*Article* **Time Spent Working in Custody Influences Work Sample Test Battery Performance of Deputy Sheriffs Compared to Recruits**

**Robert G. Lockie 1,\*, Robin M. Orr 2, Matthew R. Moreno 1, J. Jay Dawes <sup>3</sup> and Joseph M. Dulla <sup>4</sup>**


Received: 4 March 2019; Accepted: 24 March 2019; Published: 28 March 2019

**Abstract:** This study determined the influence of years spent working in custody on fitness measured by a state-specific testing battery (Work Sample Test Battery; WSTB) in deputy sheriffs. Retrospective analysis was conducted on one patrol school class (51 males, 13 females) divided into three groups depending on time spent working in custody: DS24 (<24 months; *n* = 20); DS2547 (25–47 months; *n* = 23); and DS48+ (≥48 months; *n* = 21). These groups were compared to a recruit class (REC; 219 males, 34 females) in the WSTB, which comprised five tasks completed for time: 99-yard (90.53-m) obstacle course (99OC); 165-pound (75-kg) dummy drag; six-foot (1.83-m) chain link fence (CLF) and solid wall (SW) climb; and 500-yard (457.2-m) run (500R). A univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) (controlling for sex and age) with Bonferroni post hoc determined significant between-group differences. DS48+ were slower in the 99OC compared to the REC (*p* = 0.007) and performed the CLF and SW slower than all groups (*p* ≤ 0.012). DS24, DS2547, and DS48+ were all slower than REC in the 500R (*p* ≤ 0.002). Physical training should be implemented to maintain fitness and job-specific task performance in deputy sheriffs working custody, especially considering the sedentary nature of this work.

**Keywords:** aerobic fitness; body drag; fence climb; foot pursuit; job-specific; law enforcement officer; obstacle course; police; tactical
