Introduction of an applicant Job-Related Task Assessment (JTA) and the effects on the health and fitness of police recruits

Issue title: Special Section: Physical Employment Standards

Guest editors: Robin M. Orr, Gemma S. Milligan, Sam D. Blacker, Jace Drain, Tara Reilly, Etienne Chassé, Andrew Siddall, Stephen Foulis, Helen Kilding and Veronica Jamnik

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lockie, Robert G.^{a; *} | Orr, Robin M.^b | Kennedy, Kelly^c | Dawes, J. Jay^{d; e}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton, CA, USA | [b] Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia | [c] Fit-to-Enforce, Miami, FL, USA | [d] Department of Health and Human Performance, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA | [e] Tactical Fitness and Nutrition Lab, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Robert G. Lockie, Department of Kinesiology, California State University, 800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA. Tel.: +1 657 278 4971; E-mail: rlockie@fullerton.edu.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:In 2020, a police department in the south-eastern USA introduced a Job-Related Task Assessment (JTA). The JTA included running, climbing, crawling, balance, direction changes, stair climbing, dragging, pushing, and simulated controlling of a struggling subject and needed to be completed by applicants in 6 : 57 min:s. It is not known whether introducing the JTA in the hiring process affected the health and fitness of hired recruits. OBJECTIVE:To compare the health and fitness of recruits hired prior to, and following, the JTA introduction. METHODS:Analysis was conducted on recruit data split into academy training year: 2016 (n = 91), 2017 (n = 129), 2018 (n = 167), 2019 (n = 242), and 2020 (n = 37). The 2020 group was hired after the JTA introduction and included one academy class. The following were recorded for all recruits: age, height, body mass, and body mass index; systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP); sit-and-reach; grip strength; push-ups; sit-ups; 2.4-km run; and a physical ability test (PAT). A univariate ANOVA, with sex and age as covariates and Bonferroni post hoc, determined between-year differences. RESULTS:The recruits from 2020 were significantly lighter than 2018 recruits (p < 0.031), had higher systolic and diastolic BP than recruits from 2016–2018 (p≤0.006), completed the 2.4-km run faster than recruits from all years (p < 0.001), and completed the PAT faster than the 2016 and 2019 (p = 0.006–0.007) recruits. CONCLUSION:The JTA introduction led to the selection of recruits with lower body mass, and better aerobic (2.4-km run) and job-specific fitness (PAT). However, 2020 recruits also had higher BP which should be monitored.

Keywords: Aerobic fitness, blood pressure, law enforcement, physical ability test, tactical

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230245

Journal: Work, vol. 77, no. 4, pp. 1401-1413, 2024