Behind the Badge
Some of the most physically fit, mentally tough women in Southern California – many of them peace officers – tested their mettle Saturday, July 9 during the first-ever Orange County Sheriff’s Department Women’s Fitness Challenge.
The day-long event was held at the OCSD Regional Training Academy in Tustin and featured 100 female athletes engaging in physically demanding, CrossFit-inspired routines, competing against the clock and each other.
But perhaps more importantly, the challenge was organized as a fundraiser and took in $5,250 for Project 999, a nonprofit that supports families of officers killed or injured in the line of duty.
Olivia Coco lifts a 26-lb. weight above her head during the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge on July 9.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Law enforcement agencies represented included the OCSD, with 12 participants, along with officers from the Anaheim, Fullerton, Newport Beach and Santa Ana police departments.
The event was organized by OCSD deputies Stacia Russell and Jennifer Cole, who owns a CrossFit gym along with her husband.
“It’s going to be an annual event,” Cole said. “We want to make it bigger and better every year.”
The competition included Kettlebell swings, medicine ball overheads, crabwalks, sit ups, lunges and a demanding obstacle course featuring hurdles, monkey bars, a sandbag carry and sled drag.
Sandra Arauza carries a medicine ball as people cheer during timed competition at the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The event also was designed as in informal recruitment tool to get women interested in careers with the OCSD, said Assistant Sheriff Linda Solorza.
“The goal is to introduce these strong, motivated women to law enforcement,” Solorza said. “Hopefully some of them who have never before considered a career in law enforcement will be inspired by our female deputies out here competing and take the opportunity today to learn more.”
The OCSD had information booths set up, highlighting the different departments within the agency.
While not a member of law enforcement, competitor Bonnie Spartan, 33, wanted to support the cause and wanted her 12-year old daughter to see powerful women in action.
Cindi Martin, bottom, joins other athletes with a medicine ball routine during timed competition at the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge. Behind her is Carrie Vaifanua and Ally Swan.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
“I wanted her to see all these amazing athletes out here,” said Spartan, who lives in Oceanside. “Girls today can use as many examples of strong women as they can get.”
Denise Bueno, 22, a senior cadet with the Fullerton Police Department and an aspiring police officer, participated along with Fullerton officers Sgt. Kathryn Hamel, Ginny Johnson and cadet Alexa Elkabarra.
“I want to compete and support what this fundraiser is for,” Bueno said.
Bueno works out at CrossFit RXD in Anaheim, but said the fitness challenge was more like “CrossFit on steroids.”
Sgt. Kathryn Hamel of the Fullerton PD starts the timed competition bouncing a medicine ball off a wall during the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
“It was pretty tough but definitely worth the experience,” Bueno said. “A nice welcome into the law enforcement community … I hope they do it again next year.”
Ironically, the event took place less than 48 hours after five police officers in Dallas were murdered and nine more wounded in an ambush-style shooting.
A moment of silence was observed to honor the slain and wounded officers prior to the start of the competition.
In the wake of the tragedy, the competition was particularly emotional for OCSD Deputy Olivia Coco, who was asked why she was competing.
“I’m here for my partners,” said Coco, 24, who has been on the job for five years. “They are my family. We do the same job, no matter what color uniform we wear. Any death feels like a personal one.”
Oksana Aranskaja swings a 26-lb. weight above her head during timed competition at the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Winners were:
Division I (elite)
- Ally Swan
- Zuleyma Sarmiento
- Kim Graeber
Division II
- Natalie Ruiz
- Myrna Caballero (retired OCSD deputy)
- Alida Lopez
Jonnelle Cato carries a medicine ball to the next stage of a timed competition at the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Michelle Perez, left, Dana Chaney and Jennifer Martinez, bottom right, use medicine balls during timed competition.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Fellow competitors and friends cheer on the athletes.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Rachel Lawrence carries a medicine ball to the next stage of a timed competition.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Ally Swan leaps over barriers during a timed obstacle course competition. Swan would later take 1st place in Division I.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Justine Smith rings a bell at the top of a long rope during timed competition at the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Krystal Grossi crosses over with the monkey bars during a timed obstacle course competition.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Irma Ellis flashes a smile as she carries a medicine ball to the next stage of a timed competition.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Michelle Taylor and Gabi Gomez, right, perform pushups during timed competition.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Myrna Caballero, a retired OCSD deputy, carries a medicine ball over to the next stage of a timed competition during the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge. Caballero would go on to take 2nd place, Division II.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Ashley Hernandez swings a 26-lb. weight above her head during timed competition at the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Keila Lagunes carries a medicine ball to the next stage of a timed competition.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Sgt. Kathryn Hamel of the Fullerton PD swings a 26-lb. weight above her head during timed competition. Behind her is Irma Ellis.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Justine Collins, left, and Jenna Byers swing weights above their heads during timed competition.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Ashley Hernandez carries a medicine ball to the next stage of a timed competition.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Rochelle Rivera, bottom, and Lorena Preciado behind her starts the timed competition by bouncing a medicine ball off a wall during the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Rochelle Rivera swings a 26-lb. weight above her head during timed competition.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Myrna Caballero, retired OCSD deputy, is congratulated by OCSD Lt. Bert Copeland after she completed the first part of the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge. Caballero would go on to take 2nd place, Division II.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Oksana Aranskaja carries a medicine ball to the next stage of a timed competition at the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Elena Vieira carries a medicine ball to the next stage of a timed competition.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Zuleyma Sarmiento, left, and Kim Graeber swing 26-lb. weights above their heads during timed competition at the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge. Sarmiento went on to take 2nd place for Division I and Graeber took 3rd.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD Officer Leslie Vargas during timed competition at the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge that raised money for Project 999.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Ally Swan swings a 26-lb. weight above her head during timed competition at the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge. Swan would go on to take first place in Division I.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Michelle Perez, left, Dana Chaney and Jennifer Martinez, right, use medicine balls during timed competition.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Women, including Jonnelle Cato, center, do pushups on both sides of a block while carrying a medicine ball during timed competition at the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Ashley Hernandez of Anaheim, left, and Brenda Herrera of Fullerton get psyched up before the start of the OCSD Women’s Fitness Challenge.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Dana Chaney swings a 26-lb. weight above her head during timed competition.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Division II winners, from left, Myrna Caballero (retired OCSD deputy, second place), Natalie Ruiz (first place) and Alida Lopez (third place). OCSD photo
Division I (elite) winners, from left, Zuleyma Sarmiento (second place), Ally Swan (first) and Kim Graeber (third). OCSD photo
The participants pose for a picture.
