“Our staffing level has gone from 71 to our current level of around 65.”
And Muskegon Public safety director Tim Kozal says one reason he can’t fill those vacancies; applicants can’t pass the physical agility test.
“All departments struggle across Michigan attracting recruits just to pass the basic physical agility test to get into the recruit academy.”
Kozal says far more applicants fail the agility test than pass.
“We lose probably 85 percent of our applicants just not able to pass.”
“This test is intended to identify the fitness level of law enforcement recruits.”
A video on the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards web site says males police officer applicants must do 30 pushups,
“Pushups assess upper body strength.”
32 sit ups and run a half mile in four and a half minutes. Females: 28 sit ups.
“Sit ups assesses core body strength.”
7 pushups and run a 5-and-a-half-minute half mile.
“We work with them tell them what they need to do.”
Kozal says he may get officers in the department who already passed the test involved.
“Maybe open up our gym and having officers in there to go over these things with them to show them this is what you got to do.”
