SDCCD Police Officers Go for Police Olympic Gold

Currently the world is tuned into the XX Winter Olympics in Turin. However, in April and June there will be two athletic competitions that are of importance specifically to the law enforcement community. They are the Arizona Police and Fire Games and the Western States Police and Fire Games. Both games promote the concept of physical fitness, sport and good will within their respective communities with competition ranging from Archery to Wrestling.

This year there are several San Diego Community College Police Officers that will be competing in both the Arizona Police and Fire Games and the Western States Police and Fire Games. They are Sgt. Gemma Styles (archery), Sgt. Nick Johns (hammer, shot put and discus), Police Officer Timothy Meise (road and mountain bike), Officer Jon Webb (running), Officer Richard Ferrell (running), Officer Marco Garza (tactical pistol and the triathlon), Officer Jeff Claiborne (karate), Officer Lokeni Porter (golf) and Officer James Everett (boxing).

For most of the SDCCD Police Officers this will be their first time competing in the games. However, Sgt. Gemma Styles and Sgt. Nick Johns are veterans. They have competed in several police games in the past and are gold, silver and bronze medallists. 

Sgt. Gemma Styles’ last gold medal was in karate. She also has silver and bronze medals in several karate events from past California, Arizona and Nevada Police and Fire games. This year she is looking for gold in the archery events. The three archery events she will be competing in are the Field/Hunter, 3D and 900 rounds. At the Arizona games there will be an extra event which is a combined 3D/Hunter round. Archery events are unisex so she will be competing with the men in all her events. This doesn’t bother her though since many large archery competitions are unisex anyway.

Aside from archery Sgt. Styles is an active artist. She is a juried member of Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park and exhibited her art in the annual juried Small Image Show in Balboa Park. She has won a Best in Show Award at the Del Mar Fair for her multimedia sculpture and Best in Show in the category of  Black and White Photography in Washington State. 

Sgt. Gemma Styles (center) competing in the World Archery Festival in Las Vegas

She works with all types of materials, but her favorite materials are glass, ceramic and wire. Sgt. Styles also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from San Diego State University.

Sgt. Nick Johns competes in the track and field events of the hammer, shot put and discus.  He has gold medals in both the hammer and the shot put. He has also competed and received silver medals, as well as gold, in past California, Arizona and Nevada police games. 

Sgt. Johns on the podium after winning the gold in 2002. 

Sgt. Johns is also an excellent musician. He currently plays trombone in the Mesa College Concert Band. The band plays at various locations during the summer and the holiday season. He also plays guitar. Sgt. Johns also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Sciences from San Diego State University.

Good Luck to all the SDCCD Police Officers who will be competing in this year’s games.

Officer Diana Medero, Valuable Campus Resource (WE Online May 2003)

Acts of Valor and Model Police Officer (WE Online May 2002)