss
      A cop and his car
  • HOT Mail
    • The War on Cops Continues Unabated
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Contact
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
Search

Health/Wellness

The importance of fitness and strength on the job and beyond

Steve Foldy Published July 6, 2021 @ 6:00 am PDT

iStock.com/Biserka Stojanovic

You have graduated from your academy, made it through field training and become tenured in your department after a year of service has passed. You are now a police officer — ready to serve your community, follow the motto “to protect and serve” and do it with pride. But can you really say you are a professional and are ready to do your job to the utmost of your ability?

The hours we work, the stress we endure and the constant change in sleep cycles all take a toll on our physical and mental health. We cannot prevent our body from breaking down or getting a disease that may limit our mobility, but we can adjust to the ills and aches our body will go through as we age. This is why keeping yourself fit should be as much a part of your daily or weekly routine as making breakfast, going out and about or using the restroom. Keeping yourself fit does not necessarily mean you have to use weights. You can do calisthenics using your body weight or pursue a sport like basketball, wrestling or boxing. The point is that in both your personal and professional life, you need to be fit enough to handle the rigors and stress you will encounter.

A prime example of the importance of being fit on the job is Parker v. District of Columbia, 850 F.2d 708 (271 U.S.App.D.C.15. 1988). This case should be a must read for every chief, sheriff and member of the senior command, since it deals with a department’s duty to ensure all officers receive proper training that is periodically reinforced to mitigate diminishing explicit or tacit skills. The liability issues in this case cannot be understated. When a police officer with a stellar record attempted to arrest Parker and was met with resistance, he shot Parker. The court held that if the officer had been physically fit, he would not have had to use his service weapon and could have subdued Parker. Records showed that the officer was obese and had not had training in over four years. 

To emphasize the effects on our health when a fitness regimen is not maintained, Ramey et al. (2009) found a greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in retired law enforcement officers compared to the general population. Violanti et al. (2013) supported this finding and found CVD was prevalent in 70% of the retired LEO population, more than in the general population. This should be cause for concern, since LEOs spend a majority of their time being sedentary, which is a major contributor to CVD. Marin et al. (2019) state, “Police activity is considered of great risk because it is marked by hazardous situations that are stressful and physically demanding. Thus, professionals need effectiveness and accuracy in the execution of tasks and different physical abilities (such as muscle strength and endurance, cardiorespiratory fitness, power, speed, and agility). It highlights the importance of police officers being in a good physical condition to perform their competencies because poor motor fitness limits performance, endangering individual and collective safety.” 

These statements are supported by several case studies conducted over the years. In fact, Thomas (2011) reports on a previous study conducted by Downy and Roth (1981). The data collected found that from the time we graduate our academy, an LEO will age 15 years, gain 41 pounds and add five inches to their waist during a 15-year tenure while they continue to confront suspects who, on average, are male, 24 years old and 170 pounds, have a 31-inch waist and are in decent physical shape. Also, let’s not forget the physical training prisoners perform while incarcerated, some of which is specifically designed to overcome an LEO. Without constant physical training, suspects can resist LEOs sufficiently to cause an incident, which could result in the public outcry we see today.

LEOs must also think of what happens when their career ends. Most LEOs will retire in their 40s and still have 20-plus years of work left in them. And what about when you are completely retired? Will you be fit enough to protect yourself or your family if a person 30-plus years younger threatens you? Will you be healthy enough to enjoy those vacations and trips you and your spouse have planned for?

The bottom line is you have to want to be physically fit and stay physically fit, because no one is going to convince you to live a lifestyle contrary to what you already like. Your future at work and the rest of your life is always in your hands, so what future do you see? What future do you want? The choice is yours.


Steve Foldy (B.S., M.S.) is a retired U.S. Army military policeman and chief of police with over 30 years of police experience, including building and training an SRT team, FTO, traffic management and investigations, criminal investigations, building and activating a police department, writing and accrediting advanced-level LE courses, being a master fitness trainer and more. He is currently a trainer and consultant to law enforcement agencies in New Mexico. Steve welcomes your calls at (575) 635-8186 or email at stevefoldy@yahoo.com.

Steve Foldy

Steve Foldy

Steve Foldy (B.S., M.S.) is a retired U.S. Army military policeman and chief of police with over 30 years of police experience, including building and training an SRT team, FTO, traffic management and investigations, criminal investigations, building and activating a police department, writing and accrediting advanced-level LE courses, being a master fitness trainer and more. He is currently a trainer and consultant to law enforcement agencies in New Mexico. Steve welcomes your calls at (575) 635-8186 or email at stevefoldy@yahoo.com. 

View articles by Steve Foldy

As seen in the June 2021 issue of American Police Beat magazine.
Don’t miss out on another issue today! Click below:

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Categories: Health/Wellness

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • Police warn of growing “jugging” crime trend as attacks spread across nation
  • Code enforcement officers: The community’s frontline property regulators
  • When empathy backfires
  • 2025 Mid-Year Law Enforcement Officers Fatality Report
  • National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Announces May 2025 Officer of the Month
  • Dallas Police Department drops college requirement for police recruits in effort to boost hiring
  • Cartel intelligence operations streamline cross-border drug smuggling
  • Small Texas town left without a police force after firing its last officer
  • Leaders — the good, the bad and the horrible
  • How not to fail as an outside chief

Footer

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com | (800) 234-0056.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Categories

  • Editor’s Picks
  • On the Job
  • Labor
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Policy
  • Health/Wellness
  • Community
  • Offbeat
  • We Remember
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Events

Editor’s Picks

Off duty, but never off guard

Off duty, but never off guard

May 05, 2025

The tyranny of memories

The tyranny of memories

May 04, 2025

Meeting training needs on a limited budget

Meeting training needs on a limited budget

May 02, 2025

Empowering through experience

Empowering through experience

April 18, 2025

Policies | Consent Preferences | Copyright © 2025 APB Media, LLC | Website design, development and maintenance by 911MEDIA

Open

Subscribe

Close

Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your inbox!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.