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Participation up for Police and Fire Games
More than 500 have taken part in competition in the Mahoning Valley
By Greg Gulas
BOARDMAN
The 38th annual Ohio Police and Fire Games conclude today with many participants primed for World Games competition, which begins June 26 in Fairfax, Va.
Carl Frost, Beaver Police chief and 2015 Games coordinator, said this year’s goal was to increase participation since the last two years witnessed a decline.
“We had over 500 participants from across the state make the trek to the Mahoning Valley and that marks an increase in numbers from the past two years,” Frost said. “We achieved our goal and that’s a really good feeling.
“Also, everything went off rather smoothly with the only hiccup coming in softball, where the weather just wouldn’t cooperate in order for us to get on the field and play.”
Highlighting Thursday’s action was billiards, bowling, darts, rifle, weight-lifting and pump and run.
Jim Guerrieri, bowling event coordinator, is a retired Canton police officer. He has taken part in 35 of the 38 competitions.
Like Frost, he has also served as overall event coordinator on two occasions.
“Every year provides a new memory,” Guerrieri said. “I’ve made a ton of friends over the years and you simply cannot beat it.
“There’s a reason I’ve been doing it for 35 years and that’s because I enjoy it.”
Nine doubles teams were in action at Camelot Lanes, followed by with singles action.
Robert Zehnder, Sr., a corrections officer with the Stark County Sheriff’s office, and his son, Robert Zehnder , Jr., a Stark County probation officer, are bowlers.
“I’ve worked as a corrections officer for 25 years and the only two Games that I missed were in 1990 and 2004 when I was deployed,” the elder Zehnder said. “You get to see and compete against friends you don’t ordinarily get to see on a daily basis.”
His son said, “I’ve only been in my position for the past four years so it’s good to meet people from other agencies around the state. It’s also great for the host area because it creates business.”
Adam Noble and Mark Kyser are members of the Green Fire Department, each with 13 years of service.
“I’m not a very good bowler but that doesn’t matter,” Noble said. “For me it’s local, I was able work it into my schedule and I also had an opportunity to help out with the track-and-field events.”
The opportunity to compete was just too good to pass up for Kyser.
“Having the opportunity to meet other firefighters and police officers from across the state, in addition to a friendly competition makes this one great event,” Kyser said.
Jim Kennedy, a 1985 graduate of Niles McKinley and owner of the Crest Lanes Pro Shop, spent 20 years before retiring with the U.S. Air Force.
“I’m not police or fire so when they included military, that’s when I came on board,” he said.
In the weight-lifting competition, retired Austintown Police Lt. Ron DeAmcici coordinated the event with Campbell Police officer Mitch Zupko.
DeAmcici earned gold in bench and dead lift events staged at YSU.
“I started competing in 1984 when the Games were in Columbus and I must say it’s absolutely wonderful to have an event like this in your hometown,” DeAmcici, now a part-time YSU police officer said.
Zupko has participate in 14 competitions since his first event in 1995.
“It’s still the same after all these years. We’re brothers in blue, always helping each other out,” Zupko said. “Chief [Drew] Rauzan has worked with me in helping put on the Police Olympics so it’s an event we always look forward to every year.”