June 2010

Lieutenant Tom Ciesla is a member of the New York State Courts. He has been a law enforcement officer for twelve years. He has been assigned to many dignitary/judicial protection details throughout New York State, and is currently assigned to Niagara Falls, New York.

Tom has been actively involved in volleyball since high school and continues to play in many area tournaments.  Tom has also competed in the New York State Police & Fire Games and Empire State games earning  4 gold medals, 1 silver and 1 bronze.   He played in the 2005 WPFG in Quebec on a combined men’s volleyball team that represented New York State, finishing fifth overall. Tom looks forward to participating in the 2011 WPFG in New York City.

May 2010 

Lieutenant Bob Chuisano was appointed to FDNY in February of 1985. In his 25 years of service, he has worked in various commands throughout the City and presently serves with Rescue 4.   Bob has wrestled throughout high school and college, and while coaching his son’s Freestyle Team, Bob began wrestling again in Open Tournaments. He wrestled at the Masters Level in the 2005 Games in Quebec, and placed 4th in Freestyle at 97 Kg. He wrestled again in the 2009 Games in Vancouver and placed 4th in Freestyle, where he earned the Bronze Medal in Greco Roman.   He has also played on the FDNY Lacrosse team as a Defenseman, and states he will play again if an over 35 team can be fielded in New York City in 2011. 

April 2010

Firefighter Engineer Frank Lively served with the Phoenix Fire Department for 30 yrs. His last few were as a member of the FEMA Technical Rescue Team. During his career he was a successful distance runner until 2 knee surgeries stopped him. He then decided to take up road biking for therapy. Eventually he progressed to biking to work, 101 miles every day. He soon began competing and took a gold, silver and bronze in the Memphis Games. He started mountain and cross country biking and has won numerous medals at the UCI World Masters Downhill Championships, the Norba National Downhill Championships and the Arizona State Mountain Bike Cross Country Championships. More recently, he has medaled in the Firefighter Winter Ski Championships in Crested Butte, Colorado. Frank plans on participating in the New York Games in 2011.

March 2010

Sergeant Theodore Meroski has served with the Malden Police Department in Massachusetts for 27 years. During his time, he has served as a patrolman, worked as a Detective in the drug unit, and is presently assigned to oversee investigations of all major crimes in the General Investigations Bureau. Aside from Police work, Sergeant Meroski started a mentor program that allows officers to donate their time working with at risk youths in an afterschool program. Although he continues to serve the State of Massachusetts as a public servant, his passion is softball. Sergeant Meroski continues to compete in numerous softball leagues and tournaments throughout the area. During his playing career that has spanned over thirty years, he has played competitively as an outfielder, hitter and most recently as a pitcher. Sergeant Meroski was nominated to appear as our “Athlete of the Month” by members of the Malden Police Department softball team. The members of the Malden Police Department wish to extend their respect and gratitude to their teammate and look forward to participating in the 2011 World Police & Fire Games in New York City. 

February 2010

January 2010

Firefighter Ryan Nordman has been a member of the FDNY since July 15, 2001.  His first day out of the Academy was September 11, 2001 and he went on to assist in the recovery efforts at Ground Zero in the months that followed.  He currently works at Ladder 45 in Washington Heights.  Ryan has been the recipient of the Arthur Lufer Medal for his heroic actions involving pulling a pregnant woman from a burning building. Ryan has been a member of the Bravest Boxing Team since 2004.  The highlight of his boxing career was his victory in Vancouver at the 2009 World Police & Fire Games, where he won a gold medal.  He followed up that victory with a win at Madison Square Garden during Battle of the Badges in October.  Previous to joining the FDNY, Ryan served in the United States Navy from 1992-1996.  He was stationed in Japan and served two deployments in the Persian Gulf during Operation Southern Watch.  He currently resides on Long Island.  Due to age restrictions, he is unable to compete in the 2011 World Police & Fire games in New York City but looks forward to volunteering.

