Thousands of firefighter and police officers headed to Santa Clarita Valley for the competition
More than 5,000 police and fire personnel have participated in more than 50 sporting events around the Santa Clarita Valley and neighboring Southland communities. You might have spotted a captain or maybe a sergeant competing in a basketball tournament or cycling throughout Castaic. Don’t be alarmed, they were just taking part in the 2009 Western State Police and Fire Games (WSPFG). The games took place from June 13 till June 20 and included everything from soccer, baseball, volleyball and football to ultimate firefighter, weight lifting, karate, dodge ball, just to name a few.
Law enforcement and firefighters from across the country competed to test their mental and physical strength. “This really is a regional event for Los Angles. Our attendees are coming from across the Western half of the United States to experience a California getaway. We chose Santa Clarita not only because of the great sporting facilities, but because it is conveniently located within minutes of Los Angeles sporting venues and points of interest,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Richard Barrantes, who served as an executive director of the 2009 WSPFG.
Some of the events were held at Central Park, the Santa Clarita Sports Complex, the Aquatic Center, William S. Hart District fields and College of the Canyons. “We could not be more pleased to serve as host City for the Games,” said Mayor Frank Ferry. “So many fire and police professionals call Santa Clarita home and it’s a pleasure to work in coordination with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Athletic Association to support an event that promotes camaraderie, healthy living, and the spirit of the competition.”
The WSPFG originated in 1967 as the California Police Olympics, but in the decades that followed branched out to include other states and the inclusion of the Fire Department. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Athletic Association was responsible for sponsoring the 2009 event, in association with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles Fire Department, the County of Los Angeles, the City of Santa Clarita, the William S. Hart Union School District, and College of the Canyons.
For more information, please visit www.wspfg2009.org or to view photos of the events, visit osman.eventpictures.com .