Contact: Lieutenant Colonel Raymond B. Studley, Deputy Superintendent/Chief of Field Operations Telephone: (401) 444-1002
Colonel Steven G. O'Donnell, Superintendent, of the Rhode Island State Police and Commissioner/Director of Public Safety announces that on Saturday, February 25, 2012, members of the Rhode Island State Police, under the team name Rhode Island State Police Climbers, participated in the American Lung Association's (ALA) Fight for Air Climb "Peak the Plaza" charity stair race. Team members included: Lieutenant Shari Russell, Trooper Nicholas Messinger, Trooper Ryan Santo, Trooper Adam Kennett, Trooper John Brown, Trooper Roupen Bastajian, Trooper Amoncio DaCruz, Trooper Theodore Gibbons, Trooper Mathew Lynch, Trooper Erik Jensen, Trooper Michael O'Neill, Trooper Nicholas Martin, Trooper Robert Hopkins, Trooper Jason Muccino, and Trooper Michael Bowen.
The Rhode Island State Police Climbers were one of many teams to compete in the vertical marathon to make it to the top of One Financial Plaza. Hundreds of participants raced up 29 floors, one every 20 seconds, bounding 58 flights (595 stairs). This year, the ALA sought to honor our "heroes in blue" by creating a competitive Law Enforcement Challenge. In the past four (4) years of this event, only Providence Police Department has entered a law enforcement team. This year, the ALA succeeded in attracting five law enforcement teams to include: Rhode Island State Police, Providence Police (2 teams), Barrington Police and Fall River, Massachusetts Police. The team award is based on the top five finishers for a team.
The Rhode Island State Police Climbers placed first in the Law Enforcement Challenge, winning the award for Fastest Law Enforcement Team, with an average time of 3:45 for the top five climbers. The climbers in this group included: Trooper Erick Jensen (3:14), Trooper Nicholas Messinger (3:39), Trooper Theodore Gibbons (3:55), Trooper Roupen Bastajian (3:56) and Trooper Mathew Lynch (4:01). The Rhode Island State Police Climbers also took the First Overall Team Award by having the fastest finishing time of all non-firefighter teams, which included 28 teams.
Of special note, Trooper Erick Jensen received the first place award in the Male age group 19-29 and the first place overall award for all law enforcement participants. Trooper Nicholas Messinger received the third place award in the Male age group 19-29 and third place overall award for all law enforcement participants. Troopers Lynch (10th), Bastajian (8th) and Gibbons (7th) finished in the top ten in the law enforcement category.
Colonel O'Donnell stated, "Maintaining top physical condition is part of our overall culture. I am proud of our Troopers!"
The Rhode Island State Police Climbers were successful in raising $2,515.00 as of the date of the climb, placing the team second in the company category rank.
Additional information on the Fight for Air Climb may be obtained at: http://action.lungusa.org/goto/RISPclimbers