Bill Text: MS SC504 | 2016 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Mississippi Senate Concurrent Resolution 504 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Commend MDWFP Team Wildlife for top honors in the 2015 LawFit Challenge.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 12-5)

Status: (Passed) 2016-02-16 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC504 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2016-SC504-Enrolled.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2016 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Parker, Blackwell, Branning, Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Dearing, DeBar, Fillingane, Massey, Moran, Simmons (13th), Stone, Watson, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Jackson (15th)

Senate Concurrent Resolution 504

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE LAWFIT CHALLENGE FROM THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS (TEAM WILDLIFE) FOR TAKING TOP HONORS AND SETTING NEW RECORDS IN THE 14TH ANNUAL LAWFIT CHALLENGE HELD IN OLIVE BRANCH, MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and with the mandate of Homeland Security in the United States, the health and fitness of law enforcement personnel is more important than ever. Officers are called upon to perform increasingly diverse duties in support of the military and national security personnel. A high level of fitness can be the key to both officer and citizen survival. With this in mind, the National Center for Public Safety Fitness, located on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, has established the LawFit Challenge to recognize those law enforcement officers who have proven that they are fit to serve. The National Center for Public Safety Fitness invited all law enforcement agencies from across the country to send their most fit officers to compete in the 14th Annual LawFit Challenge. This event was held on July 16-18, 2015, in Olive Branch, Mississippi, and saw temperatures in the upper 90s and heat indexes above 100 degrees; and

WHEREAS, LawFit is three days of intense competition. The event includes four-person teams, pairs and individual competitors. The LawFit Challenge consists of a series of six fitness and job-related competitive events: one-rep maximum bench press (based on a percentage of body weight); one-minute sit-up test; sit-and-reach flexibility test; pull-ups; 200 yards agility course (series of work-related obstacles); and a 1.5-mile run. These tests have been found to be good predictors of an officer's fitness for duty. Awards were given to the top five male and female competitors as well as the top five teams. Individual event winners were also recognized; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi law enforcement officers took the title at the National LawFit Challenge for the ninth consecutive year. But this time the Mississippi Highway Patrol wasn't the victor, it was the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. This was the third year Team Wildlife has competed in the competition; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks has 158 officers, and some of the agencies they compete against are much larger. But Chief Steve Adcock was not surprised by the team's performance. "I think what you have to look at is the training program, and ours is second to none," Adcock said. "We have one of the most strenuous training programs in the nation. There's a lot of camaraderie between our guys and the Highway Patrol. They work a lot together"; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks' Team Members are: Private Derrick Scott, Private Justin Gates, Sergeant Major Ron McMillan, Lieutenant Chris Reed (Team Captain), Private Justin Adams and Sergeant Major Marcus Christon; and

WHEREAS, officers compete as individuals, in two-man teams and four-man teams. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks' Officers broke records in all three divisions:

� Total points for a four-man team: 1,596 by Christon, Gates, Reed and Scott. The previous record was 1,515;

� Total points for a two-man team: 817 by Christon and Gates. The previous record was 769;

� Pull-ups: 67 by Christon. The previous record was 51;

� Bench press: 330 pounds by Gates, which was 221% of his body weight. The previous record was 214%;

� Most points accumulated by an individual: 417 by Christon. The previous record was 403;

� The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks' team member Sergeant Major Ron McMillan finished 10th overall as an individual, and Private Justin Adams finished fourth in the 1.5-mile run; and

WHEREAS, Dr. David L. Bever (Founder of LawFit) was convinced that the rest of the country should follow Mississippi when it comes to being fit for duty; and it is with great pride that we pay tribute to these law enforcement officers who have brought honor to their community, their branch of service and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the participants in the LawFit Challenge from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (Team Wildlife) for taking top honors in the 14th Annual LawFit Challenge held in Olive Branch, Mississippi, and extend the best wishes of the Legislature to these officers for future LawFit Challenge success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the members of Team Wildlife, the Team Captain Lieutenant Chris Reed, the Executive Director of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.