Ignored Guidelines, Risky Fitness Standards: Is Your Department Prepared for the Fallout?

Good Morning, it’s Monday, January 13th, 2025.

This week, I tuned into my new favorite police podcast, "Blue Grit Radio - Hosted by Eric Tung." Episode 159, "Police Fitness Standards: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (What Can and Should Be Done?), really got me thinking about a topic that’s been on my mind for a while—and one I know resonates with many other officers: How can we improve police officer fitness and overall health?

This episode sparked some great ideas and discussions. Here’s a controversial one…

Check out our article on what Can/Should Be Done About Police Fitness Standards below! And be sure to listen to Blue Grit Radio.

🗓️ What to Expect in This Issue:

•  Case Law Scenario: Can you do this and still receive qualified immunity?

• Last Week in Policing: Key takeaways from this past week.

•  Legal Update: Could Ignoring Government Guidelines Cost You Your Qualified Immunity?

• Officer Training: Are Police Fitness Standards Fit for Duty?

• Win Free Gifts: Use your referral link to earn free gifts

🎯 TODAY'S SCENARIO

Scenario: You’re working intake in a county jail. A new detainee arrives complaining of a severe cough and fever. Department policy—mirroring CDC guidance—says to:

• Provide a mask and gloves

• Isolate for medical evaluation

• Wear protective gear

But the line is long, staffing is tight, and you think, “They’re just guidelines, not the law.” You skip everything. Days later, multiple detainees and two officers fall ill. The detainee sues, claiming you knowingly disregarded safety protocols.

Keep reading to see the explanation and legal background!

📚 Last Week’s Recap: Jan 5 - Jan 11, 2025

Here’s what went down in law enforcement last week:

📰 In the News

 ATF urges law enforcement agencies to stop selling police-issued guns

The ATF now shares data with law enforcement across the country, confirming more than 1,000 guns once owned by police were associated with a homicide. Read More

👮‍♂️ Weekly line of duty deaths: 2
🐕 Weekly line of duty deaths: 1

🏛 Legal Update: Burt v. Gordan
Could Ignoring Government Guidelines Cost You Your Qualified Immunity?

What Happened:

• The Sixth Circuit denied qualified immunity to prison officials who allegedly failed to follow COVID-19 safety protocols.

• The officials argued the situation was unprecedented, so the law wasn’t “clearly established.”

• The court disagreed, noting that ignoring recognized guidelines can still violate constitutional rights—even during novel emergencies.

Why It Matters:

• Guidelines Set a Baseline: Courts increasingly look at whether you followed widely accepted standards (like CDC or department policies) as evidence of “reasonableness.”

• Qualified Immunity at Stake: Disregarding known safety measures can be seen as deliberate indifference, exposing you to liability.

• Real-World Impact: If your actions (or inactions) lead to harm, plaintiffs can argue you had fair notice of what was appropriate—and chose to ignore it.

Takeaway for LEOs:

• Even if guidelines aren’t codified into law, treat them as critical guardrails. They could be the difference between a court finding your conduct reasonable or ruling you crossed a constitutional line.

Answer to the Poll:
If you picked Option 1—“Yes, ignoring guidelines can jeopardize your qualified immunity”—you’re on target. Courts are signaling that recognized health and safety standards carry serious weight in determining whether officials acted properly.

Share this update with colleagues to help them stay aware: Government guidelines aren’t just suggestions—they might be key to protecting your badge and your department from legal fallout.

 💪🏽 Officer Wellness
💪🏽 Are Police Fitness Standards Fit for Duty?

The Current Standard: Cooper
The Cooper Standard, widely used in policing, measures general fitness through tasks like:

• 1.5-mile run: Tests aerobic capacity.

• Push-ups & sit-ups: Measure muscular endurance.

It became the benchmark after lawsuits (Lanning v. SEPTA) required job-related, defensible tests. Cooper offers:

• Uniformity: Clear benchmarks by age and gender.

• Defensibility: Research links general fitness to job performance.

• Simplicity: Easy to administer with no special equipment.

The Issue:

• Running 1.5 miles doesn’t reflect real-life policing.

• Push-ups don’t prepare officers for tasks like subduing suspects or rescue drags.

A Better Way: Functional Fitness
Functional fitness aligns with actual police work:

• Obstacle courses: Simulate foot pursuits.

• Weight drags: Mimic rescues.

• Wall climbs: Reflect scaling barriers.

• Stress drills: Combine physical exertion with decision-making.

The Fix:

• Combine Cooper (baseline) with functional fitness (real-world readiness).

• Regularly validate tests to meet legal standards.

• Promote fitness culture with gym resources and on-duty workouts.

• Test fitness like firearms—annually or biannually.

Read More

Your Call:
Stick with Cooper, switch to functional, or find a balance?

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