This one is for all our law enforcement friends. Please share with others.
I recently attended the Law Enforcement Officers Killed & Assaulted (LEOKA) Seminar that is presented by the FBI. The seminar is really good, and if you are in law enforcement, it is worth a day of your time. The seminar goes over all the stats from 2010 of LEO’s either killed or assaulted in the line of duty. Interestingly enough, in 2010 more officers were killed feloniously than were killed in traffic accidents. First time that has happened in years. Violent crime against police officers is on the rise.
I would have to say that the best part of the seminar is they show video interviews with four very bad guys who are serving time for either violently assaulting or killing police officers. These are not your local wannabe gangbanger types. These guys are wolves. They train. They fight. They have no hesitation to kill anyone who they believe wants to take their freedom. ALL OF THEM basically said the same thing as to why they assaulted the officer: “I sized him up. I knew I could take him.” They all referenced the fact that the cop was either fat, shabby in a uniform, scared, or just flat out lackadaisical in command presence and/or officer safety.
It’s sad really. When most cops graduate from the police academy, they are eating nails for breakfast and spitting fire. Their uniforms look sharp. Many graduates of the police academy are in the best shape of their lives. They don’t really know jack about police work yet, but they are hungry to learn and they want to look good doing it.
So WTF happened?!?!
Life happens. The structure of the police academy is gone. You work long hours on weird days. With the new job comes a decent paycheck. You buy toys. You get married. You have kids. The kids and wife need toys so you buy more stuff. Pretty soon you are working all the time to pay for all that stuff. Things get worse if you spend tons of time at work and end up divorced. Then you have to work even more to pay for the vicious cycle that starts all over again.
When cop life starts to pile up on you, the first thing that usually goes is your fitness. It’s a shame really. In a job that is listed #10 in CNN’s “Most Dangerous Jobs In America,” you would think that the people doing the job would care about their physical fitness. Type “fat cop” into Google images. 100’s of images of cops who I would think are not even fit for duty. If the shit hits the fan when I am working, I sure the hell wouldn’t want any of them backing me up.
Often, when you let your fitness go as a police officer, you make yourself believe things that are not true. The first lie is the one you don’t tell anyone: “It will never happen to me.” GFY. When it does happen to you it sucks that everyone else has to bail your ass out, and it's hard on a whole department if you get yourself killed. The second lie, and this one I actually hear officers saying, is “I’ll just use my Taser or my gun.” Yeah....right. Sorry, but recent case law is restricitng the use of force is ways that are turning police work back into a "hands on" job. Armed cops are getting their asses kicked and dying ALL THE TIME. Are you really fit for that fight?
What’s the worst part of letting your physical fitness fall off? When you are not fit, you are unhealthy. Overweight (by a lot) in your twenties or thirties? You can count on some serious medical problems when you are older. Here’s the kicker.... Retirement comes early for us, but with the financial ruin that most cities are in these days, you can count that medical insurance is gonna be the first thing that takes a hit. All those doctor appointments and medications are going to add up FAST. Imagine you work your whole police career and then have to spend all your retirement money on medical bills. Screw that!!!
So how do you fix yourself? The first thing to do is make the time to get yourself back on track. You don’t need to join a gym or start training for the CrossFit Games right off the bat. If you can squeeze in 30 minutes a day of ANY KIND of exercise, you will be headed down the right path. Trust me when I tell you that no matter how hard the job gets, that exercise will make you feel so much better. The next step is to get some counseling on your nutrition and formulate a plan to lose weight. Routine and a loss of weight will lead to you feeling better about yourself. You’ll eventually want to train a little harder. That’s when you come see me and join One World ;-)
I love all my brothers and sisters that work in the field of law enforcement. It really is a great job, but it is dangerous. Don’t let something that is avoidable be the cause of you getting yourself killed in the line of duty. I always remember the quote from the awesome Coach Mark Rippetoe:
"Strong people are harder to kill than weak people, and more useful in general."
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WORKOUT 6/6/2012
- Establish a 3 rep max push jerk
Then....
Complete the following for time:
- 30 reps of push jerk @ 70% of 3 rep max
No racks for the conditioning workout. Bar starts from the floor. Everytime you drop the bar, perform 6 lateral jump burpees over the bar.
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Freedie, I am an officer from Tampa Police and owner of Crossfit Sparta... Great article I have reposted it on a site I have to prepare all Florida Officers for the upcoming R.N.C. I have been tasked with working on there fitness, this article will greatly help with that task, thank you brother!!
Posted by: KOS | June 10, 2012 at 15:31
I think that the laziness & complacency starts with your mental game, or lack of one. Who heard of asymetric warfare before 9/11, or thought of using light as a force option? Too many of the lazy ones can quote their favorite sports teams starting lineup and season schedule, but can't be bothered to peruse the Peace Officers Legal Sourcebook, or sneak a peek at the Jury Instructions manual.
If you're one of the smart officers, you train your body as hard as you train your brain, and vice versa.
