Leading by Example: Metro Police Chief Robert White

By Christine Manning

"Living a physically fit life and leading by example." 

A lot of bosses preach it, not too many live it.

Robert White, the city of Louisville's Chief of Police, does.  His daily routine of health and fitness begins early each weekday soon after 5 a.m. when he leaves his home in eastern Jefferson County and heads to the old gym at police headquarters downtown.  White heads to his offices on Seventh Street and begins what many 51-year-old men might consider a torturous way to start the workday.

White, who is 6'1" and weighs 225 pounds, admits he is a "morning person" and says his workout is an aggressive one.  His current routine consists of 75 minutes of aerobic cardiovascular exercise followed by weight training or calisthenics, depending on what day of the week it is.  For the cardio part, he spends time on an elliptical-type machine. Prior to bringing his routine indoors, he did outside running for two years.  Both his indoor and outdoor routines were always complemented with either weight training or calisthenics.

"I have always been pretty strong and used to bench press more than 400 pounds, but I wanted to add more cardio to my workout since I was getting older," White said.  He also noted that his job can be intensely stressful as he commands the 22nd largest department in the country, employing approximately 1,200 officers and 500 civilians.

White, who became the top officer in Louisville in January 2003, came here after serving as chief in Greensboro, N.C., for more than four years.  Prior to that he served 24 years as an officer, police chief of the Housing Authority and second-in-command in Washington, D.C., his hometown.

"I have always believed that a fitness program should be mandatory in a police department," White said recently during one of his workouts. He did say that over the years as he has tried to implement mandatory fitness training, he has found out that the word "mandatory" is not the most positive term and not the best way to encourage participation or get results from his officers.  Instead, he uses an incentive-based program that he is working on with Daniel Barnett, a civilian on the department staff who is the full-time trainer and fitness instructor for the LPD.

CREATING A PROGRAM WITH MANY BENEFITS

In his four years with the police department, Barnett, 29, has worked with three chiefs.  Although physical fitness and exercise were important to his ex-bosses, Barnett said that working with Chief White has been the most professionally fulfilling because of White's support of his programs. Barnett is from Louisville, a Male High School alumnus and a graduate of the University of Louisville's exercise program. He is certified by the National Strength Conditioning Association (NSCA) and also teaches classes on nutrition, fitness and stress management in the department.

White calls Barnett "the cornerstone" of the department's fitness program and said Barnett's goals are very consistent with his own as they work to develop job-related exercise programs relevant to the officers.

"Think of all of the running and fast-paced movements officers may be asked to perform," Barnett explains. "Then add all of the equipment they may be carrying, their fitted uniforms and shoes that aren't made for running.  It's very important that an officer be able to move quickly under these conditions."

White agrees with Barnett that the fitness program in each police department needs to be "functional training" - that is, a fitness program that is geared to officers and what they need for enhanced job performance - including training especially in the areas of endurance, power, cardiovascular and health-benefiting lifestyle changes.

"Stress is a big problem amongst police officers.  Studies have shown that law-enforcement jobs have some of the highest suicide rates and stress-related illnesses," Barnett acknowledged.  "Since the recent merger (of city and county departments) we have really seen an increase in the amount of personnel using the facilities."  Barnett noted that along with all city officers, a variety of civilian Metro employees are also eligible to use many of the police department's downtown facilities, and quite a few take advantage of the perk.

"It's a fact that an officer who takes care of himself with an exercise program is more courteous to the public and requires less sick leave," White added.  He said although studies have shown the benefits of exercise, he knows firsthand from his days as a SWAT-team manager in D.C. that it can be a life-saving choice.  In that job, fitness training on duty was required because of the physical and mental demands on the team members.

He said it has been more than eight years since he has had to use his strength on the job on a daily basis since he has held administrative positions most recently. He said the important thing now is that he be mentally stronger than ever.

LIVING A BALANCED LIFE

White estimates that he works about 70 hours a week and does no exercise on the weekends. On Saturdays he usually attends some type of community function that he has been invited to and on Sundays he visits different churches in the area and gets chances to meet citizens.

The police chief and his wife Valerie have three children.  Daughter Cindy is 31 and is expecting the Whites' first grandchild in July. Their son Robert is 22 and works in Louisville, and 18-year-old son Randall is a student and football player at Howard University in D.C.

He admits that another reason he exercises regularly is because he enjoys eating foods that probably aren't on anyone's "recommended" list for a man his age. He said he does watch his cholesterol and tries to avoid steak. Pork dishes are his favorite. To offset his food preferences, he said that by exercising and drinking about 80 ounces of water each day, he continues to have a great metabolic rate.

"No doubt, I do enjoy the exercise benefits and am a true believer in the fact a good fitness program can change your life.  But also, the best part of the workout for me is getting that shower when it's all finished," White admitted.

Christine Manning is a contributing writer for Kentuckiana HealthFitness Magazine. She is a graduate of Texas A & M with a degree in journalism and also has a master's degree in English.