Police Chief Fired over "Jelly Bellies" Memo

**Laura's Babies** · 11-02-2006, 09:50 AM

The company I work for has started the "fitness" thing also. When I went to that meeting in Nashville in January, they weighed us, checked out sugar and cholesterol and from the results, they sent us a suggested list of things for us to do.

They are doing this with everyone and the Captains have a very in depth physical they have to take from time to time. They are also encouraging us cooks to cook healthier and cut fat out of our reciepes where ever we can.

The reason thay are doing this is because of how we work, the main focus of most of the people out there is FOOD! Some people will gain 30 pound a trip. I use to gain 10 pounds per 28 day trip but would loose it when I was on my 28 off days since I was NOT use to eating 3 meals a day, 7 days a week. They have had people die out there from heart attacks and it was happening more and more. Just think about it... we are out there, up and down the river, out in the middle of nowhere and if someone has a heart attack, it takes sometimes HOURS for the company to get them to where they can get off the boats and get them to a hospital. (There is NO 911 on the river where you call and they are there in minutes)

Doing these physicals, they have sent people streight to the hospitals because they were only days away from a diabetic coma, days or minutes away from heart attacks or strokes. They have found some that had high seriously blood pressure and sugar levels and didn't have a clue. They don't just tell you these things but give you ways to correct it and have people that will work with you.

Our company also will pay for any/every thing you have to do to quit smoking. They know in the long run, that doing this will save them money in medical insurance and loss time at work.

Check out your favorite fast food for calories and fat here...
http://www.wafb.com/Global/link.asp?...av=menu57_10_2

**Prairie Purrs** · 11-02-2006, 10:51 AM

Catnapper, your FIL and people like him are a major reason why eating disorders run rampant among girls and young women. Show him a recent picture of Nicole Ritchie sometime and ask him if he wants his granddaughters to look like that. (And if he says yes, slap him.) Ask him whether he wants them to drop dead of a heart attack in their early 30s like Karen Carpenter.

It's one thing to encourage children and young adults to eat in a healthy manner and exercise. It's quite another to constantly tell them that they look fat. That just sends the message that one's worth is measured solely by one's appearance, and it's a recipe for disaster. Plenty of people aren't meant to be bone-thin, and they'll just get sick if they try.

The man deserves a swift boot in the butt! And so does your husband, if he buys into that crap.

As for the police department memo, sounds to me like the issue wasn't so much whether cops are/should be in shape as it was an indication that the chief had a poor management style. If department morale was poor to begin with, then a "by the way, you're fat" memo was bound to make matters worse. It may be a good idea for police officers to be in good physical shape, but it's not a good idea to have a police department that's angry and discouraged.

**dukedogsmom** · 11-02-2006, 10:53 AM

I think he had the right idea but went about it totally wrong. It's not just one department that has out of shape officers. Maybe there could have been scheduled work out days for them? Anyway, how did he expect positive results with that email?

**lizbud** · 11-02-2006, 11:22 AM

I don'y think it was unreasonable to expect the police force to stay
in good shape. I don't know what his day to day mangagement style
was, so can't say if he was a bad manager.Maybe he should work to get
physical fitness tests incorporated into the requirements for all police
officers in his department.

**caseysmom** · 11-02-2006, 12:19 PM

I have several friends in law enforcement and they are actually given an allowance for being in a fitness club.

Like Val said I think he had the right idea but went about it the wrong way.

I need to lose weight but having somebody tell me that way wouldn't make me want to do better.

**moosmom** · 11-02-2006, 12:43 PM

As for the police department memo, sounds to me like the issue wasn't so much whether cops are/should be in shape as it was an indication that the chief had a poor management style. If department morale was poor to begin with, then a "by the way, you're fat" memo was bound to make matters worse. It may be a good idea for police officers to be in good physical shape, but it's not a good idea to have a police department that's angry and discouraged.

CatsinDenver is correct. I think this goes WAY beyond the department members' physical condition. As always there are two sides to every story. I would LOVE to hear what the cops have to say before I judge whether or not I think the Chief should've been fired. The memo itself could've been the Chief's way of using his sense of humor (however dry it may have been) to make a point.

**Argranade** · 11-02-2006, 12:44 PM

I don't think he should have been fired,

I agree with this lady on the radio ... she said somthing like,

''I would feel more safe, with sturdy and in shape police officers because this way I know they won't run out of breath to catch a suspect on the loose and they'll be ready to charge at them at any time.''

Maybe not all out of shape officers are like that and can run for a long time but I agree it would seem better plus loosing some pounds could be good for there health, tho it was kinda mean demanding them to do it by force but that was no reason to fire the cheif.

Honestly I not trying to be mean or anything I swear but don't you think it would be better to loose weight this way they could run after a robber for a long time and would not always have to shoot them because they could not run far enough to grab them or tackle them?

Just my opinion & I have nothing against the "jelly bellies".

**Luvin Labs** · 11-03-2006, 10:21 PM

I don't think he should have been fired.

And I think that they should have a yearly physical readiness test (PRT).

If you have to be in shape to get ON the force, you need to be in shape WHILE on the force.

I would be more confident in our police force if we had physically fit people over "jelly bellies".

**Cataholic** · 11-04-2006, 08:17 AM

I am overweight myself, and would WELCOME my employer's support of a more healthy lifestyle. I need as much encouragement as I can get.

**Miss Z** · 11-04-2006, 08:20 AM

I'm pretty sure that here anyone in the services, eg patrolling police force, fire service etc, have to pass a vigourous fitness test. These people need to be able to chase after criminals and will encounter situations on a regular basis where they need strength and fitness.

I think it's total madness that he was fired simply on the basis of a memo. As chief, he had a right to tell his officers what concerned him. I don't really think it was an issue that he called them 'jelly babies', so what? Surely someone big enough to work for the good of their country is big enough to see past a comment and to do something about it.

**jackie** · 11-04-2006, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by Luvin Labs

And I think that they should have a yearly physical readiness test (PRT).

If you have to be in shape to get ON the force, you need to be in shape WHILE on the force.

I would be more confident in our police force if we had physically fit people over "jelly bellies".

You took the words from my mouth. I think a yearly fitness test would be great.

**Twisterdog** · 11-04-2006, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by Luvin Labs

I don't think he should have been fired.

And I think that they should have a yearly physical readiness test (PRT).

If you have to be in shape to get ON the force, you need to be in shape WHILE on the force.

I would be more confident in our police force if we had physically fit people over "jelly bellies".

I agree!