Reston Town Center served as the central location for the 2015 World Police & Fire Games athletes as they arrived. Reston Town Center was selected to host the Athletes Village, and at the Town Center Pavilion, a variety of social activities and entertainment has been planned. Residents of neighboring Herndon have also been excited about the 2015 games.
“Herndon is thrilled to welcome participants of the World Police & Fire Games, as well as their families,” said Town of Herndon Mayor Lisa Merkel. “The World Police & Fire Games represents a tremendous opportunity for the entire county, and certainly for the Town of Herndon, to showcase the many programs and amenities we offer.” Many businesses are participating in a patriotic decorating contest, designed to welcome Games participants. Local art gallery ArtSpace Herndon located at 750 Center Street has several photos of first responders and firefighters on display, in addition to the Town Calendar Photography Exhibit on display until July 26.
Volunteers with Herndon Community Television or HCTV have been covering sports events at locations including Herndon, Reston, and the National Harbor. Herndon High students Jack Norcross and Emily Yen attended the opening ceremony at Friday, June 26 at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in D.C. “The number of athletes and different countries they represent is impressive,” said Brian Rose, who helped tape the opening ceremony. A closing ceremony will be held on July 5 at Wolf Trap National Park in Vienna. Herndon Community Television is a non-profit, cable access PEG station broadcasted on both Cox and Verizon. Earlier in June, HCTV covered the18th Annual Korean American Sports Festival (KASF) hosted in Herndon.
The Herndon Police department has several officers participating in the World Police and Fire Games. This includes: Officer Eliezer Calo - Weightlifting Event (Bench Press); Chief Maggie DeBoard - Outdoor Soccer; Corporal Chris Farbry -Toughest Competitor Alive; Lieutenant Jim Moore - Golf; Officer Rob Ronk - Weightlifting Event (Push/Pull); Officer Jonathon Sorg - Basketball 5v5; and Sergeant Bobby Galpin, Officer Eddie Stapleton and Officer Ron Eicke in the Motorcycle Skill Competition.
The Weight Lifting Bench Press event was held at Herndon Community Center, Monday June 29. The Weight Lifting Push Pull event will be held at the Herndon Community Center on July 2. Herndon Community Center is located at 814 Ferndale Avenue in the Town of Herndon. Many participants in the athletic events have expressed satisfaction with the way the games have been laid out. “The people have been very hospitable and fantastic,” said Eric Winterbottom, a member of the Northern Ireland group and participant in the Weight Lifting event.
In May this year, Herndon Police Department held an Awards Ceremony. Members of the Department were recognized for their service and dedication over the past year. Officer Eli Calo was chosen as the Officer of the Year, Mr. Fred Kibler, of the Herndon Citizens Support Team was selected as the Volunteer of the Year and Communications Manager, and Ms. Jane Ross was the Department's Civilian of the Year.
The Herndon Police Department will be hosting a week long Youth Police Academy in July. Topics covered in this free Academy include: Traffic Enforcement, Forensic Investigation, Criminal Investigation, Communications, Canine and Computer Crimes. Youths between the ages of 14 and 17 who are interested in a career in law enforcement are encouraged to register for this class. For further information contact Officer Denise Randles at 703-435-6800 ext. 2343 or email at denise.randles@herndon-va.gov. The Academy will be held daily July 13 through July 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.