Though the officers at the 2011 World Police and Fire Games often found themselves divided by language barriers, they were united in public service and remembrance. The more than 15,000 police officers, firefighters and correctional officers from 70 countries not only gathered on Aug. 27 to begin competing in 65 sporting events in an Olympic format, they came together to memorialize the fallen. The games were held in New York City, just before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“It was very humbling to listen to these stories,” said Sgt. Wesley Forthion of the Maryland State Police. “To hear from these people who inserted themselves when they didn’t have to, so they could just have every hand on deck.”
Forthion, who competed in the weightlifting competition, was one of the members who formed the Maryland United Police and Fire Olympic team at the games. The team included the Maryland State Police, Department of Corrections, Parole and Probation, Office of District Courts, as well as Baltimore City Department and Baltimore Fire Department.
“Sports tend to be competitive, but there was a bonding,” said Officer Angelo Brooks of the Baltimore City Department, who had competed in basketball and the 4-by-100-meter relay.
Brooks played against officers from across the globe — from Trinidad and Tobago, to Brazil, Cuba, Russia, Jamaica and Spain. His department even gave a sweat suit to the Brazilian team.
The opening weekend of the competition was canceled because of Hurricane Irene. Maj. Laura Herman of the Maryland State Police was scheduled to compete in the triathlon, but instead returned to Maryland the day after she arrived in New York.
“We thought it would be more beneficial of us to stay in Maryland to help the citizens rather than stay in New York,” Herman said.
Officer Efren Edwards of the Baltimore City police didn’t let the weather change his game plan, though. He won silver medal in the bench-press competition.
“9/11 didn’t stop police officers from doing their job,” Edwards said. “we weren’t going to let the hurricane stop us.”
