Exercise science and law enforcement
Deutscher übersetzter Titel: | Trainingswissenschaft und Strafverfolgung |
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Autor: | Shell, Daniel E. |
Erschienen in: | Strength and conditioning journal |
Veröffentlicht: | 25 (2003), 3, S. 52-57, Lit. |
Format: | Literatur (SPOLIT) |
Publikationstyp: | Zeitschriftenartikel |
Medienart: | Elektronische Ressource (online) Gedruckte Ressource |
Sprache: | Englisch |
ISSN: | 1533-4295, 1073-6840 |
Schlagworte: | |
Online Zugang: | |
Erfassungsnummer: | PU201411010314 |
Quelle: | BISp |
Abstract
The need to establish lifelong wellness habits among the general population has perhaps never been greater than it is today, Unique work demands and corresponding stress levels magnify this need within the law enforcement community. The law enforcement profession has been slow to respond, and the situation may not be getting better. Sources of stress vary and are internal and external within the police profession. For example, historically police departments have been structured along military lines, and as a result often have been hierarchical and bureaucratic, with inflexible management styles. Another stressor is the exposure to violence, suffering, and death, which is inherent to the profession. Officers who deal with offenders on a daily basis, especially when the offender arrives in tourt, may view some sentences as too lenient, and they may also perceive public opinion of police as unfavorable. Police officers are required to work mandatory, rotating shifts, and they may not have enough time to spend with their families. Police officers also face unusual, often highly disturbing, situations, such as dealing with a child homicide victim or survivors of vehicle crashes. The situation is getting worse in that officers increasingly view stress as a normal part of the job and see themselves as under more stress today than their colleagues were 10 or 20 years ago. They see new sources of stress in the high level of violent crime along with increased public scrutiny and adverse publicity. Accordingly, the law enforcement community needs to examine physical fitness training and long-term health programs for a more efficient and competent force as well as greater cost effectiveness. The beginning point for establishing lifelong wellness habits starts with incorporating “best practices” (i.e., exercise science) in entrance-level physical training programs. The physical training goal should match other mandated, physically demanding classes such as arrest and control and defensive tactics that directly align with the physical skill needs of the beat officer. Mandating physical training standards and training programs based on contemporary exercise science can best accomplish this goal. As an example, contemporary exercise science includes fitness screening, fitness testing, and designing individual exercise prescriptions linked to other physical demands of the academy. All the recognized professional resources, human and otherwise, currently exist to accomplish the goal of training law enforcement personnel to incorporate wellness habits at entrancelevel training that last an entire career and lifetime. The Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research has utilized law enforcement job task analysis data and developed corresponding fitness assessment, testing protocols, and related standards applicable to police and firefighter personnel. Cost is usually a factor in not implementing the standards, whereas at the same time law enforcement agencies fail to examine other far more costly factors such as police academy and on-duty injuries, chronic use/abuse of sick leave, and early medical retirements. Textauszug