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Georgia Police & Fire Games draw hundreds of participants to Hall County
0618topcop
Last year's winner, Joe Satterfield, front, a captain for the Cherokee County Police Department, goes up against Hall County's Joe Groover, a canine handler, at the Man vs. Man Reactive Shooting event as part of the 2008 Georgia Police & Fire Games Tuesday at the Hall County Sheriff's Training Facility . This is just one of the many events taking place throughout the week. - photo by SARA GUEVARA

Pushing cars. Climbing walls. Shooting with pinpoint accuracy.

This is not your typical Olympics. These are just some of a series of challenges involved in the weeklong Georgia Police & Fire Games — law enforcement’s version of the Olympics.

The 2008 Georgia Police & Fire Games will be continuing through Saturday at sites throughout Hall County.

Nearly 1,000 participants from law enforcement departments across the state will compete for medals and bragging rights in sporting and skill events.

Marci Summer, a member of the executive committee for the event, said, "It’s (law enforcement officers) showcasing their specialty skills in law enforcement and firefighting."

Cpl. Melissa Shaw of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office won the gold in the revolver class of the combat shooting competition.

"We do competitions other than this, so it’s just practice and fun to do," she said.

For participating SWAT teams, "practice" means doing a timed obstacle course in full gear that weighs more than 50 pounds. In sweltering heat, the teams must execute simulated scenarios such as carrying a "rescued officer" to safety and rescuing a "hostage" from a hostile situation.

Sgt. Kiley Sargent of Hall County said the competitions are free and open to the public.

He added that registration for the event, which is open to all certified law enforcement officers, will stay open until the day of the game.

"We encourage the public to come out and see what we’re doing," Sargent said. "The departments send their best to these games. It displays our training. ...This is what we have to offer to our communities."

For more information, call 770-531-3953 or visit www.gapoliceandfiregames.com.