(Fort Wayne, IN)-A team of ten troopers representing the Indiana State Police Post in Fort Wayne recently competed in the 15th annual National Police Challenge 50K Relay at the United States Secret Service Training Center in Laurel, Maryland.
The 50K (31mile) relay is a competition between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies from around the world and is run in conjunction with National Police Week, which is held every spring in Washington, D.C. Each team member runs a 5K and their times are tallied as a whole for an overall team time. The Fort Wayne Post team placed 32nd out of 53 teams.
The monies raised and generated from the relay go to support Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) and HEROES, two organizations that help surviving families of fallen law enforcement officers from around the nation. To date more than $700,000 has been raised for these organizations.
“It was truly an honor for us to have had the opportunity to represent our Post and our Department while running to support two organizations that do so much for those who have lost so very much. Families of the Indiana State Police have had the phenomenal support of C.O.P.S. over the years and this is an opportunity to help support their endeavors” said Lt. Tony Casto, Fort Wayne District Commander.
Pictured is the team from the Fort Wayne Post. Back row from left to right: Master Trooper Steve Malone, Sgt. Dan Leslie (Lowell Post), Senior Trooper Wes Rowlader, Sgt. Aaron Cook, Sgt. Todd Reed, Lt. Tony Casto, Master Trooper Joel Lemmon and Sgt. Tony Knox. Kneeling left is Master Trooper Brian Bills and kneeling right is Trooper Jeremy Brice.
