Physical fitness requirements for sheriff's offices put on hold

The agency that trains law enforcement officers across Oklahoma has backed off a plan to enact tough new physical guidelines for officers. <br><br>The Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training,

Friday, February 7th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The agency that trains law enforcement officers across Oklahoma has backed off a plan to enact tough new physical guidelines for officers.

The Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training, or CLEET, wanted to enact physical fitness requirements. It would have forced officers and sheriff's deputies to do a certain number of sit-ups and push-ups in a minute.

They would also have to run a mile and a half in an allotted time. But the Oklahoma Sheriff's Association says the requirements would make it difficult for small departments to find people to fill openings.

Mayes County Sheriff Frank Cantey, "The problems that they had, some of the smaller agencies don't have the luxury of some of the larger agencies about having a large labor pool to choose from."

After objections from sheriffs, CLEET is holding off on the new requirements. At least for now.