Dispatchers at the Pismo Beach Police Department will be getting their exercise done while on the job.
The department recently acquired state-of-the-art fitness equipment to combat the ill effects of prolonged sitting. Dispatchers will now have the option to walk on a Rebel 1000 Treadmill that works with a standing desk.
Dispatchers approached Chief Jake Miller with a desire and a solution to maintain their health and energize themselves during long shifts without affecting efficiency.  “Medical studies have shown that sitting for long periods of time is detrimental to one’s health,” a department representative said in a press release.  “It is anticipated that the installation of this equipment will not only improve the lives of our dispatchers, but also long term costs associated with illness and chronic disease.”
Dispatcher’s shifts range from 10-12 hours.  Financial benefits include not only the reduction of use of sick leave but also the potential for reduced worker’s compensation claims from a more physically fit work force.
“Providing our dispatchers an opportunity to maintain their health is important to me because I am acutely aware of the stress they are exposed to on a daily basis while providing the exceptional high level of service to the public,” Miller said.
Treadmills like this are becoming more widely adopted, but Pismo Beach Police Department is the first agency in San Luis Obispo County to adopt this.  While just a coincidence, the equipment was received and installed during the week that marks the Annual National Public Safety Telecommunicator Appreciation Week.