Verona Police Officers Take on 'Tough Mudder' For the Troops

On Sunday April 10, members of the Verona Police Department P.B.A. Local 72 braved a brutal, 11-mile course of mud, snow, freezing water, fire and smoke in one of the country’s toughest physical and mental endurance challenges ever created; “The Tough Mudder”.

Police Officers Page Parsels, Anthony Condorelli, Tim Banta, Anthony O’Connor, Robert Shafer, and Dave Wardrope participated in the event, which was created to raise funds for The Wounded Warrior Project, a non-profit organization that helps American servicemen and servicewomen who have been severely injured. In 2010, participants around the country raised more than $600,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Team Captain Page Parsels, himself a veteran, said Local 72 entered the event to help veterans with their recovery efforts.

"Having several colleagues who have been involved in the military and being a veteran myself, it was an honor and a privilege to serve these courageous heroes of our Armed Forces. It's because of their sacrifices, is what enables us to enjoy our freedoms each day," he said.

Parsels called The Tough Mudder, "A true test of our physical, mental, and emotional limits," but said getting through it filled him and the rest of the participating officers with "a great sense of pride."

"I understand that a great deal of money was raised this weekend for our wounded veterans and their families," he said. "It gives me a great sense of pride to know that Verona P.B.A. Local 72 was able to strongly support this charity."

Parsels said in addition to the event raising money for a great cause, it was an opportunity for the officers to work together to accomplish a common goal.

"It was special to me to witness the camaraderie and selflessness displayed through 11 miles of mud, snow, freezing water, fire, and smoke. Members of our union trained together for this event and it was a great feeling of accomplishment to see all of us complete such a challenging test.”