Open to first responders across the nation, the 57th Annual US Police & Fire Championships will feature more than 35 Olympic-style competitions taking place at more than 25 venues throughout the county. The California Police Athletic Federation is a nonprofit committed to promoting sport and physical fitness among first responders. To date, first responders are coming from all over California and over 20 different states for the June 8 through June 15 competitions, which include sports such as bench press, dodgeball, pickleball, rowing, archery, baseball, golf, tennis, CrossFit, ice hockey, soccer, cycling, swim, surf, track & field, and more. More are expected, as last year this event brought in first responders from 38 states.
“We are thrilled to be hosting our 57th season of the games in San Diego,” said Larry Collins, president of the California Police Athletic Federation. “Each sporting event offers athletes the opportunity to practice and exercise their physical and mental well-being alongside their peers. Now, the United States Police & Fire Championships have grown to be one of our most popular events for athletes across the country and truly exemplify our efforts to unite public safety personnel from varying backgrounds and cultures.”
CPAF Executive Director Edmund Russell said the event is for first responders and has opened up competitions to its civilian supporters who work alongside, such as 911 dispatchers, crime scene techs and analysts, custodial officers, lifeguards, reserve officers, and volunteer firefighters to name a few.
“This event was created in 1967 right here in San Diego, California by a man called Duke. He was a San Diego Police Seargent Veon ‘Duke’ Nyhus and wanted to start something for first responders for physical fitness and wellness to get officers out there to compete against each other. It turned from 300 to 400 participants to where it is today. It has been up to as high as 6,000 in the early 2000s,” he said. “Right now, we should be around 2,800 to 3,000 this year.”
Russell said now it has 38 sports, with about 28 venues in the San Diego County area, with a couple of events being held outside the county, with a few sports at Mammoth, Los Angeles and Riverside counties. Russell said anyone can watch the games at any venue free of charge.
“We have some events in Santee, Roth Field, Mesa College, and some events will be held at our host hotel, like our combat sports. We have Brazilian Jujitsu, bench press, indoor rowing, and dodgeball. Then we have team sports all over the San Diego area,” he said.
Russell said they are still accepting reservations to participate in some sports, but the team sports have closed because there must be bracketing to get schedules together.
Russell said he hopes that more of the public comes out to the games to see what they do outside of work, which helps build trust and respect between first responders and the public.
“We have volunteers. We have the opportunity for the public to come out free of charge. When people get out there, that actually see that police and firefighters are human beings too. We have a job to do, and it is a tough job. Police must make split-second decisions out in the field, as well as firefighters as they are putting out fires. It is difficult. I wish people would come out and just speak to the officers and get to know them a little better. Come out and support the police and firefighters and other first responders and see what we do outside our jobs. I was a police officer for 31 years. It is difficult when you see police and firefighters doing their jobs. What you do not see is what they do when they are not doing their jobs. On the police side, you see us arresting people. On the firefighter side, you see them more rescuing people. So, you have your good and bad in some people’s minds. But we always must keep people safe. That is all first responders and that is our goal.”
To see the game schedules, venues, visit www.cpaf.org/uspfc-sports, click on the sport of choice, and find all the details of the competitions.
