NATHAN DICKS, MA, CSCS
AGILITY TRAINING
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
The ability to react and initiate movement is vital to the safety
of law enforcement officers (LEO) in many ways. Oftentimes,
LEOs may be attacked by either an armed or an unarmed suspect
within a short reactionary gap, or may need to escape the path
of an oncoming vehicle for example. Additionally, LEOs are likely
to experience quick foot pursuits of suspects, lasting 70 s or less
(3). These types of actions require the need for agility, power,
and speed. Unfortunately, these needs may be compromised by
inactivity and increasing loads of equipment carried. LEOs have
been observed to carry between 17 – 25 lb in body armor and
duty belts, which are on average 8 – 12% of their bodyweight
(1,4). With the increases in load, research has suggested that LEO
performances in movement have decreased significantly (1). A
more recent study suggests the heavier loads carried may have a
direct, negative effect on sprinting ability (5).
Including weighing the importance of agility, power, and speed,
most departments have a wide variety of resistance training
statuses and anthropometric variables that need to be considered
before implementation of a program. Tactical facilitators need
to consider rate of force development as a priority while training
LEOs. Increasing the rate of activation of motor units will
positively affect force development, allowing the LEO to accelerate
to a higher speed more quickly. Baseline measures and training
in the fundamentals of agility and resistance exercise should
be emphasized to LEOs early in training but only if the officers
are trained enough to warrant these protocols. Over time, and if
progressed properly, strength exercises and performing explosive
movements (such as heavy squatting and Olympic-style lifts) with
officers may help to improve their rate of force development, or
acceleration, and absolute speed (7). This article will explain some
training techniques to assist officers in improving these necessary
components to combat the additional weight of their duty gear.
AGILITY TRAINING