Police officer physical ability testing – Re‐validating a selection criterion

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the bona fide occupational requirements of general duty police work, and use this information to re-validate a physical abilities test used in the police recruit selection process. A systematic random sample (n = 267) of general duty police officers completed two questionnaires: one concerning``average'' duties, and one concerning the most physically demanding critical incident occurring in the 12 months prior. Of those completing the surveys, observational data were collected on every second officer, resulting in observational data collected for 121 officers, involving the recording of all physical activities and movement patterns observed throughout a ten hour shift. Data collected suggest there is a core of bona fide occupational requirements for general duty police work ± walking, climbing stairs, manipulating objects, twisting/turning, pulling/pushing, running, bending, squatting and kneeling, and lifting and carrying. Many of these are involved in physical control of suspects, and can be tested using a well designed physical abilities test that simulates getting to the problem, controlling the problem, and removing the problem.Like many occupations specializing in emergency services and crisis intervention, such as the armed forces and firefighters, there is no doubt that the physical demands of police work are higher than those occupations of a more sedentary nature. From the routines of shift-work and uneventful patrol to the physical responses and actions required in critical incidents, police officers must be physically capable of performing all occupational requirements successfully, and in a way which maximizes the safety and security of all those concerned (Anderson et al., 2000;Bonneau and Brown, 1995). Failure to screen out candidates who cannot perform such duties can result in injury, long term disability, rapid employee turnover and poor productivity, each having both a human and an economic cost (Brownlie et al., 1985;Superko et al.

Arresting a Struggling Subject; Does the Forthcoming Police Officers Physical Fitness have an Impact on the Outcome?

“…The subject is likely to do whatever necessary to escape, which also implies that physical force might be exerted by him or her. According to Anderson et al [2], the subject can under these circumstances push, pull or even begin a fight with the officer, which again forces the officer to counterattack by applying the same methods. In fact, it was revealed by Anderson and his colleagues that police officers when struggling with an intractable subject had to push and pull the subject in 93 % of all incidents.…”

“…New assignments have been given to the police, and communication and cooperation have become increasingly important to solve these tasks [1]. Thus, the operative officer spends much of the working day carrying out low intensity activity, and the occupation is therefore mainly described as sedentary [2]. However, due to regularly emerging episodes of high physical exertion the occupation can still be physically demanding.…”

Field Quantification of Physical Exposures of Police Officers in Vehicle Operation

“…Emergency services and crisis intervention personnel, including law enforcement, experience higher physical demands compared to persons in more sedentary occupations [1]. In all aspects of police work, ranging from physical criminal restraint to automotive pursuit to legal documentation, officers are exposed to physical stressors which may put them at risk for musculoskeletal pain or injury.…”

“…On average, there are 449 compensation claims per year across Canada for low back musculoskeletal injury [9] and ~1400 lost time claims in the USA [10]. Based on Workplace Safety and Insurance Board data, the average direct compensation cost of Ontario claims for police officers was 100 177 CAD 1 [11]. The issue of seating and MDT placement is a topic of concern for police fleet operations [9,10,11].…”

Protective clothing ensembles and physical employment standards

“…For municipal fire services across North America, Australia, and several European countries, PESs either simulate the additional weight of the PCE (International Association of Fire Chiefs 1999; International Association of Firefighters 1999) or require the use of a PCE (Deakin et al 1996;Dreger and Petersen 2007;vonHeimburg et al 2013;Siddall et al 2014) during testing. For military personnel not involved with fire suppression activity and for police services, PESs based on tests of fitness are deemed valid for selecting and retaining candidates that can handle the physical demands of the job safely and efficiently (Deakin et al 2000;Anderson et al 2001;Wilkinson et al 2008). Small additional weights totaling approximately 5 kg are carried around the waist for Canadian wildland firefighters and police PES testing to simulate the burden of a utility belt for tools and equipment (Canadian Wildland Firefighter Fitness Testing 2012; Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services 2014).…”