Where’s the Beef? : Flab Targeted as Pennsylvania State Police Launch Fitness Program to Put Every Trooper in Good Shape

State troopers beware: that bulge under your arm had better be a gun.

Fat and flab are being drummed out of the Pennsylvania State Police.

While being out of shape has never been considered a broad problem in the force, excess is now officially off limits.

A physical fitness program has been instituted, designed to bring every trooper up to peak physical condition within two years.

So now when the state police beef up security, it will truly mean additional manpower. The force wants well-rounded individuals, not those rounded well.

In order to accomplish this hefty task, special physical fitness coordinators have been selected from the ranks to do a little “constructive encouragement.”

Running Enthusiast Picked

Trooper William Gibson, a running enthusiast who has logged 20,000 miles racing, will handle the job of improving the fitness of troopers in the Swiftwater, Lehighton and Fern Ridge barracks.

Gibson and his counterparts from around the state will evaluate the physical condition of each trooper, determine just what their physical condition should be and, if necessary, put together a training program.

“We’re not here to create any more stress among the troops. We’re here to help them alleviate some of the stress through an exercise program,” Gibson said.

Other states have similar programs and it’s long past time Pennsylvania had one also, Gibson added. But that doesn’t take away from the massiveness of the job at hand.

4,400 State Troopers

There are 4,400 state troopers, including support and command personnel, in the state. Every one of them, including State Police Commissioner Jay Cochran Jr., will be evaluated and put on a program if it is needed, Gibson stressed.

Law enforcement has changed over the years.

With the advent of computers and other advanced electronic equipment, police spend less and less time in physical activity.

“Despite all of these advantages, some parts of the job have not changed. Effecting an arrest still requires physical confrontation,” Gibson said. “Clearly a large portion of our time is spent on sedentary tasks.

“But that does not diminish the importance of physical fitness.

“Just because a lifeguard may never be called on to effect a rescue does not mean he does not have to know how to swim.”

A physically fit trooper would better serve not only his fellow officers but the public in general. There would be less chance of injury to himself or a partner and a greater probability of making an arrest on a fleeing suspect.

Ranks Favor Program

Toil and sweat do not usually make for a fun time, but surprisingly enough, the ranks are by and large in favor of the program.

Morale has not been a problem encountered by Gibson and his cohorts in corpulency elimination, he reported.

“In fact, the majority of these guys are very, very receptive to this. Voluntary programs just don’t work. The only real complaint we’ve had so far is why didn’t we have this 20 years ago,” Gibson said.

At this point the program is based on the willingness of a trooper to participate in the fitness program.

He or she must submit to a health assessment and the corresponding analysis of his or her physical condition, as per the ruling of the state police commissioner.

If They Refuse ...

But if they refuse to try to get back into shape, there really is nothing that can be done to force them to--not yet, says Cpl. Jim Hamill of the Hazelton barracks, a fitness coordinator for Troop N.

“We can do everything for a man except exercise for him. It’s up to him to do the work himself,” Hamill pointed out.

But what if he doesn’t?

“Right now we would rather use the carrot than the stick. But if he doesn’t, two years down the road there will be sanctions. That’s the only thing I can say at this point. They’re still developing sanctions.”

In a couple of years a trooper who has refused to lose weight and get in shape may find his fat in the fire, so to speak.