We Need You: Influence of Hiring Demand and Modified Applicant Testing on the Physical Fitness of Law Enforcement Recruits

Robert G. Lockie, J. Jay Dawes, Matthew R. Moreno, Megan B. McGuire, Tomas J. Ruvalcaba, Ashley M. Bloodgood, Joseph M. Dulla and Robin M. Orr
Additional contact information
Robert G. Lockie: Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92835, USA
J. Jay Dawes: School of Kinesiology, Applied Health and Recreation, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
Matthew R. Moreno: Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92835, USA
Megan B. McGuire: Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92835, USA
Tomas J. Ruvalcaba: Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92835, USA
Ashley M. Bloodgood: Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92835, USA
Joseph M. Dulla: Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4229, Australia
Robin M. Orr: Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4229, Australia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-12

Abstract: A challenge for law enforcement agencies is the many positions that need filling. Agencies may modify their applicant test battery (ATB; multilevelled testing including fitness, background checks, psychological evaluations) to increase the hiring pool of potential recruits by augmenting the utility of testing. This study determined fitness differences of law enforcement recruits hired under two different ATB protocols. Retrospective analysis was conducted on seven academy classes (442 males, 84 females) hired under an older ATB, and one class (45 males, 13 females) hired under a newer ATB. Recruits completed the following before academy: 60 s push-ups and sit-ups (muscular endurance); vertical jump (lower-body power); medicine ball throw (upper-body power); 75 yard pursuit run (75PR; change-of-direction speed); and 20 m multistage fitness test (20MSFT; aerobic fitness). Independent sample t-tests ( p ≤ 0.001) and effect sizes ( d ) evaluated between-group fitness differences for recruits hired under the different ATB protocols (combined sexes, males, and females). There were no significant differences between the ATB groups. However, newer ATB female recruits completed 13% fewer 20MSFT shuttles than the older ATB group, which, although not significant ( p = 0.007), did have a moderate effect ( d = 0.62). Females hired under the newer ATB had lower aerobic fitness, which could impact physical training performance and graduation.

Keywords: 75 yard pursuit run; aerobic fitness; multistage fitness test; occupational testing; police; tactical (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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