DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS AND PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL FITNESS AMONG POLICE OFFICERS, REPORT NO 3 - PHYSICAL FITNESS PRACTICES, ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS

• NCJ Number: 44118
• Author(s): D A KENT; C S PRICE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 448 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-NI-99-0011
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A SURVEY OF THE TYPE AND QUALITY OF PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAMS IN EXISTENCE IN VARIOUS POLICE DEPARTMENTS IS DESCRIBED AND ANALYZED.

Abstract

THE SURVEY CONSISTS OF TWO MAIN PARTS: A SURVEY OF ACTUAL PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAMS IN STATE AND LOCAL POLICE AGENCIES AND A SURVEY OF PHYSICAL FITNESS ATTITUDES AMONG POLICE PERSONNEL. THE METHODOLOGY USED IN SELECTING A NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF POLICE AGENCIES IS DESCRIBED. A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS GIVEN TO EACH OF 655 AGENCIES TO OBTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE EXISTENCE AND QUALITY OF THE DEPARTMENT'S PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAM; ITS CONSTRUCTION AND USE ARE EXPLAINED. EXISTING PHYSICAL FITNESS TRAINING PROGRAMS WERE REPORTED BY 43 OF THE 302 RESPONDING AGENCIES. COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF STRUCTURE AND OPERATION OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE OUTLINED. FIFTEEN ADDITIONAL AGENCIES REPORTED HAVING IMPLEMENTED SUCH PROGRAMS BUT BEING FORCED TO DISCONTINUE THEM. INFORMATION CONCERNING THE REASONS FOR BOTH IMPLEMENTATION AND DISCONTINUANCE OF THE PROGRAMS WAS OBTAINED. WEIGHT MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS, PERIODIC PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS, ORGANIZED SPORTS PROGRAMS, REQUIREMENTS OF PHYSICAL TRAINING FOR RECRUITS, AND MEANS OF FUNDING FOR ALL OF THESE ARE EXAMINED. STATISTICS WERE OBTAINED WHICH DEALT WITH THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS IN EACH AGENCY WHO DIED, RETIRED EARLY, OR WERE PLACED ON LIMITED DUTY FOR MEDICAL/HEALTH REASONS DURING THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS. THE RESULTS OF VISITS TO NINE POLICE AGENCIES TO OBSERVE THEIR PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAMS ARE REPORTED. THE SURVEY OF PHYSICAL FITNESS ATTITUDES OF POLICE OFFICERS CONSIDERS DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ON THE RESPONDENTS, THEIR PERCEPTION OF THEIR OWN CURRENT STATE OF HEALTH, THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF STRESS (INCLUDING MARITAL PROBLEMS AND ALCOHOLISM), WHETHER THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CORONARY HEART DISEASE, THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF THE PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THEIR JOB, AND THE DEGREE OF THEIR PARTICIPATION IN CURRENT PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAMS. DATA OBTAINED DURING THE COURSE OF THE STUDY ARE PRESENTED IN TABULAR FORM. THE ACTUAL QUESTIONNAIRES USED AND LISTS OF THE AGENCIES SURVEYED ARE PROVIDED IN APPENDIXES. FOR RELATED REPORTS, SEE NCJ-44149, 44815, 44816, AND 44817.