Examining Associations Between Police Officer Fitness And Simulated Job Task Performance

Police officer performance involves a broad variety of tasks ranging in physical and mental difficulty. Research has clearly demonstrated the influence of police officer fitness on occupational health. Fewer studies have been conducted to examine the relationships between police officer fitness and job task performance. PURPOSE: To examine the associations between police officer fitness and performance during a simulated job task. METHODS: Active duty police officers in the Midwest region of the United States (N = 66; 9 females; 35.8 ± 8.5 yrs; 178.8 ± 8.7 cm; 94.6 ± 17.7 kg) participated in the study during scheduled work hours, as approved by the agency’s Chief of Police. To estimate VO2max, participants’ heart rate data were monitored during completion of the Queen’s College Step Test. To assess muscular endurance, participants completed a 1-minute push up test, a 1-minute sit up test, and a plank hold. To assess muscular power, participants completed a counter movement jump (CMJ) and a backwards overhead medicine ball (BOMB) throw for distance. To assess simulated job task performance, participants were timed to exit a parked vehicle and sprint down a hallway. Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression procedures were used to explore associations between fitness variables and simulated job performance (alpha = .05). RESULTS: Results indicated that CMJ (r = -0.467, p < .001), sit-ups (r = -0.535, p < .001), and plank time (r = -0.295, p = .017) were significantly related to simulated job performance. Regression analyses revealed that these three predictors significantly explained approximately 29.4% of the variance in simulated job performance, F(3,61) = 9.904, p < .001, SEE = 2.71, Adj R2 = .294). CONCLUSION: Results indicate that police officer fitness variables contribute significantly to simulated job task performance among active-duty officers. For a job task that involves anaerobic performance demands (max = 25.3 s), it makes sense that increased muscular power and endurance contribute significantly to reduced performance times. Further research is needed to discern the contribution of similar fitness variables to other job tasks with varying metabolic demands. Supported by: Troyer Research Fellowship - Drake University