Wuss Nation, we have arrived. (November '06)

I just saw an article from CNN.com, and I am postively sick about it.

Here is an excerpt from the article about a police chief who was fired over a memo exhorting his officers to get into better shape:

"In his memo, titled "Are You a Jelly Belly," the chief never singled anyone out, and apart from the title, didn't call anyone names.

Instead, he provided a list of 10 reasons police officers should be in shape. He said overweight police poorly represent the profession, poop out when chasing suspects and might have to resort to "a higher level of force" if a criminal got the upper hand in a fight. He said out-of-shape cops are a liability to the city and their families.

"Take a good look at yourself," he wrote. "If you are unfit, do yourself and everyone else a favor. See a professional about a proper diet and a fitness training program, quit smoking, limit alcohol intake and start thinking self-pride, confidence and respectability. And stop making excuses for delaying what you know you should have been doing years ago. We didn't hire you unfit and we don't want you working unfit. Don't mean to offend, this is just straight talk. I owe it to you."

It's not only disturbing that this guy was fired for a memo that is IN NO WAY offensive, but there were actually grown men and women who were so upset about it that they went over his head and complained!!!

What have we become when adult Law Enforcement Officers can't even take a mild suggestion that they get into better shape?

The chief was right, and what's more, most of us reading this could probably stand to trim up and lose a pound or two, myself included.

I'm going to start by thinking about the Winter Haven P.D. and throwing up...