NYPD
Overweight New York Police Department officers have been told to chip in towards gym equipment Reuters

Fat New York Police Department officers are to be forced to chip in to pay for gym equipment in a bid for overweight cops to shed excess pounds and get in shape.

The move came after a group of NYPD officers Community Affairs Division grew so fat their commander decided they should fork out towards a new gym room.

Sources told the New York Post that some of the state's Boys in Blue had ballooned so much they were unable to chase suspects.

"They are mostly all pathetically fat. They get heavy on the job . . . There's a lot of sitting around and eating Twinkies at your desk," the source said.

In a bid to banish the bulge, inspector Ellen Chang - a triathlete - ordered those under her command to stump up $30 (£18.50) each to fit out their headquarters with an exercise bike, a treadmill, a StairMaster and dumbells.

"I've done two half-triathlons and run in three marathons here in the city, so I wanted to get the guys and gals here motivated and have some equipment on site for them," Chang said.

Despite some resistance from officers, Chang claimed the scheme was "going well" and said she had contributed toward the equipment.

Fitness test

New York's finest must complete a physical assessment within 4mins 28secs to graduate into the force.

Barrier Surmount: From a kneeling, weapon-ready position the candidate sprints fifty feet to surmount a six foot barrier.

Stair Climb: The candidate proceeds from the Barrier Surmount to a six-stair climb system and completes three over-and-back traverses.

Physical Restraint Simulation: The candidate proceeds from the Stair Climb to a controlled-force tactics and training device which measures the ability to resist or control force in a physical restraint situation.

Pursuit Run: The candidate proceeds from the Physical Restraint Simulation to a run/jog around a pattern of cones for approximately six hundred feet.

Victim Rescue: The candidate proceeds from the Pursuit Run to a simulated victim rescue involving a thirty-five foot drag of a one hundred seventy-six pound mannequin.

Trigger Pull: The candidate proceeds from the Victim Rescue to a trigger pull station, picks up an inoperative firearm, holds the firearm within a nine inch diameter metal ring and pulls the trigger sixteen times with the dominant hand and fifteen times with the non-dominant hand. Once inserted, the firearm must remain within the metal ring for the completion of the trigger pull cycles.

Source: NYPD

New York