Q: What is your background athletically and professionally?

A: Athletically, I played college football for two years until I had reconstructive surgery on my ankle. I was told then that I would need to have another surgery, and even with that, I may not be able to play again. So I skipped the surgery and moved back to Charlotte and attended UNC Charlotte. In 1990 I was hired by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. In 1995 I became a Bike Officer. In September of 1996, much to my wife’s dismay, I tried out and was selected to the SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactic) Team. I was selected to the ALERT (Advance Local Emergency Response Team) unit in 1998. In December of 1999 I was selected to the Sniper Team. Recently I was asked to be on a Federal Funded unit called Med #1. This unit is a mobile hospital that travels in the event of a large scale disaster or a terrorist attack.

Q: Why do you work out?

A: My older brother persuaded me to workout, with the threat of bodily injury, when we were young. Then I stayed with it for sports. Once on the police department I felt it was a must to stay in shape because of the dangerous nature of the job. Now, I have been doing it for so long that if I miss a few days I just don’t feel right.

Q: How often do you work out?

A: I work out with weights twice a week and try to run twice a week unless I am training for something.

Q: How long do you typically train?

A: When I train with weights; I try to get it done in under an hour. You know how it is when you are having one of those great work outs? You have to make yourself leave the gym. On running days I run intervals, with 15 seconds maximum effort, 45 seconds rest, doing 10 -15 sets. That works best for my ankle.

Q: Do you specialize in an area of fitness?

A: Power lifting. I have entered a few sprint Triathlons over the years. I realized that I sink in the water. After my first sprint, my wife said people wanted to throw me a “Life Raft” because I looked so clumsy in the water. Now I stick with power lifting.

Q: How do you alter your training for power lifting?

A: One year I entered a power lifting meet (Bench Press only) in February and am triathlon sprint in March. That was very taxing on my body. I was trying to maintain my strength at the same time I was getting my endurance up. I won’t do that again.

Q: Do you work with a personal trainer?

A: No, but I hired one for my wife. NEVER try and train your wife! I tried for years to teach her about weights. She would listen to a 105 pound guy smoking cigarettes in the corner before she would listen to me. That’s why I hired one. If anyone has tried to train your wife, you know what I mean.

Q: Have you done any endurance events such as a trialthon or 5K?

A: Other than the sprints. The SWAT Team runs in different events each year, always for charity. The last event we did was the “Run For The Cure”. My dad beat Cancer so I enjoy running for him.

Q: How does staying in shape help you perform better as a SWAT and/ or a Police officer?

A: I will be 40 years old this summer. If I don’t train regularly those young guys on the SWAT team run circles around me. There are some guys on the team that are 25 or 26 years old, 5% body fat. You know, chiseled.They take pleasure in running us old guys into the ground. Also, this job is 90% boredom and 10% chaos. Your heart rate is constantly up and down. You have to stay in shape to handle that 10% of chaos.

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