Santino DeWreede
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 205
Years on the Department: 5
How long have you been playing baseball and what’s your favorite position?
I grew up playing baseball. I picked up a bat when I was around 4 years old, and pretty much didn’t put one down until the time when I entered the Police Academy in 2009. I still play in the Police and Fire Games, and the adult league here in town. I’ve been lucky enough to play just about everywhere on the field, and most positions have their own fun challenge, but catching has an extra level of cerebral gamesmanship to it when it comes to calling pitches and preventing the other team from stealing.
What is your current training routine and how will it change when you get back on the baseball field?
I try to vary my training at this point. My foundation is still weight training for explosiveness, but I’ve found that Cross-Fit has great value to what my personal physical goals are, and good old-fashioned cardio is important, even though it’s not all that fun. I used to be heavy into MMA training as well, but now I just stick to some boxing on my own.
What is your current diet and supplementation like?
My diet usually is a little up and down. I try to eat organic, but try is the emphasis in that statement. I think I’ve kicked my love of fast food, but the struggle is real when there’s dessert around. My diet is a lot of protein and green veggies. I also try to be as gluten-free as I can. With all that being said, I make sure I enjoy my diet, or I’m a grumpy butt.
What is your next goal for fitness and/or for baseball?
I don’t really have any future goals set out for baseball. But my physical goals are to be able to do 10 pull-ups with 90 pounds strapped to me and to run a half marathon nonstop at a respectable pace. I am way closer to the pull-ups than the half marathon one. In fact, I got up to six pull-ups with the weight recently.
How has being fit helped you to be a better police officer?
The less you struggle in your effort physically, the less taxation there is on you mentally. I’m a firm believer that the more you sweat in training, the less you’ll bleed in battle. I had a foot pursuit through the Stratosphere and around the neighborhood west of it. Part of me thought I should set up a perimeter and wait for K-9. But my competitive side got the better of me, and off I went. The suspect and I ended up in a brief fight once he saw I was on his heels, and I saw he was starting to reach into his pocket. Once hooked, we found an ESB and a knife in his front pockets. Being able to win that fight after that run (which ended up being about half of a mile at a flat-out sprint) was definitely due to my hard training.
What advice would you give officers looking to adopt a healthier lifestyle?
It truly depends on one’s own goals. But always take time out to train as though your life, or someone else’s, depends on it. Looking great is nice side, but heaven forbid something happens to you, or you have to live with the regret of “what if.”
If you were the Sheriff, how would you incorporate fitness into the Department?
Early in our careers, physical fitness is stressed even before the start of the Academy. Later on, it seems like, “Hey, just don’t have a heart attack, please.” You can’t make everyone to want to stay at top physical condition, but maybe some type of incentive program would motivate many who right now don’t have the care or concern.
