Kent State University’s current Police Academy cadets recently scored a collective 100 percent on their State of Ohio Physical Fitness Assessment. Only 12 of the 29 cadets, formally known as BAS 17-016, initially passed the assessment on Feb. 6 at the beginning of the program.
“They made a commitment to one another,” says Class Commander Wayne Parker, sergeant with Kent State University Police Department. “As a gesture of good luck for their final assessment, one of the cadets had athletic socks made for all 29 cadets with their class number stitched in them.”
The assessment consists of pushups, situps and a mile-and-a-half run.
“Anxiety was high before this final assessment,” Parker says. “An Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission auditor steps out on the track to give the cadets instructions on how they can fail the test with improper form.”
With a few local police departments watching on the sidelines, every cadet passed each assessment.
“It is extremely rare for an entire class this size to pass the final assessment on the first try,” says Richard Clausen, assistant coordinator for the Kent State Trumbull Police Academy. “We are proud, and like all of our cadets, we know they are leaving here well prepared and ready to do great things.”