LA PLATA, Md. - Law enforcement officers and firefighters around the world gather biannually to demonstrate their athleticism in the World Police and Fire Games and in 2007, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office will be aiming for the top in the firearms portion of the competition while competing against 70 other countries.
The Games, which will be held in 2007 in Adelaide, Australia, are recognized as an international Olympic-style competition in which police officers, firefighters, customs officers and correctional officers from around the world participate in 65 sporting events, from archery to swimming. The games have previously been held in Quebec, Barcelona and several US cities. The Sheriff’s Office competed once before, in the 2001 games held in Indianapolis.
Six years later, the team is raising money to compete in the 2007 games and will hold a fund-raiser Nov. 25 at Waldorf Market Place. Noodles and Company, California Tortilla, Five Brothers and Cold Stone Creamery will donate a portion of their profits for that evening to the team’s world games fund. The team will have the Sheriff’s Office’s boat, mobile command center, motor unit, K9 unit and several other displays in the parking lot from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The money the team raises will cover airfare, competition fees, uniforms and equipment.
The pistol team was established in 1994 and is comprised of six officers, though four will be competing in the games. The team competes in between four and six law enforcement pistol, shotgun and patrol rifle competitions hosted by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies each year. In 2005, they placed first at the Virginia Beach Police match, second at a St. Charles Sportsman Club match and third at both the Roanoke Police Department match and a combat pistol match the team has hosted in Charles County for eight years.
For information about how to help the team attend the World Games, contact Officer Chris Spaulding at 240-299-0979.