BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The journey to become a Birmingham Police Officer starts more with a grunt and push than a single step. At least that’s what On Your Side Investigator Jonathan Hardison learned as he started the timed obstacle course at the academy by pushing a Birmingham police car in neutral between 2 lines.

“I think people are intimidated by pushing the vehicle, but once they realize that it’s in neutral, it has wheels – it’ll go forward,” encourages Birmingham Police Sergeant Shantara Foster.

Then it’s a run to an 8 foot fence you must clear, on to a run through several cones, past the barking dog, then through a simulated window. Clear that, and you’re back running through the cones until you get to a balance beam which isn’t very high up, but can throw you for a loop when you’re running onto it knowing you have to go back to the beginning if you fall off.

Finally, you reach a 165 pound dummy you must grab and pull or drag back through sand to the final cone.

“Once you get up under it and pick it up, it’s heavy,” said Sgt. Foster. “It’s heavy and some people are like, ‘oh my God, I wasn’t expecting that.’ Grown men get overpowered by the dummy.”

Hardison asked Foster, “Honest assessment. How did I do?”

“I think you did an excellent job,” Sgt. Foster said. “There’s nothing that you could have done better, especially since that was your first and second time – you did great.”

To pass the test, you’ve got to complete the course in 90 seconds or less and that can be intimidating.

“We don’t want to lower our standards because when you are in law enforcement, these are things that you have to do if you have to go into a window to save somebody from a burning building, you got to get through it,” Sgt. Foster said. “If you need to save a fallen person and drag them, you have to do it. I’ve jumped. I’ve ripped my pants doing them, but these are things that we practice in law enforcement.”

If you don’t pass this the first time, the department offers its G.R.I.T. program (or Grinding Resilience Intensity Training) to help applicants get in the shape and strength they need to pass the course, and Sergeant Foster says she’s even willing to let you come do a dry run before the testing day.

“If they reach out to us personally, my team and I, we don’t have an issue with walking them through the obstacle course or even doing the pushups with them,” Foster said. “If their commitment is to this career in this department, we get them through the door for sure. Like, I guarantee that. As far as the obstacle course, it’s not difficult in my opinion. Am a small woman for the part, but anybody can come and do. We have females who are probably 100 pounds soaking wet and they get through this. So regardless if you are out of shape, you’re bigger or you’re smaller. We can get you where you need to be.”

For more information on how to enroll in G.R.I.T. or the Birmingham Police department recruitment program, click or tap here.

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