Maybe Police Work Isn't for Me...

This afternoon, I went to the Richmond City Police Department to take the test to be a Police Officer. I didn't pass the fitness test again....

Its a 50/50 feeling for me. Fifty percent of me is let down, Fifty percent of me is happy that I did what I was able to do. Let me explain the test and then where it all fell apart...

I was ushered into the Gym and given an address to remember to recite back to the trainer at the end of the test. Now, I am an actor after all so that was no big deal, and to my credit I did remember it all the way through to the miserable end. So with that in my head I set out on the first "leg" of the test, a 200 yard run...up and back 6 times. Pass.

Next, without a break mind you was 20 steps on an aerobic stepper. Pass.

Without a break again, hit the deck and give me 15 push ups mister!!! Pass.

Roll over and give me 15 sit ups. Pass.

20 more aerobic steps, please. Yes, ma'am. Pass.

Drop and do 15 more pushup's. Sure. Pass.

Now on your back again for 15 more sit ups. 1...2...3...4...5...6...uh-oh...7...8.......9.....10...can't breathe.....heart beating out of chest.....11.....body says, "Thanks for playing, you're done."

All I had to do was crank out 4 more sit-ups and run another 6 up and back and then recite the stupid address, which was 510 North 9th Street, by the way!

But no!!!! Years of smoking and eating the wrong stuff and a complete lack of exercise was my destiny on this day, and it killed me boys and girls. I thought I was going to be sick on the way home from the physical exertion, and also the disappointment. But I kept telling myself to buck up, you just did a 200 yard run, 40 steps, 30 push-ups, and 20 something situps in 5 plus minutes. At least you are not a TOTAL out of shape slob. And most of the population couldn't even do that...so cheer up. However, maybe Police work isn't for you....

This is the second Police test I've taken, the second I've failed, and I assure you dear reader, that there will not be another. I have so much respect for the men and women who protect and serve us, but I guess I'm stuck playing a cop on stage for the rest of my life, which isn't a bad thing at all!