SPRINGDALE -- Police officers and recruits need a certain level of physical fitness to help them in the streets. But the way that fitness is measured is changing.
Police Chief Mike Peters told the City Council on Monday night he wants to switch to a program measuring physical capabilities to do the job rather than a general fitness level.
For years, many police departments used a test developed by the Cooper Institute in Dallas, Peters explained. Officers completed two measures of their running ability, did 52 push-ups in two minutes and 45 sit-ups, also in two minutes.
"What does that have to do with your job?" Peters said.
"It doesn't make sense to run after somebody for a mile and a half," echoed Councilman Mike Overton.
Plaintiffs in Denver won a 2015 lawsuit arguing mandatory police testing unfairly challenges women older than 40. Nearly 40 percent of that department's women in that age group failed the test the first time around, causing them to be stripped of their duties. This placed decorated officers, with decades of service, on alternate assignments.
Peters is looking at a job-task test model individualized to Springdale's department. The study will include interviews with officers and reviews of incident reports involving police use of force or the injury of an officer.
"We're hiring professionals to guide us through the process," Peters said. "We want to make sure people can do their job."
The Arkansas State Police recently implemented this type of testing, according to Bill Sadler, public information officer for the agency. The physical ability testing "simulates an accurate representation of what a state trooper may encounter, to include running, jumping and physical contact with a suspect who may be resisting arrest," he said in an email.
The State Police test includes a 320-yard run in which the officer will have to jump short distances, climb short hills, change direction to avoid obstacles, according to a video developed by the State Police about its testing. Other tests find the officers pulling and pushing to show control of 80 pounds of resistance in a circle around the object, simulating the arrest of someone who is resisting; carrying a torso bag for 50 feet to prepare for rescuing an officer or a victim from a dangerous environment; and completing 10 "burpees" and nine vaults over a 3-foot rail to test of body's maximum cardiovascular strength.
Sadler said the program hasn't been in place long enough to determine if a change in troopers' fitness levels have changed.
Peters expects several companies to present proposals and bids. The department has money in a fund of assets taken in drug seizures to pay for the one-time development of the test, but the company also will provide the equipment needed for the new testing and represent the department in court on any challenges of the testing, Peters said.
The new testing will be required first of recruits with eventual expansion to the entire force, Peters said.
Peters also announced one of the department's dogs will end its career Friday. Bosco, 7, suffers from arthritis in his spine and hasn't responded to treatments. Three veterinarians agreed on his retirement.
The dog will become part of the family of its handler, and a retirement ceremony will be held in July.
Peters said the department will look for another dog, again using money from the drug seizure fund. "We must have three in our current climate to maintain response times," he said.
NW News on 05/15/2018
