MARSHFIELD – Law enforcement agencies in central Wisconsin have a wide range of fitness requirements, but the strictest is in Marshfield and it is costing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.
Since the city implemented a physical fitness test in 2019, one member of the Marshfield Police Department failed and ultimately lost his job in a “non-disciplinary separation,” city Human Resources Director Jennifer Rachu said in a recent email to the Marshfield News-Herald.
Officer Jared Beauchamp, a 21-year veteran of the department, lost his job in early 2020 when he was 30 seconds too long on a quarter-mile run, said Jim Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association. Beauchamp couldn’t run as fast as other officers because of a line-of-duty injury he suffered several years ago, Palmer said.
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Beauchamp’s case has gone to arbitration after talks between the association and city officials didn’t resolve the issue during multiple meetings this year, Palmer said. The dispute is costing the city money.
“It’s our understanding the city has around $80,000 in legal fees,” Palmer said.
Marshfield City Administrator Steve Barg confirmed the city had $79,440 in legal fees as of the beginning of October.
Although no other Marshfield officers lost their jobs because of the fitness test, one female officer who returned from maternity leave also initially failed the timed run, Palmer said. Ultimately, the officer passed the test and returned to duty, but she received a $5,000 settlement from the city, Palmer said.
Marshfield Police Chief Rick Gramza, who is on voluntary paid administrative leave, said earlier this year the tests were put in place to ensure officers are able to do the job.
Palmer said he is not aware of any other department in the state with the same requirements as Marshfield.
The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office does not have any required physical fitness tests for its deputies, Sheriff Scott Parks said.
“We encourage physical fitness and wellness programs participation by providing education, resources and opportunities, but none of these are consider mandatory,” Parks said.
There is a testing phase for some of the special teams in Marathon County, such as the Dive/Rescue, SWAT and Bomb teams, Parks said. The tests are used for scoring purposes, and the federal government mandates certain requirements for Bomb Team members, he said.
The Wausau Police Department does not have any fitness requirements and no annual fitness tests, Deputy Chief Matthew Barnes said.
Portage County Sheriff’s Office policy requires deputies to maintain a physical condition that allows them to perform a wide range of duties outlined in their job descriptions, Chief Deputy Ben Beaudoin said. If deputies appear to be in a condition that interferes with their ability to perform those duties, the policy allows for a physician to examine them.
“The Portage County Sheriff’s Office encourages its deputies to maintain good physical fitness,” Beaudoin said.
Deputies have an area at the office designated as a fitness center, which contains several pieces of exercise equipment, Beaudoin said. The county Human Resources Department also offers several wellness incentives.
The Stevens Point Police Department also does not have annual fitness requirements, Interim Chief Tom Zenner said.
Some of the Marshfield requirements include running a quarter mile in 2 minutes, 15 seconds; climbing a 4-foot fence; pushing 80 pounds for 30 feet; and lifting and carrying 100 pounds in a crate for 20 feet, according to department documents.
The Wood County Sheriff’s Department has a pre-employment physical readiness test, Capt. Quentin Ellis said. The standards come from the Wisconsin Training Standards Board and is used for law enforcement training academies.
The Wood County Special Response Team has a annual physical fitness testing, Ellis said.
Gramza previously said the process for the Marshfield requirements began in 2016 and was implemented in 2018 along with union-supported contract language. Gramza said the process went live in 2019 and grandfathering in existing officers was not an option. Medical providers and attorneys vetted the process, he said.
“Our community expects us to run toward danger, to protect those in harm’s way and to be physically ready to fulfill our responsibilities as guardians for our community, Gramza said earlier this year.
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