Dawes JJ, et al. Ann Occup Environ Med. 2017 Feb;29(1):16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-017-0173-0

This study determined relationships between an agency-specific fitness test battery (PT500), and a work sample test battery (WSTB) in law enforcement recruits. Retrospective analysis on 219 males and 34 females from one agency was conducted. The PT500 comprised: push-ups, sit-ups, and mountain climbers in 120 s; pull-ups; and 201 m and 2.4 km runs. The WSTB comprised: 99 yard (90.53 m) obstacle course (99OC); body drag (BD) with a 165 pound (75 kg) dummy; 6 foot (1.83 m) chain link fence (CLF) and solid wall (SW) climb; and 500 yard (457.2 m) run (500R). Partial correlations, controlling for sex, calculated PT500 and WSTB relationships (p < 0.05). Stepwise regression determined whether fitness predicted WSTB performance. The 500R related to all PT500 assessments (r range = −0.127–0.574), 99OC related to all bar push-ups and mountain climbers, and BD related to none. The CLF related to sit-ups, pull-ups, and 2.4 km run; SW related to mountain climbers, pull-ups, and 2.4 km run (r range = −0.127–−0.315). Push-ups, pull-ups, and 2.4 km run were involved in predictive relationships for 99OC, CLF, SW, and 500R (r² range = 0.217–0.500). To perform better in the WSTB and job-specific tasks, developing upper-body strength and aerobic fitness may be beneficial.

Lockie, RG, Dawes, JJ, Kornhauser, CL, and Holmes, RJ. Cross-sectional and retrospective cohort analysis of the effects of age on flexibility, strength endurance, lower-body power, and aerobic fitness in law enforcement officers. J Strength Cond Res 33(2): 451–458, 2019—There can be a great age range in cohorts of law enforcement officers. As the tasks required of officers generally do not change with advancing age, it is important to understand how physical performance in tests that assess job-specific characteristics may be altered. Retrospective analysis of performance test data of 383 officers (362 men and 21 women) was conducted. The tests included the following: sit-and-reach to determine hamstring and lower back flexibility; maximal push-up and sit-up repetitions in 60 seconds to measure muscle endurance; vertical jump (VJ) to assess lower-body power; and 2.4-km run to ascertain aerobic capacity. Data were stratified by age into 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, and 50–59 year groups, and analyzed by sex. A 1-way analysis of variance with the Bonferroni post hoc test was used to calculate the differences between the groups. Considering the male subjects, the 40–49 and 50–59 year groups performed poorer in the VJ, sit-up test, and 2.4-km run compared with the 20–29 year group (p ≤ 0.001–0.045). For the female subjects, the 20–29 year group was superior to the 30–39 (p = 0.013) and 40–49 (p = 0.025) year groups in the push-up test. To ensure that an older officer can successfully complete occupation-specific tasks, lower-body power, abdominal strength, and aerobic training should be completed. Female officers should also attempt to maintain relative upper-body strength. Practitioners must attempt to design training programs that fit within the context of the occupational demands, and potentially using a nontraditional training design as law enforcement officers may not have the time to follow a traditional periodization model.

This study analyzed the effects physical fitness may have on reasons for academy separation in law enforcement recruits. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 401 recruits; 330 recruits graduated (GRAD), and 71 recruits separated at various times during academy. Twenty-eight recruits separated for personal reasons (SEPPR); 18 due to physical training failures (i.e., poor fitness) or injury (SEPFI); and 25 due to academic or scenario failures (SEPAS). Fitness testing occurred prior to academy, and included: Push-ups and sit-ups in 60s; a 75-yard pursuit run (75PR); vertical jump; medicine ball throw; and multistage fitness test (MSFT). A one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc compared between-group fitness test performance. A multiple stepwise regression calculated whether recruit characteristics or fitness could predict separation. The GRAD group was younger than the SEPAS group (p < 0.01), faster in the 75PR than the SEPFI group (p = 0.02), and completed more MSFT shuttles than the SEPPR and SEPFI groups (p = 0.01). Age predicted GRAD and SEPAS group inclusion; MSFT predicted GRAD, SEPPR, and SEPFI group inclusion. Recruits who had superior high-intensity running capacity (75PR) and aerobic fitness (MSFT) should have a better chance of completing academy. However, this could be influenced by training practices adopted during academy.

Lockie, RG, Dawes, JJ, Orr, RM, Stierli, M, Dulla, JM, and Orjalo, AJ. Analysis of the effects of sex and age on upper- and lower-body power for law enforcement agency recruits before academy training. J Strength Cond Res 32(7): 1968–1974, 2018—Power is an important characteristic for law enforcement officers. Tasks such as carrying or dragging a civilian to safety, jumping or vaulting, and suspect restraint and pursuit require power to be effective. Certain recruits may be lacking in these qualities even if they have been accepted to a law enforcement agency (LEA). This study investigated upper- and lower-body power in male and female LEA recruits, and recruits of different ages, before academy training. Retrospective analysis of recruit data from one LEA was conducted. The measurements were: vertical jump (VJ) height; peak anaerobic power calculated by the Sayers equation; power-to-body mass ratio (P:BM); seated medicine ball throw (MBT) distance; and MBT distance relative to body mass. Independent-sample t-tests were used to compare the sexes, whereas a 1-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc compared the pooled data for recruits across different age groups (20–24; 25–29; 30–34; and 35+ years). The male recruits demonstrated superior performance across all power tests compared with the female recruits (p < 0.001). Regarding age, the 35+ year group performed less than optimally in the VJ and P:BM compared with the 20–24 and 24–29 years groups, and in the relative MBT compared with the 20–24 and 30–34 years groups (p = 0.003–0.037). Despite being accepted to a LEA, female recruits and recruits aged 35+ years of age may be lacking in upper- and lower-body power. Female and older recruits should participate in strength and power training before academy attendance to maintain or enhance these qualities.

Lockie, RG, Ruvalcaba, TR, Stierli, M, Dulla, JM, Dawes, JJ, and Orr, RM. Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio in law enforcement agency recruits: relationship to performance in physical fitness tests.J Strength Cond Res34(6): 1666–1675, 2020—Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) use tests to assess recruit physical fitness. Body fat can influence test performance but is difficult to measure during academy because of time, equipment constraints, and instructor knowledge. This study examined relationships between waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), practical measures of fat distribution, and fitness test performance. Retrospective analysis of 267 LEA recruits (age: ∼28 years; height: ∼1.73 m; and body mass: ∼80 kg; 219 males and 48 females) was conducted. The tests included: WC and WHR; grip strength; push-ups, sit-ups, and arm ergometer revolutions in 60 seconds; vertical jump (VJ); medicine ball throw; 75-yd pursuit run (75PR); and multistage fitness test (MSFT) shuttles. Partial correlations, controlling for sex, calculated relationships between WC, WHR, and the fitness tests. Recruits were split into quartile groups (based on the sample size) for WC and WHR (group 1 had the lowest WC and WHR; and group 4 the highest). A 1-way multivariate analysis of variance, with sex as a covariate and Bonferroni post hoc, compared between-group test performance. A greater WC related to lesser push-up, sit-up, VJ, 75PR, and MSFT performance (p≤ 0.024). When recruits were split into WC groups, group 4 had lesser performance in push-ups, sit-ups, VJ, and the 75PR compared with all groups (p≤ 0.038). When split into WHR groups, group 4 performed less push-ups than group 1, less MSFT shuttles than group 3, and had a lower VJ compared with all groups (p≤ 0.042). Recruits with a greater WC tended to have poorer fitness test performance.