Fit for duty

LIHUE — From drug busts to getting buff.

The Kauai Police Department will be pumping $70,000 worth of workout equipment in two of its exercise rooms, a move made possible thanks to seized assets.

“We are using bad guy’s money for a good purpose,” said Councilman Mel Rapozo, who voted in favor of revising the estimated Criminal Assets Forfeiture Fund, along with the rest of the council on Wednesday, to allow the purchase. 

The funds will go to create health centers at the Waimea substation, and the Kapaa Armory, for use by officers assigned to the Kapaa and Hanalei districts.

The bulk of the funds will go toward the purchase of a four station multi-stack gym for each station, along with elliptical trainers and treadmills, KPD Deputy Chief Michael Contrade said. The gym equipment at KPD Headquarters in Lihue was donated 12 years ago.

Contrades said the Asset Forfeiture Fund has no set amount from seized property each year and it cannot be anticipated or projected. So far in fiscal year 2014-2015 the fund has collected $28,372. In all of 2013, the fund raised $55,418. The exercise equipment funds were actually approved in the 2013 budget, but a procurement issue prevented the purchase.

The equipment is designed to help prepare for the physical fitness standards and testing. It was recommended by the consultant firm Fit Force that was hired by KPD, and now with standards in place the department will begin the implementation phase.

Rapozo said it was important for people to know that the money comes from anticipated seized cash and property of the Assets Forfeiture Fund that is designed to benefit police and communities.

It is not a request for new or additional funding, and does not come from the general fund or existing police budget items.

Contrades agreed.

“Seizures depend upon the amount and type of cases investigated and the amount and type of assets accumulated by the violator,” he said. “Some cases will involve various sums of cash, while other cases involve seizures of cars and boats that are auctioned and the proceeds distributed between participating agencies.”

Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura said the equipment would assist KPD officers in passing their annual physical fitness tests, helping them to maintain standards and keep their jobs. She said it would also help keep officers fit for life.

“Not just for them, but for their families,” Yukimura said, then suggesting that KPD structure the exercise center to promote use of the equipment so that it is used more and helps the department achieve its health and fitness goals.

Physical readiness determines an individual’s capability to perform strenuous job related tasks.

Police officers need strong aerobic power for cardiovascular endurance, anaerobic power for short intense bursts of effort, upper body strength, agility and leg power. The officers go through a regimen of training to ensure they meet minimum fitness requirements tested by a bench press test, agility run, 300 meter run, push up test, 1.5 mile run, and sit ups, according to department benchmarks.

Contrades said there are five physical readiness testing standards that officers either exceed, meet or fall short in some or all areas.

From that base line requirement the KPD trainers and nutritionists can set up a diet and remedial exercise plan for officers to follow with a goal to meet standards at some point.

“We started to do this last year,” Contrades said. “We make sure that our officers are fit for duty and to be prepared for whatever comes at them.

“The life expectancy of officers once they retire is not very long,” he added, “and we want to improve that with a culture of fitness and health in the Kauai Police Department,” Conrades said.