Photo By Michael Strasser | Soldiers from the 91st Military Police Battalion and civilian law enforcement...... read more read more
FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Oct. 15, 2021) -- Soldiers from the 91st Military Police Battalion and civilian law enforcement personnel tested their skills Oct. 14 during the annual Top Cop competition at Fort Drum.
“Top Cop is a good training opportunity for us to test our law enforcement skills, and it’s also great for developing partnerships with local law enforcement agencies,” said Capt. Aaron Wrinkle, 227th Military Police Detachment commander. “We’re all on the same team, so it’s always nice when we can get together and sort of have these bonding activities.”
Participants began the competition behind the wheel of a police vehicle as they navigated a timed Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC) – both forward and reverse. Afterward, they completed a physical fitness challenge that included burpees, pushups, a kettlebell carry and weight pull. Competitors also encountered “Rescue Randy,” a 165-pound dummy wearing a weighted vest, which they had to drag or carry to the finish line.
Sgt. Victor Duncan, 23rd Military Police Company, powered through the challenge to place first in this event.
“I love doing PT, absolutely,” he said. “I would say that was the hardest part of the competition. But overall, I thought the competition was pretty good. It got the blood pumping.”
James Bristol, from the City of Rome Police Department, earned the top scores for the EVOC and stress shoot events, while his colleague Dan Vescio placed first in the rifle and pistol marksmanship course.
Vescio also was named the overall Top Cop winner, and his name and agency will be added to the Top Cop plaque displayed at the Provost Marshal’s Office.
Rome Police Capt. Cheyenne Schoff said that members of the department’s Special Response Team looked forward to some friendly competition with their military counterparts.
“We got to do some training that we don’t always have the opportunity to do,” he said. “It’s always nice to come away with some wins, but you have some tough competitors here too.”
Lt. Col. Anthony Howell, 91st MP Battalion commander, also took a shot at Top Cop with his Soldiers.
“For me, being one of the competitors is better than just being an onlooker,” he said. “I didn’t think I would come out here and win this, and that’s fine. This was just about being here and slugging through the competition with our Soldiers and members of our law enforcement community.”
This was the fifth year that the 277th Military Police Detachment hosted the Top Cop competition.
“I thought this was a great opportunity to work with another law enforcement agency, and we had a great time out here,” said Staff Sgt. Maclaine Conner, 23rd Military Police Company. “I don’t normally do competitions like this, so this was something new and different for me.”
| Date Taken: | 10.15.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 10.15.2021 14:05 |
| Story ID: | 407350 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 457 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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