Steve Petrilli: Normal, Illinois Chief of Police

Normally I avoid social media debates, but the other day I weighed in one about officer fitness.  Maybe it would be more appropriate if I said that I “gave my two cents worth” and avoid the pun.  Either way, I commented.  It was a LinkedIn thread.  An officer posted a video of himself, in full gear, doing pull-ups.  A lot of pull-ups.  He was clearly fit.  It was meant to be a motivational post, the kind that says, the enemy is training, so maybe you should also.  

It didn’t take long for someone to comment that it is not always possible for patrol officers to workout on duty

Not every agency is the same, but all of them have the same basic responsibilities.  Not every officer is the same, but they all require the same basic minimum knowledge and skillset.  One requirement is the physical ability to complete the tasks required of a law enforcement professional.  That includes effecting an arrest on a non-compliant individual, running up a flight of stairs, or two, or eight, if that is required.  Dragging a downed officer to cover.  The list goes on.  It is such a basic tenement that it difficult at times to understand how a veteran officer might argue that it is not required.  Or perhaps, more specifically, argue about who is responsible for making the time and resources available for an officer to “exercise.” 

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