| The police physical is a highly regulated selection | | | | continuing candidate is on the line, but that risk should |
| procedure that looms as a high hurtle for many | | | | be more than enough to get you fired up. |
| candidates. Known most accurately as the physical | | | | This physical ability test is nothing like gym class, or |
| ability test, it requires the most obvious forms of | | | | working out in your athletic club. It is meant to tax your |
| preparation in the police selection process. | | | | body, push your reflexes and prey on your instincts. |
| The department you are applying with will have done | | | | You will be scored on your ability to perform specific |
| a strict job analysis to determine what activities to use | | | | tasks and activities that will show clearly if you can |
| in their testing. There are no arbitrary choices for test | | | | perform the duties of a police officer. This is a physical |
| activities, scoring procedures or final test results. This | | | | screening program. It is meant to do only one thing: |
| stringent regulation of physical testing is in place to | | | | weed out those who can't cut it. |
| secure the best qualified candidates for the particular | | | | A police officer doesn't spend his or her day pumping |
| demands of police work. The activities you'll be | | | | iron, swimming laps or doing push ups. They jump |
| required to perform, and scored on, directly relate to | | | | fences at a dead run, sprint down streets and alleys, |
| critical law enforcement duties as demanded under the | | | | scramble through yards, climb chain link, avoid dogs, |
| federally mandated guidelines for selection processes, | | | | bullets, knives, fists and anything else that can be slung |
| called the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection | | | | their way -- and struggle with combative suspects |
| Procedure. | | | | who are under the influence of drugs and alcohol. A |
| Candidates ultimately selected as police officers will be | | | | police officer does not have a comfortable sweat suit, |
| entering one of the most deadly professions in the | | | | a jug of water at hand and a shower waiting after |
| United States. Police work not only carries staggering | | | | each session. They do their laps wearing several |
| physical demands in day to day duties, but it's also an | | | | pounds of equipment, grab a drink of water when they |
| extremely dangerous profession. Every year officers | | | | can and shower when their shift is over. |
| lose their lives in the line of duty. Police officers also | | | | You are preparing to be tested on your physical |
| face higher than average risk factors for cancer, back | | | | abilities. You need to be fit, clear-headed and ready to |
| injury and physical disability. | | | | rumble. Come to this challenge armed with enthusiasm, |
| You must be more than fit, more than strong, more | | | | excitement and anticipation of excellence. You need to |
| than willing. You must be ready to perform as though | | | | show that, today, and every day as an officer, you |
| lives depend on it. On test day, only your life as a | | | | can bring it to the force. |