LASD Physical Fitness Requirements — What the PAT Actually Tests
I'm a decent runner but I've heard the LASD Physical Agility Test (PAT) has components that catch people off guard — specifically the obstacle course and the body drag. I've been focused on cardio for the 1.5-mile run but I'm wondering if I need to shift training emphasis.
Public safety and emergency response scenarios are tested throughout the LASD exam process, not just physically. The written and oral components include situational judgment about law enforcement hiring scenarios — how you'd respond to a domestic call, a medical emergency while on patrol, or a crowd control situation. Worth prepping both the physical and cognitive dimensions simultaneously.
The LASD Public Safety and Emergency Response quiz covers the cognitive side well. For the physical portion: what's the scoring standard for the body drag and how far is it? I weigh 165 lbs and I'm not sure if I need to significantly increase my strength training.
The body drag is 32 feet dragging a 165-lb dummy. At your weight you should be fine — technique matters more than brute strength. Keep your body low, grip under the arms, and use leg drive. The obstacle course includes a 6-foot wall climb, which trips up a lot of people who don't practice. Three weeks of specific PAT drills in addition to your running. YouTube has solid walkthroughs of LASD-style PAT courses.
The 99-yard obstacle course and the body drag are the two I see people fail most. Start timing yourself on the obstacle run now. Standards are gender-neutral for LASD but the times are competitive. A good benchmark is under 25 seconds on the obstacle course. For the 1.5-mile run, sub-14 minutes is comfortable passing territory. Combine strength and cardio in your last 30 days of prep.
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