Bodybuilding icon Ronnie Coleman recently detailed his rigorous history with police fitness standards while training with influencer Matt Greggo. Coleman served with the Arlington Police Department for over a decade and maintained an elite physique while working full-time shifts.

Fitness influencer and bodybuilder Matt Greggo had the chance to train with the G.O.A.T of bodybuilding, Ronnie Coleman. During their time together, Coleman shared a lot of knowledge about fitness and training with the young bodybuilder. Then their conversation shifted towards Coleman's career in the police force.

Coleman revealed that during his time at the Arlington Police Department, the department regularly monitored officers' fitness levels to make sure they were physically capable of performing their duties.

"When I worked at the police department, they did body fat percentages every year," Coleman said. "I don't know, that's what they kind of stuff they did, you know, they made sure you had to be in shape. Yeah. We had to run a mile and a half every year and some other exercises."

According to Coleman, annual fitness assessments were an integral part of the job. It reflected the police department's focus on maintaining physical fitness among all officers. Coleman served in the Arlington Police Department from 1989 to 2000, and then as a reserve officer till 2003.

He often stated that he enjoyed being a police officer. Even while preparing for bodybuilding competitions, he would pull off 10-hour shifts every day. His daily routine as an officer of the state was captured in one of his training videos, which showed his strict work schedule.

His daily routine gave him little time to train and had him rely heavily on meal preparation. The bodybuilding icon consumed roughly four and a half to five pounds of food per day across multiple meal times, many of which he ate while on duty.

But although Coleman gave a very quick view of the assessment, here is the full breakdown of what it takes to become a police officer in the United States.

Physical Requirements Needed to Become a Police Officer in the U.S.

Every police officer in the U.S. needs to pass the Physical Abilities Test, which generally has four tasks:

Task one: 

• Assume the starting position
• Kneel on both knees with an erect posture
• Extend your arms and hands, simulating a weapon position.
• On the word "go", rise from the starting position and run a slalom pattern between two sets of cones, placed 75 feet apart for a total of 375 feet.

Task Two: Ascend and descend three flights of stairs, completing four up and down series.

Task Three: Drag a 165 lbs rescue dummy for 40 feet.

Task Four: Once you are given a safe USCP training weapon, perform fifteen single-handed trigger pulls with each hand. Hold the weapon at eye level, with your arm extended while doing so.

But if you want to join Ronnie Coleman's department, then all you need to do is pass the Physical Agility Assessment, which consists of a rowing test on a Concept 2 Rowing machine.

Complete the minimum standard of 2,000 meter row at or above the 25th percentile for your age, weight, and gender, and you are through.

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil