The Jacksonville Beach Police Department is actively seeking a more physically fit force.
With the help of a fitness committee the Jacksonville Beach Police department has come up with some ideas to help get its law enforcement professionals in tip-top shape — taking them all the way from the doughnut shop to the gym.
According to Sgt. Thomas Bingham, spokesman for the Jacksonville Beach Police Department, the foremost guiding principle of the fitness recommendations committee was to develop a system that was beneficial to both sworn and non-sworn employees, while not making the process stressful.
According to Bingham, a majority of the department employees do not regularly engage in an organized fitness routine and they wanted to develop a process that would remove the embarrassment some might feel about participating in a new health and fitness program.
The department considered paying to have a personal trainer train each employee over an eight week period but found that the cost of $36,750 was too expensive. Instead, eight employees have been selected to become certified personal trainers at a cost of $4, 311.
The department plans to regularly schedule fitness training days throughout 2010 in which officers will meet for a 45 to 60 minute exercise regime. Employee participation is on an optional basis.
The fitness room will be upgraded with new equipment and a few minor renovations. An additional treadmill, inverted leg press machine, chin up and dip station and two flat screen televisions will all be added to the current facility.
An outdoor workout area complete with boxing bags will be installed for employees who wish to workout outside.
To track fitness progress the department plans to purchase a body composition analyzer at a cost of $4,485.
In addition to exercise, a new vending machine that will only hold healthy items will be installed in the break room.
The total cost of the fitness program and new equipment totals $23,254 and will be paid for with funds from the Equitable Sharing Fund — a fund made up of money seized by law enforcement officers during drug busts and other crimes.
Bingham said getting police department employees fit will offer benefits both individually and to the community as a whole.
"Obviously healthier employees use substantial less sick time," said Bingham. "In the long run it will help us lower costs for health insurance and it gives the department a better appearance. Officers will be stronger and more fit, which hopefully means they’re less likely to get injured in the line of duty."
In October the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office suspended a pilot program that provided personal trainers to employees of the Sheriff’s office after questions were raised about the cost of such a program.
Bingham said the Jacksonville Beach Police Department program was well planned and will not cost nearly the amount of the Jacksonville program.
"We looked at a couple different scenarios. To send everyone to a personal trainer for basically 24 sessions would have cost $36, 750," said Bingham. "That wasn’t a viable option. By sending eight employees to receive personal trainer certification and having them worker with other employees we can get the same results at a tenth of the cost."
The department is also looking at starting a program along the line of the television show The Biggest Loser.
"We’re looking at having a one year competition so people will learn to eat well, exercise and take care of themselves," said Bingham.
shanegriffis@pontevedrarecorder.com
(904)285-8831 ext.31
