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Introduction
The structure of police duties is complex and varied, it requires adequate levels of different personal abilities and characteristics (Anderson et al. , 2001; Strating et al. , 2010). Physical abilities of police officers are very important for successful resolution of the high risk situations (Copay and Charles, 1998; Lagestad, 2012). Police work is mostly sedentary, but although activities which demand high levels of physical abilities may be infrequent, they are often critical (Bonneau and Brown, 1995; Sorensen et al. , 2000). In the performance of police duties only 5 percent of the total working time requires a high level of physical ability, because police officers are mostly directed to office work (Lord, 1998; Sorensen et al. , 2000; Chappell, 2008). Like other occupations specializing in emergency services and crisis interventions, such as firefighters and armed forces, physical demands of police work are higher than those occupations of a more sedentary nature (Anderson et al. , 2001; Boyce et al. , 2008). Police officers must be physically capable of performing all occupational requirements successfully, in a way which is safe and secure for all those concerned (Bonneau and Brown, 1995; Marion, 1998; Anderson et al. , 2001).
The variety of tasks that characterize police work emphasizes the importance of police officers being in a good physical condition (Strating et al. , 2010). These include tasks such as pursuing the fleeing suspects, controlling those resisting arrest or tackling, grappling, handcuffing and the use of a fire arm (Sharkey and Davis, 2008). The work method and responsibilities of police officers require optimal levels of physical ability, which is one of the factors that provide the conditions for the effective execution of professional duties (Nutting and Maxwell, 1992; Copay and Charles, 1998; Sorensen et al. , 2000; Strating et al. , 2010).
Adequate physical abilities stand out as one of the basic preconditions for the successful completion of daily professional police duties, particularly in situations of employing the authorities, or assisting the threatened in natural catastrophes. For all the reasons mentioned, one of the parameters in the selection system for police work is the control of the levels of physical ability (Nutting and Maxwell, 1992; Copay and Charles, 1998; Lord, 1998; Anderson et al. , 2001; Strating