KENTON BUCKNER: In file photo from Little Rock days.
A little late here, but a friend noticed a recent mention in the Syracuse news of some obstacles facing that New York city’s relatively new police chief, Kenton Buckner, late of Little Rock.
Chief Kenton Buckner came to New York from Arkansas in December and will need to complete nearly 400 hours of training in his first year to get certified as a cop in this state. The police union, with which Buckner has publicly butted heads, has said it believes Buckner won’t pass muster and will be dismissed.
The police union resistance and training classes are two things. There’s also this:
Buckner, 49, will have to meet the standards established by the Syracuse Police Department’s academy for recruits. He’ll complete his training and be evaluated at the SPD academy.
The physical standards for a male recruit between 40 and 49 include running a mile-and-a-half in 13 minutes 50 seconds, and doing 18 push-ups and 29 sit-ups, according to police recruiting material.
Buckner’s a good-sized guy. A nine-minute mile is harder than it sounds depending on fitness.
Last week, Buckner faced an angry community meeting where speakers lambasted police racism and use of force. Some complained about the number of Syracuse officers who don’t live in the city. Sound familiar?
