Police Chief Loses Job by trying to promote fitness - JP Fitness Forums

Mahler · 11-02-2006, 08:39 AM

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (Nov. 2) - Police Chief Paul Goward was tired of looking around his department and seeing blubber hanging over the belts of some of his officers. So he sent out a memo exhorting the "jelly bellies" to shape up.
In the end, the department lost 190 pounds - all of them belonging to Goward. He was forced out as chief because some of his officers took offense at the memo.
The Oct. 11 memo bruised feelings on the 80-member force, drew at least one anonymous letter of complaint from officers about the chief's management style and made his department the butt of jokes about fat cops and doughnuts.
"If they got their feelings hurt to the extent of 'Do something about it,' then I did what I was intending to do," said an unapologetic Goward, a trim 6-footer who was forced to resign his $92,000-a-year post last week.

Bill2380 · 11-02-2006, 08:45 AM

I saw that, what politically correct bull shit.

finboy · 11-02-2006, 08:51 AM

I thought it sucked too. Later in the article the city manager is quoted as saying that there has been bad morale in the department for a couple of years and a lot of anonymous complaints. Still, the whole article makes it sound like he was ousted just because he challenged his officers to get into better shape! WTF?

Chris C · 11-02-2006, 08:59 AM

Does anyone have a link to the full article? Yeah, it sucked that he lost his job by trying to promote fitness, but maybe he could have done it in a different manner rather than calling them "jelly bellies" and cracking jokes about his department. Does anyone here agree or disagree that he could/should have taken a different approach?

karky · 11-02-2006, 09:02 AM

could have taken a different approach. But he still shouldnt have lost his job. Isent it importaint that police are in good shape?

Lost Dog · 11-02-2006, 09:06 AM

The pussification of America continues.

Jean-Paul · 11-02-2006, 09:07 AM

Sometimes a little straight talk is what it takes to motivate a population. They need to get over their thin skinned selves. There may be more to the story. Chances are they were just looking for a reason to can him.

I am sick of seeing fat cops though. A couple of years ago I got into an altercation with a couple of drunk speeders driving down my street like it was a drag strip (I may have thrown something at their car

), and the cop they sent out came 45 minutes too late (they re-assessed their situation when they got out of the car and thought better of it and decided to scoot), and the cop that actually showed up wouldn't have been able to even run 20 yards without having a heart attack. His belly literally rested on his thighs and his chin on his chest, and I was wondering what would have happened if he had been needed to actually get into a scuffle. I doubt he would have been much help. So much for "protecting and serving." They only thing he was serving was doughnuts! Like the military, it should be selective service. For those who are required to protect the populace, I want out of shape slobs to be discriminated against!

Mahler · 11-02-2006, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris C

Does anyone have a link to the full article? Yeah, it sucked that he lost his job by trying to promote fitness, but maybe he could have done it in a different manner rather than calling them "jelly bellies" and cracking jokes about his department. Does anyone here agree or disagree that he could/should have taken a different approach?

Sometimes you just have to tell it like it is, and he did.

A lot of departments have weight/height qualifications and some of the people who complained might be in the unemployment line if they were instituted instead of just sending out a memo trying to get the guys to shape up.

My take? If someone says you are fat and you are offended, chances are what they said was true. Don't blast the messenger. Look in the mirror for the problem.

Lost Dog · 11-02-2006, 09:10 AM

Don't they have fitness tests to pass every once in a while? Like in the military?

GG300 · 11-02-2006, 09:18 AM

It is easy to call someone fat and as a former Fat Bastard myself I can say that being called fat rarely inspires you to do anything except become defensive. Inspiring someone to make important changes in their lifestyle that is the tricky part. The City around my helth club launched an incentive program for their staffs to lose weight which included discount gym memberships, nutrition counseling and personal training. They just completed the first 2 months of the challenge and the winner lost 30# and the last person on the chart lost 12#. You can only help those that want to be helped and insuluting the others is not going to make the others get on board.

Chris C · 11-02-2006, 09:26 AM

Yeah, I pretty much agree that he shouldn't have lost his job and that you do at times have to tell it like it is. Personally, I wouldn't have had a problem with him stating that his department as a whole was fat and out of shape which would be a fact for the most part. I just didn't think it was too keen for him to call names and crack jokes...kinda lost cool points there.

Chris C · 11-02-2006, 09:29 AM

I also think the police dept should have a mandatory physical fitness program. It just gets discouraging seeing out of shape police officers around..makes me feel safe

Mahler · 11-02-2006, 09:32 AM

I don't think he made the jokes. When the memo got out, others were making jokes about the department and about police officers and doughnuts. His only reference was that he was tired of the "jelly bellies" in the department. Also, he walked the walk and stayed trim, even though, as chief, he was probably the most desk bound of any of the force. I, personally consider being in shape a prerequisite for being a police officer, and if these guys have bruised feelings, they need to get into another line of work where weight is not an issue. Then they can be all upset if their boss at Wal-Mart says they are fat.

GG300 · 11-02-2006, 09:39 AM

Being in the Mall business I see my share of Rent a Cops that go from overweight to morbidly obese and I definetly agree with you that they don't inspire much confidence. How are these guys going to protect you if they can hardly walk at a good pace. I agree in professions of a physical nature their should be standard requirements.

Chris C · 11-02-2006, 09:50 AM

Ok. Gotcha. It just seemed like in what you had posted that he did make the jokes. Who knows, maybe something positive can come out of this and inspire other departments around the country to implement a fitness program. I believe you do have to pass some type of physical fitness testing to even get into the police academy. If it's such a mandatory process to get into the academy, then why isn't it important enough to maintain once they graduate and become officers? Makes you ask yourself "why even have it in the first place".

jruck37 · 11-02-2006, 09:54 AM

I agree that the cops should be in some sort of required minimum condition and the chief should not have lost his job for this. In fact, I think he should be commended. The problem is that most cities probably doesn't have the funding to pay for cops to get in shape on company time. Therefore, training is a voluntary thing, which most people decline.

karky · 11-02-2006, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jruck37

I agree that the cops should be in some sort of required minimum condition and the chief should not have lost his job for this. In fact, I think he should be commended. The problem is that most cities probably doesn't have the funding to pay for cops to get in shape on company time. Therefore, training is a voluntary thing, which most people decline.

which sucks. Doesnt make you feel safe when the people who are suppose to protect you from criminals are in bad shape, and you could do a better job yourself.

Seventy7 · 11-02-2006, 10:13 AM

I saw that article earlier this morning. It is a shame that he would lose his job for making this comment. Police Officers should be forbidden to be out of shape. It should be a requirement of all officers to be able to pass a yearly physical test in order to maintain employment. I am glad he said what he said.