Fitness test next step to being cop

Karen Zekan

Thursday, April 17, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Few things bring out camaraderie among complete strangers the way physical exercise can.

And at a time when stress can gnaw away at confidence, every extra ounce of support helps.

But knowing they'd made it this far was enough to amp the crowd of 620 police recruit candidates who received the top scores on the Metro Police Department's written exam three weeks ago and were invited back Wednesday and today to complete phase two: the physical fitness test.

They represent roughly one-quarter of the 2,200 people who sat for the written test.

For some, phase two would be a breeze.

The fitness test follows what's known as the "Cooper Standard," created by the Dallas Institute of Aerobics to seek out those considered to be average physically, or representative of 50 percent of the general population, said Katey Lavelle, Metro's director of selection and classification.

Candidates were challenged to run 1.5 miles in 14 minutes, 46 seconds; perform 29 sit-ups in 60 seconds; 21 push-ups in 60 seconds; and be able to sit and reach 17 inches as a measure of flexibility.

Bear in mind, though, that this is only the minimum. Once in the academy, physical exercise increases in intensity and duration. Recruits must run distances up to five miles and perform multiple sets at a time of sit-ups, push-ups, abdominal crunches and jumping jacks.

Running in packs of at least 25 candidates, each took their turns on the track. Claps and hoots went up for some of the fastest runners who logged in times as low as 9 minutes, 32 seconds. But even louder cheers went up for the last few stragglers who desperately tried to cross the line in time. You don't pass, your days as a candidate are over.

You had to know it helped -- especially for one woman who made it in at 14:41.

I decided to take it easy and rest a bad knee, coming in at 12 minutes, five seconds for the run. Reporters have been invited to join in the crowd to see what the application process is all about, so there really wasn't much stress on my shoulders.

While checking out a fellow media man's shoe that came apart at the seams sometime near lap five, we began to see the pain that comes from trying so hard for a job with a body that's just not ready. One man pulled a hamstring and limped off the field. A handful disappeared from the track, some couldn't make the time and others just gave up.

Metro expected at least 10 percent of the 620 wouldn't pass the physical.

"We're seeing a fairly high pass rate," Lavelle said. "A lot of fit people are coming out for this job. Fitness helps to do well on the job, as far as maintaining the stress.

"Officers certainly are not running a mile and a half every day on the job, but they are called on to chase a suspect, climb a block wall or make a forcible arrest and get a suspect into handcuffs."

One candidate trying out knows firsthand what it takes. A 12-year law enforcement veteran, he declined to give his name to avoid problems with the agency he currently works for.

"Any physical activity is part of the job," he said. "This is the minimum. You know it's going to get more difficult in the academy. The better physical condition you're in, the better you will do. Strong mind, strong body."

And both, he said, are what you need to get through the military-style academy Metro is promising. Past experience has taught this recruit candidate that the more military-like it is, "the less problems on the street."

"At the end of the day, if you go home and someone has not spoken bad to you, you've had a really unusual day. Times are changing, and people are not respectful of police."

Stories of being spit upon, hit, cursed and shot at come up frequently among those in this crowd who are currently commissioned police officers elsewhere across the country.

And while it's clearly not a job for the meek, it's also not a job these types can easily leave.

"Police officers have a strong sense of right and wrong," he said. "That's probably the biggest difference between police officers and the rest of the people. When they sit in court and see a serial rapist get off, every police officer in the room thinks the guy should get life."

Its benefits, retirement plan and location are what enticed him to try out for Metro -- a position he says every police officer he knows would want. He's also impressed by its people.

"I've not seen one Metro officer out of shape, and I've not known one Metro officer who doesn't like their job or the area they are working. Metro is as good as any police department in the country."

Candidates today and Friday will cycle through the Behavioral Performance Assessment Device (B-PAD) -- a video performance test to evaluate a candidate's ability to deal with people and solve problems in a variety of situations.

They will then proceed through a thorough background check, a written psychological exam and an oral psychological interview.