November 2009

Ten-year veteran NYC Firefighter Rob Zucal is assigned to Engine 3 in Manhattan. Although Rob has competed with the FDNY volleyball team, he has excelled in bowling. Rob has participated in both the 2007 WPFG Games in Adelaide, Australia, and the 2009 WPFG Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has won gold in doubles and bronze in numerous singles and team events, bringing home 4 medals from the Vancouver games. Rob intends on defending his accomplishments on his home turf in the New York WPFG in 2011.

October 2009

Growing up in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx, Tim Callahan, age 49, learned to swim at Rockaway Beach during the summer. Tim first swam on a team at St. Nicholas of Tolentine High School in the Bronx, and as a freshman came in sixth at the Catholic High School swim championships, the same year that his brother, Bill, came in first. Tim went on to swim for Rider University and was the NJ state champion and East Coast Conference Champion in the 200 yard backstroke.

Tim is a Captain in Ladder 52, having joined the FDNY in 1986 as a firefighter in Ladder 46, then as a Lieutenant in Ladder 35. Tim’s first WPFG competition was in Vancouver in 1989 where he won gold in the 50 and 100 meter backstroke events. He continued to compete in the WPFG in 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, and 2001 winning over 20 medals, and in Vancouver 2009 he won six silver and one gold, including four silver medals Tim won for relay events teamed up with Rob Rossiter and David Rodriquez in the masters age category.

Tim’s wife, Eileen, and children were also in Vancouver to see Tim compete, and Jack (age 9), Michael (age 7) and MaryJane (age 4) joined Tim on the podium at Vancouver wearing his medals. Tim is looking forward to competing in the 2011 WPFG in his hometown.

September 2009

This month's Athlete of the month goes out to the approximately 180 New York City Police Officers and Firefighters who competed in the 2009 WP&FG. Many medals were awarded to these fine athletes and in the coming months Athlete of the Month will showcase some of the most memorable moments of the 2009 WP&FG. We in NY would also like to congratulate all the people of the 2009 WP&FG Vancouver, British Columbia. From the CEO to the games volunteers, everyone should be very proud of themselves. This year's games were the most attended in the history of the WP&FG and were touted as the best run games ever. 

August 2009

John and Gertrude McGuire's fourth child Bobby was born Dec. 26, 1955 in Rockaway Beach, NY. Bobby has five sisters and two older brothers, and  his uncles Dick and Al McGuire are Basketball Hall of Famers. Bobby and his wife Carolyn were married in 1978, and they have three sons, John, Robert and Michael. Their son Robert has followed in his father's footsteps and is a NYC Firefighter with Eng. Co 290.

Bob entered the FDNY in 1981 and was assigned to Eng. Co 294 in Richmond Hill, Queens. He later went across the floor to Lad Co 143 and eventually transferred to Lad Co 173 where he retired after 22 years of service. He responded to the WTC on 9/11 and worked there both on and off duty for the next 8 months searching for and miraculously finding his nephew FF Richie Allen. Richie was a probie,  on the FDNY for 6 weeks when killed at his first job.  Bob was also first to the Nov 12, 2001 plane crash in Belle Harbor, Queens. During his career he was awarded several FDNY citations and a 9/11-survivor medal.

He joined the Bravest Boxing Team in 1983 and was the team captain from 1984 -1992. He had an impressive amateur career with a 42-8-1 record. He was a two-time Transatlantic Champion, the NYC Metro Champion, Golden Glove finalist, Empire State game silver medalist and the very first FDNY member to win a Gold medal for boxing in the 1987 WPFG in the 147 lb. open class.  Bob became team president and head coach in 2000 and has since trained two Golden Glove Champions and two WPFG Gold Medalists. His teams now travel the globe earning money for charity and have most recently donated close to $30,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project. He has brought teams to the WPFG’S in Barcelona (2003), Quebec (2005), Adelaide (2007) and a seven-member team to Vancouver in 2009. Bob is also the 2011 WPFG’S Boxing coordinator.

