It seems the time of year when the Thai press bashes fat coppers. Yes they do stand out, but they are still capable of up-holding the Bangkok Police's motto "Rip motorist's off at any occassion".
Here is the story from the Bangkok Post:-
Pol Sen Sgt Maj Chairat Inplalam directs traffic at Saphan Khwai near his Bang Sue police station yesterday. Overweight policemen have been told to shape up. SURAPOL PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN
His best pal, Chairat Inplalam agrees, ticketing red-light runners is a lot easier than winning the battle of the bulge.
The two officers from Bang Sue police station believe it is too late for overweight men like them to get a flatter tummy.
Following the Metropolitan Police Bureau's recent staff health check, Pol Sen Sgt Maj Samroeng is the most obese city traffic policeman, at 114 kilogrammes, followed by Pol Sen Sgt Maj Chairat who weighs 105 kilogrammes.
Now, it is time for them to shift their thinking because being overweight could put their careers in jeopardy.
The two officers are among about 300 traffic policemen with weight problems who have been given eight weeks to trim down, or see their career paths lead to mundane office jobs.
The scheme is the brainchild of the Bureau's deputy commissioner Panu Kerlappol,
He says he cannot stand the sight of the obese, pot-bellied officers. Being overweight is a health risk and reduces their work performance.
Most importantly, the corpulent officers are an eyesore which contrasts sharply with the popular image of the well-built and dynamic policeman, he said.
The faculty of tropical medicine of Mahidol University conducted health checks for all 4,430 of Bangkok's traffic police between Dec 12, 2008 and Feb 6 this year. They listened to a catalogue of health complaints.
Some 2,500 officers suffer from high levels of cholesterol. Work-related stress, unbalanced diets, and lack of physical exercise contribute to the obesity, the results show.
"Obesity certainly affects their daily work, not to mention their health. Besides, it creates a bad impression of the traffic police," Pol Maj Panu said.
"Nowhere else in the world are traffic officers as overweight as in Thailand. It's time for them to stay in shape and be dynamic."
Under the eight-week weight-loss programme called "Wow Police", chubby officers are put through an exercise regime by trainers at eight branches of the fitness chain California WOW. They have to shed five kilogrammes to pass the test.
The officer who loses the most weight will be rewarded, while those who fail to lose the 5kg minimum will put their jobs in jeopardy.
"If they fail to reduce waist circumference, we have no option but to transfer them to sedentary desk jobs instead of making them vulnerable to health problems from risks associated with lawbreakers resisting arrest," Pol Maj Panu said.
But Pol Sen Sgt Maj Samroeng said being obese is no big deal.
"Obesity has absolutely no effect on me doing my job. Some young traffic policeman don't work as well as I do," Pol Sen Sgt Maj Samroeng said.
Having worked as a traffic policeman for more than 20 years, the thought of sedentary job with a mountain of paperwork makes him cringe. "I don't know if I can make it or not, but I will try my best," he said.
His best pal, Chairat Inplalam agrees, ticketing red-light runners is a lot easier than winning the battle of the bulge.
The two officers from Bang Sue police station believe it is too late for overweight men like them to get a flatter tummy.
Following the Metropolitan Police Bureau's recent staff health check, Pol Sen Sgt Maj Samroeng is the most obese city traffic policeman, at 114 kilogrammes, followed by Pol Sen Sgt Maj Chairat who weighs 105 kilogrammes.
Now, it is time for them to shift their thinking because being overweight could put their careers in jeopardy.
The two officers are among about 300 traffic policemen with weight problems who have been given eight weeks to trim down, or see their career paths lead to mundane office jobs.
The scheme is the brainchild of the Bureau's deputy commissioner Panu Kerlappol,
He says he cannot stand the sight of the obese, pot-bellied officers. Being overweight is a health risk and reduces their work performance.
Most importantly, the corpulent officers are an eyesore which contrasts sharply with the popular image of the well-built and dynamic policeman, he said.
The faculty of tropical medicine of Mahidol University conducted health checks for all 4,430 of Bangkok's traffic police between Dec 12, 2008 and Feb 6 this year. They listened to a catalogue of health complaints.
Some 2,500 officers suffer from high levels of cholesterol. Work-related stress, unbalanced diets, and lack of physical exercise contribute to the obesity, the results show.
"Obesity certainly affects their daily work, not to mention their health. Besides, it creates a bad impression of the traffic police," Pol Maj Panu said.
"Nowhere else in the world are traffic officers as overweight as in Thailand. It's time for them to stay in shape and be dynamic."
Under the eight-week weight-loss programme called "Wow Police", chubby officers are put through an exercise regime by trainers at eight branches of the fitness chain California WOW. They have to shed five kilogrammes to pass the test.
The officer who loses the most weight will be rewarded, while those who fail to lose the 5kg minimum will put their jobs in jeopardy.
"If they fail to reduce waist circumference, we have no option but to transfer them to sedentary desk jobs instead of making them vulnerable to health problems from risks associated with lawbreakers resisting arrest," Pol Maj Panu said.
But Pol Sen Sgt Maj Samroeng said being obese is no big deal.
"Obesity has absolutely no effect on me doing my job. Some young traffic policeman don't work as well as I do," Pol Sen Sgt Maj Samroeng said.
Having worked as a traffic policeman for more than 20 years, the thought of sedentary job with a mountain of paperwork makes him cringe. "I don't know if I can make it or not, but I will try my best," he said.
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