Sheriff’s department introduces new fitness regimen

Richland County Sheriff’s deputies soon will be swinging kettle bells and jumping on boxes as part of a new physical fitness program at the department.

On Friday, Sheriff Leon Lott announced his department’s affiliation with CrossFit, a workout program that has steadily gained popularity since its creation in the mid-1990s. CrossFit participants go through a series of exercises tailored to improve speed, strength, flexibility, agility, stamina, balance and coordination. The exercises are repetitive and timed.

Reserve Deputy John Buriss Jr., an owner of Gold’s Gym, helped purchase the new equipment, which will be used in a newly formed gym in the Harbison area, Lott said.

Lott said he was sold on the CrossFit program after two of his deputies who use the program won fitness competitions against other law enforcement. Deputies are required to pass an annual physical fitness test and three consecutive failed attempts lead to deputy being fired, Lott said.

Deputy Scott Puckett, who will be training other deputies, recently won an episode “One Man Army,” a reality show on the Discovery Channel. Puckett said the workout regimen prepares deputies to mentally and physically handle challenges of their jobs.