N.H. police chiefs ask lawmakers to drop required fitness test
CONCORD, N.H. Feb 15 2023 New Hampshire police chiefs came together this week to make a plea to lawmakers as departments continue to be plagued by staffing shortages statewide.
The chiefs, including Hinsdale Police Chief Charles Rataj, told the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee that the required fitness test is making it difficult for departments to hire and retain officers, the New Hampshire Bulletin reported. As a result, they’ve proposed a bill that would eliminate the test for law enforcement officers.
“I would rather have a large, strong officer who just can’t do 20 sit-ups with me as opposed to no officer at all,” Rataj said. “Or I would rather have a detective lieutenant who’s outstanding at investigating sex offenses and who is in her mid to late 40s and just can’t run a mile and a half without hurting her hips.”
The fitness test is currently required by the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council. Officers must complete sit-ups, push-ups and a 1.5-mile run in limited time. The completion time varies by gender and age. The test standards, according to the report, are higher for state troopers. Officers must pass the fitness test in order to become certified. They are also required to repeat the test every three years to remain certified.
The bill, House Bill 113, divided the state’s police chiefs. According to the report, 62% supported eliminating the fitness test, 29% opposed the idea and 9% were unsure.
“The police academy’s position is that we really want to encourage and build out a program that’s going to help officers stay well and be resilient across their entire career,” John Scippa, director of New Hampshire Police Standard and Training Council, said. “Part of that resiliency is based on their level of fitness. It’s been demonstrated time and time again how important it is for those officers to have a level of fitness that will help them get through their challenging careers.”
Scippa said the council is open to moving to a different kind of test that would “more accurately measure officers’ ability to do their job.”
