Ray Kelly
Examine Your Fitness
Should Cops Have to Pass Fitness Tests?
Police officers in Killeen, Texas are suing the police department over a new law that requires them to pass a physical fitness test. Close to thirty offers are poised to lose their jobs after failing or refusing to take the fitness test in April. This is embarrassing for Texas, of course, which is supposed to be tough. Perhaps the officers should put down the donuts and coffee, adopt the vegan Austin Firehouse Diet, and sign up for a bootcamp or something. Because really, shouldn't cops be able to chase down criminals in that back alley with the chainlink fence? But to be fair, it's a little more complicated than that. Take the case of Detective Ortiz, a 24-year veteran with a bum knee. He can't pass the agility test, but he argues he's only had to actually chase suspects, like, once a decade. Should he really get canned? Check out the Killeen Police Department's physical fitness standards after the jump to see if you could pass muster. In the meantime, New Yorkers can still feel proud — Police Chief Ray Kelly is 67 and can take anyone, even if he isn't much of a yogi.
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Calling All Cars
New York Yoga Community Invites NYPD Boss to Take a Class
Ray Kelly doesn't need our advice. Not in general, and not about fitness. New York's police commissioner is famously fit -- he works out regularly and eats his veggies. You may remember, though, this confession he made recently to the Wall Street Journal...
"I don't stretch enough," he said. "I know I should do it more, and I'd like to do yoga, but I just don't have time."
You may also remember how this got us thinking. Now, let us reiterate, Commissioner Kelly is doing very well, thank you very much. Manhattan-born son of milkman and dressing room checker at Macy's, he's the first guy ever to make it all the way up the ranks at the NYPD, from cadet to Commissioner. Moreover, he's been the head of every law enforcement agency under the sun, including the U.S. Customs Service, the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms -- not to mention a Vice President of Interpol. He served with the Marines in Vietnam, and has a chestful of medals, including one from the President of the United States for Exceptionally Meritorious service. All that, and, at 67, he can still bench press 150. You might argue, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
But the man did say he'd like to stretch more. Even for mega winners, it's nice to know, there is room for improvement.
So, um, we emailed some friends in the yoga community. Wouldn't they be willing to teach Commissioner Kelly yoga, on the house, at his convenience?
"Absolutely," wrote Elena Brower. "Count me (and Virayoga) in!"
"Sure!" said Schuyler Grant at Kula Yoga Project.
" You can count YogaWorks in!" wrote Liane Sheintal.
More...Fitness Beat
Hey NYPD, Take the Challenge!
Best. News. Ever. Someone at the NYPD has implemented a Biggest Loser-style slim down contest. "The officer who loses the most weight and body fat by Sept. 30 will win
a free annual membership to one of the 14 NYPD fitness centers across
the city," reports The Daily News.
Where to begin? First, who knew there were 14 NYPD fitness centers around town? Must get inside one. Second, it's about time, no? Maybe we're just being mean -- certainly those flak jackets aren't flattering -- but doesn't it seem like the NYPD collectively carries a bit too much junk in the trunk? (Lot's of speeding around inexplicably in long lines of squad cars with sirens blaring, and not enough cardio.) You want your cops to be able to chase down the bad guy. On the other hand, you don't necessarily want them all bristling with steroidal muscles. It's a conundrum. This brings us back to Ray Kelly, and our ongoing call for the man to take a yoga class. If the NYPD is going in for fitness, a bit of yoga couldn't hurt, no? (To be fair, the force that really needs the namaste is the LAPD.) Anyway, want weight loss? Try some Bikram. Or better yet, get this: We're leaving the Feats of Summer sign up open until July 4th, just for the NYPD. And the fine people at Crunch will give all cops at least one free week of membership.
Ok, the last word on all this, goes to the Daily News. Apparently their reporter was on hand for the cop weigh in. "When quizzed about their weight afterward," Simone Weichselbaum writes, "Some exercised their right to remain silent." Awesome.
New York
Around Town
Mega Lulu Yoga Tweet Up
New Yorkers! If you're into yoga, and parks, and maybe getting caught in the rain in sexy yoga pants, then tonight is your big night. Lululemon has rallied "the top yoga studios of New York City to bring you a yoga opportunity of a lifetime!" It's "Barefoot in the Park," a two hour mega yoga class, al fresco in Bryant Park. They've had these before, of course, but this one is highly anticipated as it's been endlessly rain delayed, involves more people, and it's also Lulu's first ever Yoga Tweet Up. Deep Yoga culture meets the Twitter phenomenon: Scream! Starts at 6 P.M., runs to 8 P.M. We have only one more thing to say: Ray Kelly, this is your big chance!