Police shouldn't be paid extra to stay in physical shape

You would think that one of the requirements of being a police officer is to be in good enough physical shape to be able to chase down criminals. But if you think that, you'd be wrong -- at least in Chicago. The Windy City -- perhaps "winded" is a more appropriate word for the police department -- has concluded that it must provide the men and women in blue with an incentive to become fit.
Thus, a $250 bonus was paid to any officer who passed a voluntary physical fitness test. The program ended Thursday with most of the 13,600 members of the force simply ignoring it. Only 2,600 officers participated.
But Mayor Richard Daley, described by the Associated Press as a bicycling enthusiast and an optimist, isn't giving up. Daley has proposed allocating $2.5 million for the program next year and hopes that 10,000 members of the department will step forward. That $2.5 million, plus the more than $600,000 shelled out this year, is taxpayer money. And that begs the following questions: Why is it necessary to pay a bonus to a public employee who is in a job that is physically demanding? Why isn't physical fitness a condition for employment?
If an officer can't run 11/2 miles, bench press most of his or her body weight, do sit-ups and demonstrate flexibility, shouldn't that be grounds for some sort of disciplinary action? Incidentally, performance standards are factored for age and gender.
Out of breath
Here's what Sgt. Jackie Campbell of the Chicago Police Department had to say about the physical fitness test: "A lot of people don't get as much cardiovascular activity as they should." Campbell helped supervise the test and noted that most officers who fail are casualties of the 11/2-mile run.
But it isn't just the payment of bonuses as an incentive to participate in this voluntary program that gives us pause. The Associated Press quoted police spokesman Pat Camden as saying that the city is hoping the payments will save money in the long run by reducing health care costs for diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses.
Why is it the responsibility of the department (and the taxpayers) to provide incentives for officers to do what is necessary to avoid preventable disease? If a police officer isn't responsible enough to take care of his own health and physical well-being, why is he still on the force?
Rather than using taxpayer dollars to pay individuals to do what we believe is a part of their duties, namely, to stay in shape, we think police departments, fire departments and other government agencies that require their employees to do physical labor should have compulsory annual fitness tests. Anyone who fails should be given a period of time to get in shape. Subsequent failure to meet the standards should result in termination.
It's all about personal responsibility and living up to the requirements of the job.