Congratulations to LAPD Recruit Class 8-14 on their successful Academy Graduation. Class 8-14 utilized CrossFit methodology and workouts during their Academy with astounding results. Most importantly, the class graduated without a single injury – one of the first Academy classes to achieve such a feat. The class received education and inspiration to continue their CrossFit training for the duration of their Law Enforcement career. If you are interested in bringing CrossFit to your Police Academy, please e-mail Greg Amundson at Amundson@CrossFit.com. Several Academies across the County have already successfully implemented the CrossFit program. CrossFit, Inc., has established numerous points of contact for Academy Instructors and Administrators who can guide the integration of CrossFit into any type of Academy setting.

LAPD Recruit Class 8-14 on their final CrossFit workout

______________

In November 2013, the Oregon City Police Department lost an officer in the line of duty. That hadn’t happened in more than 100 years. As the new police chief in the small Oregon community, Jim Band recognized the need to help the department cope with the loss of Reserve Officer Robert Libke, who was fatally shot after responding to reports of an armed man near a house on fire.

In a rare quiet moment during a stressful day, Band sat down at his desk and could feel weights dropping in the gym, so he wandered over to observe. What he saw was therapy in action.

“I see all these faces who had just been carrying the weight of the world for the last couple days. … They had just finished some WOD, and I could just see their faces … they were so much better,” Band says.

The chief tells Greg Amundson, CrossFit’s Law Enforcement Liaison, all the money, time and effort put into CrossFit 1850 was worth it after seeing its effects on members who were dealing with the devastating loss of a colleague.

The affiliate has been active since 2011, and it was created because “the ability for our employees to combat the overwhelming stresses of police work through exercise is paramount,” according to a 2012 press release.

Watch the full story on the CrossFit Journal. 

Congratulations to the Officers and Deputies who attended the CrossFit Law Enforcement Seminar on October 25, 2014, at the Contra Costa  County Regional Law Enforcement Training Center. The LETC arranged for all the Officers in attendance to receive Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Level I credit. As the Law Enforcement Seminar continues to receive recognition at POST, our hope is State-wide approval for CrossFit’s use in Law Enforcement Departments and Academies.

On September 27, 2014, Officers representing five Southern California Police Departments and two Officers from Arizona, gathered at the California Highway Patrol station in Ventura for the CrossFit Law Enforcement Seminar. CHP Ventura is also a CrossFit Law Enforcement Affiliate with an incredibly inspiring gym and culture of fitness. A former patrol-car squad bay was cleared out to make room for stall mats, a custom Pull-up rig painted in green, tan and gold (CHP Colors) and custom CHP Badge Wallball Targets. The energy was high all day as the Officers in the photograph above completed two grueling workouts. The next CrossFit Law Enforcement Seminar is scheduled for October 25, 2014, at the Contra Costa County Regional Law Enforcement Training Center.

The next Northern California based CrossFit Law Enforcement Seminar is scheduled for Friday, October 24, 2014 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Pacific Time). The Seminar will be hosted by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office and Contra Costa  County Regional  Law Enforcement Training Center. The goal of the CrossFit Law Enforcement Seminar is to educate the Officer on the application of CrossFit for the Law Enforcement profession. Attendees will learn how Law Enforcement Agencies have successfully implemented a CrossFit program into their Academies and In-Service training days. The Seminar includes information on how to create a successful non-profit CrossFit Law Enforcement Affiliate. Attendees receive data, operational plans and talking points for accurate representation of CrossFit to their Administrators and peers. Lectures include programming, Law Enforcement training context, case studies and nutrition, as well as physical instruction on foundational CrossFit movements and their direct application to the demands of the Law Enforcement Profession. The day includes two team building workouts and an opportunity for Officers to network and forge winning partnerships between Agencies.

Please REGISTER for this seminar early as space will be limited.

On June 27, 2014, twenty Officers representing ten different Law Enforcement Agencies gathered in San Diego for the CrossFit Law Enforcement Seminar. The venue was located at the 2014 Police and Fire Games in San Diego at the Town and Country Inn. The attendees had a special opportunity to hear from Chappie Hunter, a San Diego Police Officer who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident. Chappie has nearly returned to full duty and is an absolute inspiration to Law Enforcement Officers around the Country. Thank you to all of the Officers who attended.

On Sunday, June 8, 2014, Officers from the California Highway Patrol office in Ventura and West Los Angeles joined Deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office for a workout and meeting at CrossFit Comitatus. CrossFit Law Enforcement Liaison Greg Amundson gave a brief lecture on the correlates between the Law Enforcement Profession and the demands of a professional athlete. CrossFit is having a profound impact on the fitness levels of the California Highway Patrol, and a plan is being established for CrossFit implementation at the CHP Academy.

On Wednesday, April 23, 2014, CrossFit Law Enforcement Liaison Greg Amundson and CrossFit media producer Ian Witenbage visited Oregon City Police Department’s CrossFit Law Enforcement Affiliate gym CrossFit 1850 for a workout and to film an upcoming feature video for the CrossFit Journal. Police Chief James Band and Sgt. Patrick Lynch programmed a very challenging workout, and over 15 Officers from Oregon City PD participated in the event.

On April 13, 2014, CrossFit Law Enforcement Liaison Greg Amundson joined Redlands Police Department on opening day of their new CrossFit Law Enforcement Affiliate, CrossFit Theseus. Over 30 Offices participated in the inaugural event, which included a keynote address from Greg, and the Redlands Chief of Police Mark Garcia. Redlands Police Officer Esteban Valenzuela worked extremely hard to create the Affiliate for his Department, and his efforts were recognized by both his Chief, and the entire Department.

_______________

“I have had the opportunity in my career to be a part of our Gang Unit, SWAT team, Narcotics unit, and Patrol teams. During my time on each unit I have witnessed first hand the benefit of implementing CrossFit into my life and those around me at the Redlands Police Department. High Intensity and Constanly Varied, Unknown and Unknowable? Imagine jumping out of a car without any notice while carrying 30 pounds of extra gear, chasing a suspect over a 4 foot fence and then a 6 foot fence, and taking him into custody after wrestling with him for 30 seconds to a minute. And in the end you’re not even breathing hard! I can tell you there is no better way to prepare for that scenario than CrossFit, and I have found no other program that has a more direct application to what we could possibly face on a daily basis. I can personally tell you that CrossFit has changed the lives of several members of the Redlands Police Department and will continue to be the primary strength and conditioning program for years to come.” Redlands Police Officer Esteban Valenzuela 

_______________

“In the Law Enforcement profession, Officers need to be prepared for the unknown and unknowable. CrossFit is a great fitness program to meet and surpass these needs and instill confidence in our Officers to handle any incident they encounter. I strongly support CrossFit to achieve our Law Enforcement fitness goals.” – Chief of Police Mark Garcia, Redlands Police Department

______________