Scenario and Shooting Performance in Incumbent Deputy Sheriffs/Police Officers, Cadets, and Cadets Who Worked in Custody/Corrections Facilities

Lockie, RG, Young, MA, Lanham, SN, Orr, RM, Dawes, JJ, and Nagel, TR. Scenario and shooting performance in incumbent deputy sheriffs/police officers, cadets, and cadets who worked in custody/corrections facilities. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-Job-specific fitness of law enforcement personnel can decline during their careers. Personnel could offset fitness deficiencies with greater skill and knowledge. Cadets in certain counties may work in custody/corrections before their training academy. This study used archival data to compare job-specific scenario performance of incumbent deputy sheriffs/police officers (INC; n = 15), cadets entering academy (CAD; n = 19), and cadets entering academy after working in custody/corrections facilities (CADCUST; n = 25). Subjects completed a scenario (step-ups, jumping jacks, sprawls, strikes, drags, sandbag carries, and a simulated fight) as fast as possible followed by a firearms test where they had to hit 6 steel plates. Steel time (time to hit all plates) and number of shots required were recorded. Univariate analysis of covariances, with sex and age as covariates and Bonferroni post hoc analyses, derived between-group differences in all variables (p < 0.05). The CAD group completed the scenario faster than the INC group (p = 0.011). Though not significant, the INC group did have the fastest steel time and lowest number of shots. The CADCUST group completed the scenario 10% slower than the CAD group, was 138-366% slower in steel time, and needed 61-100% more shots than the other groups. The INC group likely had fitness limitations that affected scenario performance but demonstrated better shooting skills. The CADCUST group was slower than the CAD group in the scenario and performed worst in the shooting test. Cadets who work in custody/corrections facilities before academy may require fitness and skill interventions while INC should attempt to maintain their fitness during their career.