Overweight officers are dragging down the New York Police Department, police sources have revealed.
Some are so out-of-shape that their colleagues fear they won’t be able to provide them with back-up if a situation gets physical, the New York Post reported.
A pair of tubby New York detectives were caught on CCTV in 2015 trying to chase a shooting suspect in Harlem who had escaped from custody.
But the man – who had both hands cuffed behind his back – managed to outrun them.
Overweight officers are dragging down the New York Police Department, police sources have revealed. Some struggle to get into patrol cars and walk up stairs, they told the New York Post
An NYPD cop told the New York Post his corpulent colleague once slowed him down as they climbed some stairs in Brooklyn on the way to investigate an incident.
The woman, who was about five feet tall and weighed more than 250 pounds, was leaning against the wall of the third floor doubled over trying to catch her breath.
Last week it emerged that former NYPD cop Jose Vega (pictured), 46, is suing the force, claiming he is entitled to a disability pension for a heart problem
Another cop said that an elite NYPD counter-terror unit built an obstacle course to test the fitness of potential recruits.
But he said it was dropped because so few people managed to complete it – with some even struggling to get over a four-foot wall.
Last week it emerged that former NYPD cop Jose Vega, 46, is suing the force, claiming he is entitled to a disability pension for a heart problem.
Vega’s weight soared to 395lbs during his 17-year career, which he says was because of a lack of healthy restaurants around while he was on shift in the Bronx.
He claims his heart problem and weight gain was caused by the stresses of the job.
One cop said some officers are so overweight they can barely buckle up inside patrol cars and need to move their seats back to squeeze in.
‘We really are the world’s largest police department,’ said one veteran cop who has worked in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx.
Many NYPD sources said it was because of the lack of any fitness mandate once cops finish their training at the Police Academy.
In contrast, the New York Fire Department makes firefighters and emergency medical technicians undergo rigorous testing to check they are up to scratch.
Weigh-ins, cardiac exams, blood tests, x-rays and hearing and vision checks are all part of the annual physical exam.
And those who miss the mark are sidelined until they meet the official standards.
Many NYPD sources said it was because of the lack of any fitness mandate once cops finish their training at the Police Academy
However, some police departments across the US do try tactics to keep their cops in shape.
In Chicago they are awarded a $350 bonus for passing a fitness test, while Columbus in Ohio hand out cash, holiday days and ribbons.
Sergeants Benevolent Association president Ed Mullins was the only NYPD union leader who said he favored enforcing weight and strength requirements.
‘More needs to be done to address the physical and mental demands on police officers,’ he said.
‘Fitness requirements would be a first step toward improving officers’ health and conditioning throughout both their careers and lifetimes.
‘Simply put, it’s vital to officer safety.’