HEART ATTACKS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH OR RETIREMENT AMONG POLICE OFFICERS. IN ADDITION, LOWER BACK PAIN, SUFFERED BY 32 PERCENT OF POLICE, IS ANOTHER CAUSE OF EARLY RETIREMENT OR DISABILITY. BECAUSE OF THE SUBSTANTIAL COSTS TO THE CITY AND THE DANGERS TO POLICE HEALTH OF STRESS-RELATED ILLNESSES, A STRESS TEST HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO TEST POLICE ENDURANCE AND PHYSICAL CONDITION. POLICE OFFICERS ARE WEIGHED; THEIR BODY COMPOSITION, FLEXIBILITY, MUSCULAR STRENGTH, AND ENDURANCE ARE DETERMINED; AND A 12-MILE RUN IS CONDUCTED. WHEN POLICE OFFICERS WERE COMPARED WITH INMATES FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS, THE INMATES DISPLAYED BETTER PHYSICAL CONDITION; THEIR CARDIOVASCULAR ENDURANCE WAS HIGHER, AND BODY WEIGHT AND FAT WERE LOWER. IT HAS ALSO BEEN FOUND THAT POLICE OFFICERS ARE LOWER IN CARDIOVASCULAR ENDURANCE THAN FIREFIGHTERS. ALL OFFICERS SHOULD BE PLACED IN FITNESS PROGRAMS WHICH EMPHASIZE FLEXIBILITY, STRENGTH, AND ENDURANCE. POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD EXERCISE 30 MINUTES EACH DAY, AT LEAST 3 TIMES EACH WEEK, BECAUSE INACTIVITY CAUSES HEART ATTACKS, LOWER BACK PAIN, AND OTHER ILLNESSES. (WJR)