July 2009

Hailing from the Long Beach, California, Police Department, Patrol Sgt. Tina Louise Icorn has not missed a WP&FG since 1995. “Like the goal of the Games, it motivates me to stay physically fit, and I really enjoy the camaraderie of meeting police and firefighters from all over the world.” Besides the WP&FG, Tina has also participated in the International Law Enforcement Games, California Police & Fire Games, Western States Police & Fire Games, Nevada Police Games and Arizona Police Games. Tina’s main event is Police Action Pistol, and she holds a Silver medal in the Biathlon from the 1995 Melbourne WP&FG. ”Through the WPFG I get to visit communities in other countries, learn about other cultures, and develop life-long, lasting friendships.”

June 2009

Derek Kern became a firefighter at Engine 233 in Brooklyn in 2007, and distinguished himself while playing hockey for the FDNY in the 2009 NYPD-FDNY hockey game as the Game MVP, scoring two goals and two assists in the 6 to 3 win for the FDNY. Derek grew up in Kings Park, New York, and played for the Long Island Royals while at Bantam; a year later, he played junior hockey with the New York Applecore. Derek played hockey at Oswego State from 1997 to 2001, and he will be representing the FDNY in 2009 at Vancouver, B.C., and in New York at the 2011 World Police & Fire Games.

May 2009

Ladder 43’s Matt Long has always been a great competitor. He has competed in four WP&FG with the FDNY Basketball team, medaling in each one. In December 2005 Matt was critically injured when he was struck by a bus on his way to the FDNY Training Academy during the 2005 Transit Strike. Matt was given a 1% chance of survival and was expected never to walk again. In 2008 he finished the NYC Marathon in 7 hours, 21 minutes. Matt trains hard every day and can’t wait to compete in the 2011 NYC WP&FG. To learn more about Matt, go to http://www.runnersworld.com/mattlong.

April 2009

New York State Trooper Matt Swartz has been involved in a law enforcement career for over fifteen years, and with the New York State Police since 1999. In late 2004, Matt was involved in an automobile accident and suffered severe injuries, including the loss of his leg. Always a fierce competitor, Matt regained full duty status just one year later. Matt is presently a firearms instructor for the NYS Police, and has competed in the New York State Police Olympic Games since 2004, medaling numerous times. Always the athlete, Matt is looking forward to competing and representing his agency in New York City in 2011.

March 2009

Like many New York City firemen, John Shurina followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the NYC Fire Department in 1994. Working his entire career in Ladder 49 in the Bronx he also plays basketball for the FDNY team. John has competed in every WP&FG since 1997 and has won two Bronze medals and one Gold. John is looking forward to competing in the 2009 Vancouver, British Columbia WP&FG this summer. And, of course, he looks forward to trying to bring home the Gold in front of the home town crowd at the 2011 World Police & Fire Games in New York City.

February 2009

Fireman Jeff Clark has been with the Burnaby, British Columbia, Fire Department since October of 1992. He has competed in Soccer at Melbourne 1995, Calgary 1997, Indianapolis 2001, and Barcelona 2003. Jeff’s team even won Gold in Melbourne and Calgary. After Indianapolis, Jeff and fellow fireman Miles Ritchie made it their mission to bring the games to British Columbia. On April 26, 2003 their dream came true when B.C. was awarded the 2009 WP&FG. Jeff is looking forward to meeting you all at the British Columbia 2009 World Police & Fire Games and competing in New York City in 2011.

January 2009

Fire Lieutenant Adrienne Walsh has been with the FDNY since April of 1997. In that time she has worked in fire companies throughout the city. In December of 2005, she was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and is now assigned to Squad 18 in Manhattan. Adrienne, who has been running for 30 years, has medaled in every WP&FG since Indianapolis 2001. Her impressive medaling record, all in track and field, consists of three Bronze, five Silver, and one Gold. Adrienne is looking forward to continuing her medal winning ways in British Columbia 2009 and New York City 2011.

December 2008

Station Officer Anthony Keain is a 20 year veteran of the South Australian Metro Fire Service. He has competed in every WP&FG since Memphis 1991, medaling in the High Jump and Team Triathlon. He has also competed in Tug of War, Slow Pitch Softball, Indoor Rowing, and the Muster. Anthony's biggest thrill came at the Adelaide 2007 games when he won a Bronze medal in the Muster in front of his family and the home town crowd. Anthony's looking forward to traveling to the Northern Hemisphere to compete in Vancouver 2009 and New York City 2011.

