MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Davis, Blount, Butler, Carmichael, Chassaniol, Dearing, Frazier, Hopson, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Lee (35th), Montgomery, Simmons, Ward, Watson, Wilemon, Yancey
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MISSISSIPPI HIGHWAY PATROL FITNESS TEAM FOR ITS RECORD-BREAKING EFFORT IN WINNING ITS SECOND CONSECUTIVE NATIONAL CENTER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY FITNESS "LAWFIT CHALLENGE."
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 has established the Lawfit Challenge to recognize those State Troopers and Highway Patrol Officers who have proven that they are fit to serve. The National Center for Public Safety Fitness invited all law enforcement agencies to send their most fit officers to compete in the Seventh Annual Lawfit Challenge. This event was held October 15, 16 and 17, 2009, at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. The event includes four-person teams, pairs and individual competitors; and
WHEREAS, the Lawfit Challenge consists of a series of six fitness and job-related competitive events: (1) one repetition maximum bench press (based on a percentage of body weight); (2) one minute timed sit-up test; (3) sit and reach flexibility test; (4) pull-ups; (5) 200 yards agility course (series of work performance obstacles); and (6) 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 three teams. Individual event winners were also recognized; and
WHEREAS, this year's event featured a re-match between the 2008 Champions, the Mississippi Highway Patrol, and the 2006 Champions, the Hanover County Virginia Sheriff's Department; and
WHEREAS, hundreds of law enforcement officers, from around the country, were invited to the competition. They competed for three days, and after the final event, it was the team from the Mississippi Highway Patrol taking top honors again. This is the first time in the history of the competition that a team was able to repeat as National Champions. This year's Mississippi Highway Patrol Team won the National Title in three categories and also broke four of the records they set last year:
· The four-man team of Lt. Thomas Tuggle (Hernando), Msgt. John Perkins (Meridian), Msgt. Marcus Colley (Moss Point), and Major Houston Dorr (Pass Christian) set a new National Record for points by a four-man team (New Record/Old Record - 1476/1446);
· The two-man team of Lt. Tuggle and Msgt. Perkins set a new National Record for points by a two-man team (New Record/Old Record - 766/751);
· Msgt. Perkins set a new National Record for points by an individual (New Record/Old Record - 403/389);
· Lt. Tuggle broke the record he set in pull-ups last year with 39. That record was broken 30 seconds later by fellow team member Msgt. Perkins with 46;
· The two-man team of Major Houston Dorr and Msgt. Colley placed Third in the Two-Man Competition behind Tuggle/Perkins and a two-man team from Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Msgt. Colley's and Major Dorr's performance was the first time a 51-year-old competitor paired with a 36-year-old competitor and finished in the top three; and
WHEREAS, Team Captain Thomas Tuggle is convinced that next year's team will be even better. "We will never forget the lessons we learned. We will never allow complacency to defeat us again. We know how to win, we are more motivated, more determined and more dedicated than we have ever been"; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize these professional law enforcement officers whose stamina and dedication to duty has brought honor to the Mississippi Highway Patrol 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 the Mississippi Highway Patrol Fitness Team for its record-breaking effort in winning the 2009 National Center for Public Safety Fitness Seventh Annual "Lawfit Challenge," its second consecutive championship, and extend our congratulations and best wishes to this team as they represent our state in future competitions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Lt. Thomas Tuggle, Msgt. John Perkins, Msgt. Marcus Colley and Major Houston Dorr, Public Safety Commissioner Steve Simpson and Mississippi Law Enforcement Officer's Training Academy Director Lt. Col (Retd) Pat Cronin for the command staff of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.