this post was submitted on 08 Jun 2025
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No Stupid Questions

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How is someone that gets out of breath eating a donut going to protect and serve anyone?

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[–] silentjohn@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 hour ago

Many departments don't require physical tests once hired.

Most of the work cops do is domestic disturbance calls and traffic stops. There's no reason to be physically fit for either of those jobs. Also, most people see the day shift and in nicer neighborhoods; again there's really no need for physicality. Getting on day shift and good area means you've been on the police a while and "earned it" (or you have some clout), so usually olderish cops.

The young jacked mfers usually are on the night shift and in rougher neighborhoods.

Additionally, a bullet resistant vest and all the gear will make you look bigger/fatter than you really are.

So it's kind of a combo of all that.

Also, ACAB

[–] SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 1 points 39 minutes ago* (last edited 38 minutes ago)

Becauase people who are sensible and emotionally stable enough to be healthy probably aren't stupid or malicious enough to be cops.

You also can't be a cop at some stations if your IQ is tested too high.

They want obedient bullies, it's a low bar.

[–] 13igTyme@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

I've definitely seen fat police officers in other countries.

[–] Jhex@lemmy.world 16 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

How is someone that gets out of breath eating a donut going to protect and serve anyone?

They don't serve anyone

[–] jagged_circle@feddit.nl 2 points 2 hours ago

What? They definitely serve rich people. Why do you think they were created?

[–] doingthestuff@lemy.lol 2 points 3 hours ago

Or protect. They might protect those donuts tho.

[–] kreskin@lemmy.world 12 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Why are they also so clearly low iq, and hyper violent?
and why are they paid so well?

[–] Bloomcole@lemmy.world 15 points 6 hours ago (3 children)

to protect and serve is not their job.

[–] bss03@infosec.pub 1 points 46 minutes ago

"protect and serve" is copaganda, since SCOTUS ruled on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_v._District_of_Columbia in late 1981. "Fun" animated video to describe same: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAfUI_hETy0

[–] xav@programming.dev 3 points 5 hours ago

To protect and serve the rich

[–] OceanSoap@lemmy.world 29 points 9 hours ago (3 children)

I think once you pass the physical strength/endurance exam to become a cop, you don't have to take any to remain one. I definitely think that should change, though. Make them pass once a year to retain their job.

[–] ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 hours ago

They don't even have to pass those if they don't want to. In portions of America it is just: win an election, appoint your friends and lackies.

A lot of departments use the admission tests to screen out candidates who might be overqualified: they specifically won't want the best. An overwight blob is preferable to an in shape individual that might think before acting.

[–] madcaesar@lemmy.world 22 points 5 hours ago

Fuck the physical part, they should take yearly psychological exams and have continuous education on conflict resolution.

[–] waggz@programming.dev 5 points 6 hours ago

There are definitely agencies that do exactly what you described. The one I'm most familiar with has a sliding scale based on age and they are required to pass annually.

[–] lechekaflan@lemmy.world 7 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

In my part of the world, cops are near on top of the food chain in any town and city, sometimes literally getting a free pass as long as they do something for a politician, a celebrity, or a business personality. So some of them, especially senior officers, do eventually get obese because not only they get to choose what duties they want to carry out, but also either they have three full square meals plus two snacks a day, or maybe a drinking party two to four times a month.

Of course they -- the Philippine National Police -- are a government agency, but also they're a fraternity, the so-called "Brotherhood": "you scratch my back as long as I scratch yours".

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 11 points 9 hours ago
[–] kubok@fedia.io 11 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

i have been to the US several times. Have you ever tried to eat healthily?

[–] jagged_circle@feddit.nl 5 points 2 hours ago

Its pretty easy. There's fruits and vegetables all over that country lol

[–] nutsack@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

you have to make your own food it's the only way

[–] Ohmmy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 6 hours ago (1 children)
[–] nutsack@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 hour ago

and hire someone to cook your food or what

[–] Echo5@lemmy.world 15 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Heard from a local cop that it had something to do with the union. If the department wants to implement a standard the union would require something or other. Something about an incentive? I didn’t get the whole picture obviously. I know police need unions in case somebody sues them but does seem kind of dumb that it’s so difficult to enforce a physical standard.

