Stacy Ingraham, PhD., senior lecturer in the School of Kinesiology and director of the Human and Sports Performance Lab, recently went on a ride-along with the St. Louis Park Police Department  as part of research that  analyzes heart-rate responses of police officers and firefighters on the job.  Ingraham and her research team are collecting data from the St. Louis Police Department, the SWAT Team, the University of Minnesota Police Department and the Hopkins Fire Department. Research shows that over 2,000 police officers die every year from a cardiovascular event compared to 70 who die due to other causes. Research has also revealed that 50% of police officers die within 5 years of retirement and a police officer’s life expectancy is 15 years less than the average individual. Ingraham and her research team will continue to collect data to help assess risks presented while on the job and developing  a plan to minimize these risks.