FIT FOR DUTY: EXERCISE SCIENCE FACULTY & STUDENTS DEVELOP NEW FITNESS TEST FOR INDIANA LAW ENFORCEMENT CADETS
Almost every new police officer or sheriff’s deputy in Indiana will soon be using a revamped fitness test designed by researchers from the University of Indianapolis to better prepare them for the demands of law enforcement. Rather than running 1.5 miles or measuring a vertical jump, beginning in the fall of 2026, cadets at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) will race through obstacles that they might actually encounter on the job—things like jumping a chain-link fence or pulling a 185-pound dummy to safety. “This work is special because it’s not purely an academic thing,” said Dr. Nathanial Eckert, associate professor of kinesiology and director of the master of science in exercise science (MEXS) program. “We’re not just working to get published. This is something that is going to have a lasting impact for decades to come. We’re leaving an indelible mark on the community with the work we’re doing.” The project provided unique opportunities for exercise science graduate students as well. They ran the obstacle course themselves and got a hands-on opportunity to work with a tactical population, which presents a very different set of challenges from athletes. Staff and students presented their research in May at the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual meeting and it’s garnered lots of attention—both from academics and the police community around the world, as well as prospective students who are interested in joining the mission. “We’ve got other universities both nationally and internationally that are watching what we’re doing right now,” said Dr. Trent Cayot, associate professor of kinesiology. “So while we’ve been focused on Indiana so far, our work has international implications.” The research is the result of a partnership that goes back more than two years. “Revamping our physical fitness test will help ensure that our recruits are even better prepared to excel as law enforcement professionals,” said ILEA Executive Director Tim Horty. “Our partnership with the University of Indianapolis has helped us design and validate a test which will produce more capable officers and a safer Indiana for all.” The work is just beginning for UIndy researchers—Eckert, Cayot, and Dr. Mindy Hartman Mayol, associate professor of kinesiology and the third member of the team. Together they hope to expand their research to study different populations, for example current officers, specialized units like SWAT, or officers returning from injuries, using the obstacle course as a tool to better understand fitness, readiness, and return-to-duty benchmarks.
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UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
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