Irvine’s Finest

These Irvine officers have bragging rights: They’re been declared the toughest cops in California.

They beat out hundreds of other law enforcement colleagues in a statewide Olympics-style triathlon last year, easily seizing gold medals even after one of the teammates lost precious time when the pace car he was following took a wrong turn.

They can’t afford a similar mistake Sunday in Calgary, Canada, where the World Police and Fire Games will draw nearly 10,000 law enforcement officers and firefighters. “Team Irvine” will be pitted against some of the most elite athletes from 50 countries.

“You don’t just enter the World Police and Fire Games unless you think you have a decent chance at a good showing,” said police officer and Team Irvine cyclist Troy Gielish, 31. “It could be a very embarrassing move.”

It wasn’t until they won the 1996 state Police Games in Long Beach that the trio decided to enter the world event, which is held every two years and attracts more than 60,000 spectators. The games include 64 sports competitions, ranging from tennis to boxing and events specific to police training, such as canine handling and battles between SWAT teams.

“We’ve heard the competition is pretty brutal all around,” said Dwight Henninger, 37, who recently became a lieutenant with the Laguna Beach Police Department after a 14-year career in Irvine. “We have those firefighters to worry about. All firefighters do is work out. Everybody knows that.”

Teammate Barry Aninag, 34, isn’t worried.

“I’m confident we’ll fare well,” he said. “We’ve trained hard and we’re ready.”

Henninger will swim one mile in frigid Lake Chaparral, while Gielish will cycle 26 miles and Aninag will run more than six miles, all over mountainous terrain. They’ll compete against nearly 40 other teams, including 15 teams of firefighters.

The pairing of police officers with firefighters is an odd combination to many athletes, though. The two professions have very little to do with each other in some countries, said Jeff Leonard, a World Games spokesman in Calgary.

“In North America they work together a lot, but that’s not universal,” he said. “We’ve had Italian athletes say, ‘You may as well just call it the police and electrician games.’ That’s how far apart the two are there.”

A fourth Irvine police officer, Damon Tucker, will swim in several individual events throughout the week. Tucker, who has clinched six gold medals at state Police Games in years past, said he doesn’t expect the same results in Canada.

“I’m sure this is where I’ll be knocked down a little,” said Tucker, 27. “It could be quite good for my cockiness level.”

Irvine Police Chief Charles Brobeck, who has for years encouraged his troops to make physical fitness a priority, called the officers’ presence at the World Games “an extreme honor, no matter how they finish.”

“I’m really pleased that our department is going to be there, not just to represent us, but the police officers of the United States,” he said. “These games are such a big deal. . . . There’s a real spirit and camaraderie to them. After all, the athletes really are on the same team.”