[–] Delphia@lemmy.world 8 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Now I dont work in the law enforcement industry but I do work in an industry that has supposed fitness requirements although they arent enforced.

For us, the union told them "If they have to maintain a weight of X to remain employed. You have to pay them to hit the gym on company time or pay their gym fees and an allowance." So the company filed that away under "fuck that". Now if you get too fat for the equipment they just move you to a different duty, often one with a shitload of walking around.

[–] theblips@lemm.ee 2 points 1 hour ago

It's a fair enough requirement from the union

[–] Bgugi@lemmy.world 219 points 21 hours ago (4 children)

Neither protecting or serving are actual job requirements.

[–] LemmyIsReddit2Point0@lemmy.world 53 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

The "no duty to protect" doctrine. Our news doesn't even have to be factual.

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[–] richieadler@lemmy.myserv.one 22 points 15 hours ago

They are not required to serve and protect. US courts say so.

[–] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 21 points 16 hours ago

Our law enforcement is a huge joke and the meh pay, high turnover rate, and low bar of entry attracts the type of people you wouldn't want to be associated with to begin with.

But also, why are small framed 5'3 women allowed to be police?

Fact is, most cops can't outrun or overpower a lot of criminals who chose to resist or flee. In actuality that's a pretty tiny part of the job. The rest is tickets, reports, paperwork, arrests with no resistance, investigations, etc. you don't have to be an athlete or even very physically fit to do any of that. Id rather deal with a fat cop that isn't a dick more than a slim one who's a dumbass.

[–] BossDj@lemm.ee 68 points 21 hours ago (14 children)

Cities in pretty much the entire country are running with an understaffed police force. They'll take what they can get. I'm 100% pro Union, but another problem is that police unions help protect unfit (literally and figuratively) police from being forced to try harder by abusing protected status health claims. I've seen in both police and military, they are handed paperwork if they are not meeting fitness expectations, but nothing ever comes of it.

[–] verdigris@lemmy.ml 52 points 20 hours ago (11 children)

Police unions are the only bad union.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 29 points 19 hours ago

All labor unions are good. Police unions are not.

This is because police unions are not labor unions, since police are not labor but rather the enforcers for the owner class.

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[–] grue@lemmy.world 13 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Cities in pretty much the entire country are running with an understaffed police force.

Counterpoint: Americans are already overpoliced and the "understaffing" is only relative to the authoritarians' desire to make us even more so.

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[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 74 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Cops with guns don't have to run.. 🤷‍♂️

[–] FenrirIII@lemmy.world 7 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You better run, better run outrun my gun

[–] jagged_circle@feddit.nl -4 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Why are people upvoting you for supporting school shooters?

[–] FenrirIII@lemmy.world 2 points 35 minutes ago

It's a song lyric and an indictment of America for our glorification of gun culture.

[–] PolydoreSmith@lemmy.world 41 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

Reminds me of my favorite Simpson’s quote.

Marge (to Bart): “Your father wanted to be a police officer but they said he was too heavy.”

Homer: “No the army said I was too heavy, the police said I was too dumb.”

[–] grue@lemmy.world 26 points 19 hours ago (1 children)
[–] entropicdrift@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Considering how dumb the police chief is on that show, I think it was an intentional joke

[–] jagged_circle@feddit.nl 1 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (1 children)

If he's dumber than the police chief, then he'd be more qualified.

The point is that the police prefer dumb workers. They won't hire you if you score too high on am IQ test

[–] entropicdrift@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 51 minutes ago

I understood their point. My point is that it was a one line throwaway gag on The Simpsons. Not necessarily a commentary on real world police hiring practices so much as a joke about both the police in that show and Homer.

[–] LordWiggle@lemmy.world 14 points 17 hours ago

From what I've seen, they don't even learn about the law and often break the law by illegal detainment, searches and confiscation. Cops who served for over 20 years but don't know people their rights. They often get minimal training while having to serve alone where everyone carries a gun. That's asking for problems. And now cops in the US are militarized with heavy combat gear, while the majority is white and racist. So obesity is the least of the problems with US police.

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 27 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

Never met anyone who was too fat to shoot minorities.

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