Detective Rogelio Banda, Jr. of the San Benito Police Department is shown giving instructions to applicants vying for jobs as officers. (Staff photo by Heather C. Cox)
By HEATHER C. COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
Fifty-three women and men who previously passed a preliminary, written exam were invited on Friday, September 7, to the second wave of the San Benito Police Department’s search for entry level police officers. Of the 53, 30 showed up.
According to Assistant Chief of Operations Michael Galvan, the agility test consisted of completing a “one mile run, a 100-yard obstacle course, dragging a life-size human mannequin weighing 178 pounds, completing pushups, sit ups, ‘dry firing’ a weapon inside a range, holding a shotgun for 10 seconds, and pushing a car.” Applicants were required to pass each portion of the test, in the time allotted, the first time. Those who failed to do so were instantly disqualified from moving forward.
Applicants performed many of these activities outdoors, in the near-100 degree heat, one test after the other. When asked whether the elements are taken into account during a SBPD agility test, Galvan said, “Heat, rain…we’ve even done [the agility test] when it’s drizzling and cold outside.”
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3 comments
now I’m typing like SB police out of shape…No kidding I want to see SB’s current squad do this, please they can’t run a mile to save their life or someone elses. They can run to the taco stand is about it.
A Wt Gym would be nice.
I’m sure half of the current Pd can’t pass this agility test. They should make this a yearly thing that all enrolled officers have to pass.