In 1985, the first World Police and Fire Games were established. According to the event website, these games bring police officers, firefighters and customs and correction officers from 70 countries together to compete in over 60 sporting events, including boxing, beach volleyball and tug-of-war. The WPFG were created to inspire a feeling of camaraderie between local and international first responders. This year's games were held in Fairfax County, Virginia, from June 26-July 5.
Two first responders from Florida competed in these games. Dustin Konkel, a lieutenant with the Boynton Beach Fire Department, and Jennifer Martin, a police sergeant, were both successful in their events. Konkel, a first-time competitor, took gold in the flag football competition. He and his teammates were undefeated. Martin had participated in the games three times before. She took home a medal for seven of the 10 swimming competitions in which she was entered. Three of those medals were gold.
Both first responders have athletic backgrounds and trained hard to set themselves apart from the 12,000 other competitors from around the world. Both Konkel, 32, and Martin, 34, hope to return for the 2017 games in Montreal, Canada.