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Retired police officer here more for friendship than competition

Retired police officer Joshua R. Martini, 39, of Rockville, Md., takes part in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games in Butler County. Michelle Herr/Team “Brothers in Arms”

Retired police officer Joshua R. Martini, 39, of Rockville, Md., has been competing in the Can-Am Police-Fire Games since 2016, and although the competition is fierce, especially between the competing police and fire athletes, the friendships he has built mean much more to him than the accolades.

“We come to compete, of course that’s what we’re here for, and especially to beat the firefighters,” said Martini with a laugh, “but the friends that I’ve made are the reason I am here.”

Martini competes in three sports: shooting trap, skeet and sporting clays, all within the shotgun category. Out of the 35 competitors, he knows 28 of them.

The group includes officers from all over the country and the world. One shooter is from Finland and Martini and his Army captain wife visited him while stationed in Germany. They also had the chance to go to Ireland to visit another police officer friend they met through the games.

“I am staying with, I call them my ‘cop mom and dad,’” Martini said. “He is a retired NYPD and I am staying with him at Bear Run Campground.”

The Can-Am Police-Fire Games, which started in 1977 as the Northwest Police Fire Games, provide first responders the chance to connect with others who deal or have dealt with the day-to-day stresses of the jobs they do. They all do the job for their own reasons. Martini’s was to try and make the world a better place.

“As with other officers, I didn’t become an officer to save the world, but to do good in the world and be that liaison between good and evil,” Martini said.

Martini was a crisis intervention team member, using his skills to do what he could for his hometown as a voice for his city and its citizens. Having others who have done the job to talk to and relax with is the best part of the games.

“We come for the camaraderie, the fun, the togetherness. The clay pigeons are just a bragging right that we can talk about when we crack open a cold beer at the end of the day,” Martini said.

Enjoying his time in Butler, Martini has been taking in the sights as he attends different events and exploring during his free time.

“The time in Butler has been quite nice. We’ve hit some restaurants in town, got to stroll through the downtown area, and got to see some of the universities, like Slippery Rock, because some of the competitions are there,” Martini said.

One athlete has impressed Martini the most.

“One of our competitors, his girlfriend is a real athlete. She swam in nine events, ran the 5K, a 10K and she’s doing shotgun sports. She’s a legitimate athlete,” Martini said.

The others he’s been most impressed with are the volunteers with the Butler Can-Am Games.

“I can’t say enough about the volunteers that are here at the shotgun events. They have been absolutely fantastic and extremely hardworking. This has been the best volunteer group that I have seen at any of the games,” he said. “So that means the people are really good too and that’s what makes it for me, the people.”

Retired police officer Joshua R. Martini, 39, of Rockville, Md., takes part in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games in Butler County. Michelle Herr/Team “Brothers in Arms”
Retired police officer Joshua R. Martini, 39 of Rockville, Md., takes part in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games in Butler County. Michelle Herr/Team “Brothers in Arms”
Retired police officer Joshua R. Martini, 39 of Rockville, Md., takes part in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games in Butler County. Michelle Herr/Team “Brothers in Arms”

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