Sheriff Leon Lott says he has seen tremendous improvements in the health of his deputies since the gym was opened -- some deputies losing as much as 50lbs.
/ Ivory Hecker
COLUMBIA (WACH) -- The Richland County Sheriff's Department celebrated the one-year anniversary of its CrossFit gym Friday.
Sheriff Leon Lott says he has seen tremendous improvements in the health of his deputies since the gym was opened -- some deputies losing as much as 50lbs.
Sheriff Lott says it's important to the work requirment of his deputies that they be in good physical shape.
He says the crossfit training they've been doing daily at the new gym has fulfilled that requirement and helped build a bond between the deputies.
"It's good to see them taking that initiative coming here," said Lott. "They don't have to do this, but they know being physically fit is part of their job as a requirement to be a cop, and they're taking advantage of it ."
CrossFit is a high intensity form of exercise that requires moving a lot of weight in a short amount of time. It includes a combination of workout techniques from powerlifting to running.
Sheriff Lott says his department is one of the few law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. that is an officially approved CrossFitt affiliate.
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