Posted by: ansel | June 06, 2012 at 20:22
Property of the FBI, and since they are incarcerated, the videos are not allowed to go public
Posted by: freddy | June 06, 2012 at 19:09
Freddy, do you happen to have a link to those videos of those four guys who are serving time? I too am an officer and I always am interested in listening to interviews like that. Thanks.
Posted by: Brad R. | June 06, 2012 at 19:05
Freedy, I think this post may have save the life of at least one LEO's life, if He Or She listened. The World is a dangerous place,not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing, all you LEO, Tou choosed a job to do something about this evil,a difficult job. And you're outnumber if you didn't notice. Every PD/SO Dept. should make it mandatory for their Officers to stay in shape.A soldier is mandated to stay in shape throught out their career even during peace time, LEO's goes to war everyday when they put on that gun belt and steps into the jungle, how can you protect anyone if you can't protect yourself??effort and courage are not enough without Good Health and purpose. To Protect and Serve and Never Off Duty.
Posted by: Big Tony | June 06, 2012 at 15:13
Eric I KNOW!! That has been mentioned more than once! :)
Posted by: Annie | June 06, 2012 at 13:45
Where is the "LIKE" icon? Great post. Also remember that when AB 109 went into affect there are a lot more knuckle heads out in the community ready to harm someone. These people spend years in prison getting fit and ready for battle. Peace officers should be doing the same.
Posted by: Richard | June 06, 2012 at 12:52
Too many cops get lazy & complacent once they've passed FTO. Interestingly felons have been making the same assessments of cops for many years.
I seem to remember hearing the same reasoning by felons at one of the Street Survival seminars I'd attended. Add in all the MMA training the knuckleheads do, plus all the informative videos available on Youtube, and the threat levels just keep getting pushed higher.
No disrespect, but softball & golf just aren't very good ways to prepare for the fight of your life.
Posted by: ansel | June 06, 2012 at 11:46
I just recently worked the corner for my friend at his MMA fight. I was amazed at how many guys that were getting ready to fight stage were "gang bangers", these “gangsters”, are training in boxing, bjj, and wrestling, every day.
It’s scary to think how many officers I work with that would get kill by a white belt in bjj. I took a big bad Marine friend of mine to bjj class, I placed him with a white belt that he out weighted by 100lbs, and in 30 seconds my marine buddy was tapping out.
Lifting weights is a good start, but in this profession fighting is going to happen, so training outside the box is necessary. Krav and bjj should be inside every officer’s tool box.
Posted by: jcota | June 06, 2012 at 09:41
Dam Annie, poking hard on the woman! I assure you Cheryl does not fit that mold :)
Posted by: Eric | June 06, 2012 at 09:28
BTW..AWESOME POST FREDDY! Got too caught up in the unhealthy women I meet at the dang picnics that are suppose to be my mans back up.
Posted by: Annie | June 06, 2012 at 09:15
Spot on Freddy! One of the best Posts ever!
Posted by: Radler | June 06, 2012 at 00:19
Great post Freddy!
Posted by: Joe Nepo | June 05, 2012 at 22:02
Great post freddy!
Posted by: Chris | June 05, 2012 at 21:08
Another awesome post. This is why I read your blog every day even though I've never been close to Northern Cal or One World. Your post relates to firefighters as well. Granted we don't have people out trying to intentionally harm us, but we do go into burning buildings. If I've got someone inside with me who is overweight ive got to worry about him going down, or worse if an ac unit or roof comes down on me, is his fat ass going to make sure I make it out. I am embarrassed when I am working with someone who is overweight, there is no excuse for it in ours or your line of work. Thanks again for the great posts Freddie!
Posted by: Brian | June 05, 2012 at 21:07
Freddy I recently attended the same coarse here in Texas. I thought it was very ironic that MANY of my counterparts were physical manifestations of what these wolves had described. I thoroughly enjoy your programming & post. Keep up the good work & watch your six!
Posted by: Mike Martinez | June 05, 2012 at 19:54
All you woman in law enforcement need to be able to put up a good fight, and be able to be a dependable back up. Yes, I'm calling you out. Working out for years with A LOT of guys in law enforcement, and having a husband in law enforcement... I know they talk about, and are concerned about it. You picked the job, you need to able to live up to the duty. Dont be the chick that the guy officer DOES NOT want as a back up. (I know this includes men too. But sorry chicks life just is..... that men are physically stronger than women.) So at least be fit and strong enough to put up a good fight.
Posted by: Annie | June 05, 2012 at 19:48
AWESOME POST BABE.
Posted by: CHYNA CHO | June 05, 2012 at 18:50
Wicked Post brother! GBO
Posted by: Alex | June 05, 2012 at 18:12
Amen brother!!! Way too many liabilities out there. Time for them to own up.
Posted by: Tyson | June 05, 2012 at 17:48
I'd say that goes hundred fold for LEO and it also goes to the general public as well. Being out of shape, unhealthy, and not fit is a personal choice and responsibility. You may not pay for it now, but rest assured dinner will be over later down the road and the tab's on you. Preventative diseases that may not kill you right away but will make your later years miserable, painful, and non-functional..what is the frickin' point?
Good post Freddy...saying it like it is.
Posted by: Jor | June 05, 2012 at 17:04