Cranberry police test results of workouts
CRANBERRY TWP — It was test time this week for the township police officers taking part in the department's new fitness program, Elite Police FIT.
Officers were assessed by Darnell Dinkins, owner of E.T.H.I.C. Training in Cranberry and a former NFL tight end, in six areas on Monday and Wednesday morning to see how they measured up after several months of training.
They started with a 300 meter dash and 1.5 mile run at Mars High School track. Then they moved indoors to the municipal center's gym and completed a one-rep max bench press and leg press and did as many sit-ups and push-ups as they could in one minute.
Officers encouraged each other as they each took their turn on the bench, the inverted leg press and the floor during the assessments Wednesday morning.
“I like that it gets guys thinking more about their fitness” said township Police Chief Kevin Meyer. “We lead sedentary lives behind the wheel of a car or behind a desk. Guys need to think about their health.”
Elite Police FIT kicked off in December after about a year of planning. It is the brainchild of Meyer and Officer Rob Capezio, who wanted to promote fitness and wellness in the force.
The goal is to improve health, reduce injury and increase job readiness. About half of the officers are participating in the voluntary program.
“If we're not in shape, we're doing a disservice to the citizens we serve,” Capezio said. “We can go from a slow day to a stressful situation in minutes, and it helps to be conditioned.”
The results from the benchmark assessments will be measured up against the Cooper Physical Fitness Standards for law enforcement, created by the Cooper Institute. Officers seek to hit certain marks based on their age and gender.
Incentives for performing well include certificates of achievement and time off. Officers will be awarded for their efforts at the April 27 township supervisors' meeting, Meyer said.
“I don't know of any other agencies in Western Pennsylvania doing this,” Meyer said.
Capezio, president of the Cranberry Township Police Association, said they tried to create a program that was fair but challenging. Officers could work out at the gym within the Cranberry Township Municipal Center or with Dinkins at E.T.H.I.C. Training. They're also provided with supplements and protein bars from Cranberry-based Performance Inspired Nutrition.
They've given officers all the tools to succeed, but it is up to them to fit in workouts and training on their own time, Capezio said. Many of them have seen results, getting stronger, faster and losing weight, he said.
Once it concludes at the end of the month, police department and township officials will discuss what went well and try to make improvements before they run the program again, Capezio said.
The fitness and wellness program has gone so well with the police department that the township is looking into bringing a similar program to all township employees, but with different metrics, said Neva Stotler, township director of human resources and legal affairs.
