I am applying for an officer position at a local police department. I have passed the written test and now need to take a physical agility test. I have failed this test once before. My test date is this Sunday. Since I am over 40 years old and pushing 200#, this is a bit of a challenge. I am asking for suggestions to help me climb a wall and a chain link fence. Is there a good technique or type of shoe that might help me?
The test has 5 components;
Run an obstacle course
Drag a 'body'-160#
500 yard run-How long do I have?
Climb a chain link fence
Climb a wall
The first 2 components should be OK for me. Climbing the fence and the wall is the difficult part. Also, does anyone know the time limit for the 500 yard run? This is a 'POST' test for California.
Any help is appreciated.

 

Try your question over at officer.com. I am sure you will get much better responses from fellow LEO.

Being a few months away from 40, 6'-4" and 230 lbs, I find it easier to just take down the fences instead of climbing/jumping over....

Seems you should of started the physical training a little earlier than this week for a Sunday test? I can tell you that I spend half my time running/chasing on foot. Seems everyone wants to run these days. Know all the shortcuts and you can usually catch them. If that doesn't work, ask your local military police to come play. They can run faster carrying an auto rifle than any of our local crackheads! We had a special unit guarding a plane (that didn't exist) that made a crash landing. Those guys loved to play on the weekends.

Weird how a plane that doesn't exist had a tail wing just a little taller than the hanger they built around it, but it doesn't exist....

 

Red,
at 6'2" 260lbs and 35yrs. smoker
being a deputy sheriff for 13 years I probably would have a little trouble doing some of those things too, but here in louisiana we also have a "post" cert. that requires a 7 part physical test, the only thing I have trouble with is the 1.5 mile run in the time limit (by age group)
dont think, just do
I remember, just put out my cigarette, turn the corner and a drug deal is happening on the side of an apartment, I get out my unit and the two "subjects" run. I chased the dealer for seven (7) blocks before I caught him. the thing is I dont rember being winded (giving directions on radio, jummped two small fences)
so don't think, just do

 

Unless I have a real good chance to catch the guy (read he's fatter than I am) I only chase about 50 yards. It's odd that's about the distance it takes for me to call for K-9. Fido is much faster than me.

I can't give you any hints as far as passing the physical agilities test. The only one I ever took was in MI and they had a 6 foot wall to climb. Since I'm 6 foot all I did was grab the top of the wall jump and pulled to get over it.

 

Thanks for all of your help.
I actually started training a month or 2 ago. The wall is my biggest challenge.
I tried to get into LE over 20 years ago. I passed a much harder physical agility test for Sheriff's dept. back than. This included climbing an 8' wall (2' higher). I was disqualified from the position because of my eyesight, which is 20/200 uncorrected. They required 20/70 uncorrected.
I only learned about 2 months ago that this dept. would accept 20/200 uncorrected if I could prove 20/20 corrected and over a year wearing contact lenses. I have worn them over 20 years.
I am now in a mad rush to meet all of their requirements. I do get over the fence and the wall with great pain. I also look pretty bad. I was hoping you guys had a technique or trick that would make it easier.
I pass the written test with ease. I hope they can over-look my advanced age and slower times than my 20 year-old competition. At 41, my judgement and communications skills far exceed the younger prospects.

 

I just got the call 2 minutes ago, all my physical testing will be May 5th and 6th for Austin PD and I can't wait. Of course at 20 if I fail anything I'll kick my own ***.

 

Having run some crazy Army obstacle courses, I can tell you- to get over teh 6' wall is no biggie, just run at it, and jump as high as you can- this should put your gut about even with the top. Grab hold of it (both hands for balance), hook your inside leg on it- pull yourself over, then drop on the other side. (That's the lazy; old man way to do it.)

If you're physically (upper=body) strong enough, just walk up to it, place your arms on top of it as if you're going to do a pull-up, jump again (while pulling simultaneously)- lift your right leg over, then swing the left over and drop on the other side. This will allow you to maniutain visual observation of who your're chasing (which is probably the only time you'll ever have to negotiate a fence).

If it's an 8 foot wall, they may have a rope- if so, I'd by pass it, and use the second methond I mentioned. 10' wall, use the rope- it's just a test of upper-body strength and an ability to think on your feet to negotiate those obstacles...

____________________________________

For the 160 lb drag- if they say it must be a drag, then I suggest dragging by the feet (Easier for you; albeit harder on the person being drug. But, if they're hurt, I'm sure they won't mind a scuffed back if it prevents them from catching a bullet, burning, etc...) If you have the strength, I suggest fireman's carry (if it's legal). You can easily carry a 300 lb man at 200 lbs- with the proper method. I was 250 in my Army days, and a girl (5'7" 130 - 140) in my platoon was able to hold me in the fireman's cary position; she didn't try to walk though.
----------------------------------------------------------

Man, as fat as the cops are I've seen; I thought after the academy, height & weight standards were a thing of the past.

 

Good post cia.

 

Thanks J-W.

 

Redford and Josh...Good luck on your upcoming tests. This August will be my 20th year anniversary with the Vermont State Police.

We have to take a physical test twice a year, next one May 3rd which consists of;

as many push ups you can do in a minute
as many sit ups you can to in a minute
bench press
body fat measurement
flexibilty test, sit and reach
1.5 mile run

All catagories are based on age and sex. Running is what I have the most trouble with, as is the case with most of the Troopers. I usually start training a month out. So far its worked, last year I turned 40 so the requirements all got a little easier.

Sorry I can't offer any advise as the tests you take don't compare to ours. Don't let the fence and wall mess with you, get mad and climb over .

Best of luck let us know how you did.

 

Chain link fence is easy too.

Just make sure you don't wear any wide toe shoes.. If you shoes have the slightest taper at the toe, your foot will go right in the holes, and you climb over like a ladder...

Now, if this fence has barbed wire, razor or concertino wire- then it gets challenging... (Throw your jacket across it, and go on over)...

We used to climb an 8' chain-link fence with 3 strands of barbed wire, just to go play basketball in the new park (Before it was officially opened...)