A recent photo in the Intelligencer-Journal showed two middle age police officers who looked as though they would be at risk of a heart attack if they had to run around a block.
This not only creates concern for them, given the nature of the work, but also for suspects. A big gut makes it more likely that they might use a fire arm rather than other means of defense and apprehension.
Police forces should have standards for fitness, adjusting for age. The officers should be subject to semi-annual testing. If they cannot meet standards after appropriate warning, then they should be deemed unsafe to perform their duties and dismissed.
EDITOR: We apologize for previously mis-identifying the police officer as being part of Lancaster City force.
