Parental Guidance: Nebraska Supreme Court Finds Obese Officer in “Fair” Physical Conditioning

The Nebraska Court of Appeals has reversed the decision of a Civil Service commission tfire an overweight officer, Christopher D. Parent. Parent, 52, is a 25 year veteran who was fired after questions were raised about his fitness in a combat shooting exercise and his failure to maintain a “high level of physical, mental and emotional conditioning.”

Bellevue Police Lt. Mark Elbert noted that Parent,s 2005 Nebraska driver’s license lists him at 5-foot-9 and 300 pounds. Yet, the Supreme Court noted that the only objective standard in the police standards was that he maintain a “fair” level of conditioning.

Yet, the city says that it has now removed that language and requires the following: “Police Officers are called upon to perform a variety of tasks that require physical endurance and agility. This dictates that officers maintain a high level of physical, mental and emotional conditioning, which can only be acquired through regular exercise, proper diet and utilizing time.”

Parent will now return to his work as a detective.

Studies show roughly 20% of Nebraska citizens are technically obese.

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