MOSCOW, September 30 (RIA Novosti) - Police officers from the New York City Police Department are being compelled to pay money for exercise equipment as they are not able to fulfill their professional duties due to their weak physical condition and unhealthy weight, the New York Post reports.
“They are mostly all pathetically fat,” a source, cited by the newspaper. “They get heavy on the job [...] There’s a lot of sitting around and eating Twinkies at your desk.”
NYPD Inspector Ellen Chang has ordered to equip one of the department’s rooms with fitness equipment, trying to motivate her subordinates to improve their shape.
“I’ve done two half-triathlons and run in three marathons here in the city, so I wanted to get the guys and gals here motivated and have some equipment on site for them,” she said.
However, her initiative was badly received by NYPD officers. They complained about having to donate money for the sport program they do not want to take part in and considered the new fitness room a useless undertaking.
Weight is a serious problem among American police officers. According to FBI, about 80% of law-enforcement officers exceed weight limits, because they spend most of the time sitting behind a desk or in cars and eating unhealthy fast food, as stated in the Telegraph.
To solve the problem, many police departments try to promote physical exercises among their employees, establishing on-site gyms and implementing various sport programs. However, such initiatives are not always welcomed by the police workers, who are used to relaxed and inactive life style and are not willing to take part in fitness activities.