November 2008

New York City Fire Captain Wayman Iriarte has been a NYC Firefighter since 1993 and is currently assigned to Brooklyn's 15th Division. Wayman started playing soccer with the FDNY 15 years ago and has competed in four World Police & Fire Games: Calgary 1997, Stockholm 1999, Indianapolis 2001, and Adelaide 2007. In honor of his hard work and dedication, Wayman has been named Captain of the FDNY Soccer Club and is looking forward to leading his team to victory in Vancouver 2009 and New York City in 2011.

October 2008

New York City Police Officers and identical twins Michelle and Teresa Frizziola have studied Goju Ryu Karate since the age of 7.  At the age of 16, Michelle and Teresa attained the status of Sensei.  Both are three-time national champions as well as junior Olympic participants.  In 2007, they joined the ranks of the NYPD.  Presently Michelle is assigned to the 70th Precinct in Brooklyn, while Teresa patrols Manhattan, assigned to the Mid-Town South Precinct.  Both look forward to participating in the upcoming 2009 World Police & Fire Games in British Columbia.

September 2008

NYPD Officer Tommy Koehler exemplifies perseverance.  In 2994 Tommy lost his left leg in a gun battle with a murder suspect.  Soon after losing his leg, Tommy was fitted for a below the knee prosthesis, and within 5 months he was competing in a 10K run.  Since then, Tommy has finished two Ironman competitions including the Hawaii Ironman World Championship.  He has also finished six Half Ironman competitions, four marathons, finished the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, and is the current American Male Amputee Marathon record holder with an incredible time of 3:03.  Tommy Koehler is what competition is all about!

June 2008

Special Agent Kevin O’Malley has worked with the Department of Homeland Security / Immigration and Customs Enforcement since 2001.  Kevin has participated in the Barcelona 2003 games, Quebec 2005 games, and the Adelaide 2007 games.  In Quebec he won a silver medal in 6-man Volleyball, and in Adelaide he won a bronze in Doubles Beach Volleyball.  Kevin will be competing in the 2009 Vancouver games and will help in organizing the 2011 New York City World Police & Fire Games at the Federal level.

May 2008

Firefighter Mike Reno of Engine 33 has brought much glory to the FDNY Boxing Team in his 6 years as a firefighter.  He has competed in the WP&FG in Barcelona, Spain, 2003 where he won silver, Quebec City, Quebec, 2005 where he won bronze, and Adelaide, Australia, 2007 where he took home the gold.  Mike has also won bouts against police and fire departments from NYC, L.A., Boston, Chicago, and London, England.

April 2008

Police Officer Sal Echel joined the NYPD in January 1992. He has been assigned to the 19th Precinct, covering the upper east side of Manhattan. Sal has attended the 2005 WPFG in Quebec, Canada, and the 2007 WPFG in Adelaide, Australia. He competed in sporting clays, skeet and trap, winning a total of 5 medals in 2005 and 8 in 2007. Sal also competes in the New York State Police and Fire Games. Sal is a world record holder in sporting clays and seeks to defend his title in British Columbia at the 2009 World Police & Fire Games.

February 2008

Retired FDNY Fire Lieutenant Bobby Daran spent his firefight career working in firehouses all over the city.  His last assignment before retiring was with Ladder 12 in Manhattan.  Bobby has competed in the WPFG since the Stockholm 1999 games.  He has competed in Basketball, Volleyball, and the Firefighter Muster.   He won a gold medal in Basketball and a silver medal in Volleyball at the Adelaide, Australia, 2007 WPFG.  As you can see by his photo, Bobby loves all sports.

January 2008

Retired FDNY Firefighter Louis Cacchioli spent his 20 year career assigned to Engine 47 on the upper Westside of Manhattan.  He participated in the 2005 games in Quebec, Canada, and the 2007 games in Adelaide, Australia, where he won the silver medal in 3x3 Basketball.  Louie spends his time as a tour guide and volunteers at Ground Zero and is involved in planning the NYC 2011 games.