The department, during initial testing and training, spends many hours to ensure that officers are capable of meeting and dealing with the general physical and psychological stresses of police work. To continue this capability, a physical development program is implemented to maintain the conditioning of the recently trained officers and upgrade, overall, the conditioning of all officers.

 Objectives:

It is the specific intent of the physical fitness program to:

  1. Ensure the physiological readiness of our officers for the physical demands of the job.
  2. Improve performance on the job.

 Implementation:

The Saint Paul Police Department physical fitness program has been developed into a four-part program, which is explained below.

 Medical Screening:

This includes a “cardiac risk profile” which was developed in conjunction with a local medical facility. Each newly hired officer must fill out a medical history questionnaire and report with this to the medical facility for a full lipid profile and urinalysis.

 The results of the physical examination and the medical questionnaire will be evaluated by the program physician. After reviewing each officer’s profile, the physician will determine if an officer is physically capable of immediately proceeding with the fitness program or if the officer will need additional testing. If additional testing is required, it will be done under the direction of the program physician.

 Officers, who because of physical limitations are unable to proceed, will remain under the direct supervision of the program physician for instructions as to an individual exercise program.

 Fitness Assessment:

This includes an annual, in-house fitness assessment to determine the present state of physical fitness of each officer. It is administered yearly to all officers.  It will be scheduled during the officer’s birth month. Officers have 60 days to complete their assessment.  Anyone not completing their test during that time period will be marked unsatisfactory on their yearly performance evaluation.  This is designed to develop the data needed to plan an appropriate individual fitness program for each officer and will serve as a basis for comparison for future tests to determine participant development. Officers will be allowed to select from two fitness testing options. The options are as follows:

Testing Option #1

  • Waist Measurement (<40inches for males;< 35 inches for females) or Body Fat Percentage test
  • Explosive Power - Vertical Jump
  • Muscle Strength - Pushups or 1 Repetition Max Bench Press
  • Aerobic Fitness Assessment
  • 1.5 mile run
  • 1 mile walk
  • 12 minute NAVY bike
  • Testing Option #2
  • Waist Measurement (<40inches for males;< 35 inches for females) or Body Fat Percentage test
  • 2000 Meter Row Test on a Concept 2 Indoor Row Machine

Upon completion of their physical fitness assessment, each officer will be rated and given an individualized physical development program based upon this rating.

Any portion of the assessment that is failed will be noted on the officer’s yearly evaluation.  Failed tests may be retested any time during the year to get a satisfactory score.

Only officers who have completed “Saint Paul Police Physical Fitness Exemption” (PM 631-92) which has been signed by the officer and the officer’s personal doctor will be exempt from testing.

An officer who fails to test, retest as scheduled or provide PM 631-92 will be subject to disciplinary action.

On-Duty Exercise Participation:

Upon completion of their assessment, all officers will be allowed participation in the exercise routines prescribed. Each officer can participate in a maximum of three, one-hour, on-duty exercise periods per week. Only one hour of exercise time, to include changing and cleanup may be used at one time. The exercise periods are not accumulative.

Scheduling:

An officer’s immediate supervisor will be responsible for scheduling the exercise periods. Supervisors should use discretion in scheduling these periods to minimize the impact on overall operations and responsibilities. If the emergency communication center supervisor deems that the call load will not allow officers to exercise, the supervisor shall not release officers to exercise.

Authorized Activities:

Some activities that are authorized for inclusion in the program based on an individual’s fitness level and capabilities:

  • Swimming
  • Cycling
  • Cross country skiing
  • Rope skipping
  • Aerobics
  • Calisthenics
  • Walk/run/jog
  • Rowing
  • Stair Stepper
  • Circuit training
  • Racquetball/handball
  • Basketball
  • Volleyball
  • Weight training
  • Yoga

 On-duty fitness training time may not be utilized for activities not included above without the written approval of the physical fitness coordinator.

 Team Events:

The department may authorize teams in various sports as representatives of the department. Participation on such teams is wholly voluntary on the part of participants. The department, at its discretion, may allow on-duty status for travel time for events conducted out of the city. Actual participation in such athletic events will be in an off-duty status. Participants in those events will not be eligible for on-duty injury benefits such as worker’s compensation, in the event of injury.

Routine Health and Wellness Testing:

All officers are required to take a Bruce Protocol Stress Test administered by the program physician, at age 40. The next test would be required and administered at age 45 and then again at age 50. After age 50, the test will be administered every two years until age 60, when the test will be administered every year.

This testing schedule applies to officers for whom no medical problems are identified. If a medical problem exists, officers could be tested at any time, and more frequently as each individual case demands.

If it is discovered that an officer has signs of heart disease, the officer will, as soon as possible, schedule an appointment with their primary care physician for further evaluation which will be paid for by the officer; and the results of the test(s) reviewed by the program physician; or

The duty status of an officer following a positive test will be based upon the recommendations of the fitness program physician, in consultation with the officer’s personal physician, if appropriate.

Other Testing:

Officers who are members of the target range unit, ordnance disposal unit, and special weapons and tactics (S.W.A.T.) team will have their hearing tested annually. The target range unit will be tested annually for excessive lead levels.

 Injuries:

Any physical injury which occurs while engaged in on-duty exercise will be immediately reported and documented to the gymnasium staff. (See also General Orders 180.50: Injured on Duty and 211.00: Injured On Duty).

 Revised May 22, 2019

Last Edited: July 22, 2020