CHICAGO, May 16 (UPI) -- The Chicago Police Department has begun requiring officers to pass a fitness exam before they are allowed to carry an M4 assault weapon, officials said.

Officers who belong to gang, gun and tactical groups have been given the option of taking the new P.O.W.E.R. test, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday.

The test requires -- among other things -- that males age 30 to 40 complete 34 sit-ups in one minute, bench press 87 percent of their weight and run 1.5 miles in 14.3 minutes.

Some critics argue the exam is an unfair assessment of an officer's ability to handle the semiautomatic rifle.

"I don't believe it's likely that situations would arise where you'd be running great distances with this weapon. As long as you're proficient, you should be able to carry it," said Mark Donahue, president of the Fraternal Order of Police.