First responders have an appetite for competition at Guns N Hoses

Cody Briggs, 16, and his father Dennis Briggs, right, stretch out outside the Citizen Crossfit in Anaheim.
Cody Briggs, 16, is a sophomore at Canyon High School and Dennis Briggs, 42, is a sergeant with Anaheim Police Department. The pair will compete in the Anaheim Police Association's first Guns-n-Hoses competition, where police officers and firefighters from across the region will battle it out in various feats of strength.
Anaheim police officers Heather Scaglione, left, and Brian Paqua work out at CrossFit AVA in Orange on Wednesday.
Anaheim Sgt. Dennis Briggs said training for the upcoming contest with his teammate and 16-year-old son, Cody, a sophomore at Canyon High School, is a good bonding experience. The father-and-son duo started CrossFit workouts a year ago and said they are now prepared to put their new found skills to use in a competition.
Cody Briggs, 16, is a sophomore at Canyon High School and Dennis Briggs, 42, is a sergeant with Anaheim Police Department.
Working out with weights, Cody, left and Dennis, right, Briggs, father and son, prepare for the Guns-n-Hoses competition later this month.
Newport Beach firefighter JC Nessa is among those scheduled to compete in the Anaheim Police Association's first Guns-n-Hoses competition.
Father David Briggs and his 16-year-old son, Cody, work out at the Citizen Crossfit, with dad coming 4-5 times a week and Cody putting in 3 times a week.
Newport Beach firefighter Roman Taijeron and fellow firefighter JC Nessa will be competing in the Anaheim Police Association's first Guns-n-Hoses competition.
Anaheim police officer Heather Scaglione, left, and Kristen Garcia of the San Bernadino sheriff's department share a laugh during a workout at CrossFit AVA in Orange on Wednesday. Scaglione will participate in the Anaheim Police Association's first Guns-n-Hoses competition, where police officers and firefighters from across the region will battle it out in various feats of strength.
Anaheim police officer Heather Scaglione, left, and Kristen Garcia of the San Bernadino sheriff's department share a laugh during a workout at CrossFit AVA in Orange on Wednesday. Scaglione will participate in the Anaheim Police Association's first Guns-n-Hoses competition, where police officers and firefighters from across the region will battle it out in various feats of strength.
Kristen Garcia of the San Bernadino sheriff's department shares a laugh with Anaehim PD's Heather Scaglione at CrossFit AVA in Orange on Wednesday.
Anaheim police officer Heather Scaglione trains at CrossFit AVA in Orange on Wednesday. Scaglione will participate in the Anaheim Police Association's first Guns-n-Hoses competition, where police officers and firefighters from across the region will battle it out in various feats of strength.
Anaheim police officers Heather Scaglione, right, and Brian Paquaworkout at CrossFit AVA in Orange on Wednesday.
Anaheim police officer Heather Scaglione, left, and Kristen Garcia of the San Bernadino sheriff's department share a laugh during a workout at CrossFit AVA in Orange on Wednesday. Scaglione will participate in the Anaheim Police Association's first Guns-n-Hoses competition, where police officers and firefighters from across the region will battle it out in various feats of strength.
Anaheim police officers Brian Paqua, left, Heather Scaglione and Kristen Garcia of the San Bernadino sheriff's department workout at CrossFit AVA in Orange on Wednesday.
Anaheim police officer Heather Scaglione, left, and Kristen Garcia of the San Bernadino sheriff's department train at CrossFit AVA in Orange on Wednesday. Scaglione will participate in the Anaheim Police Association's first Guns-n-Hoses competition, where police officers and firefighters from across the region will battle it out in various feats of strength.

By Art Marroquin | Orange County Register

April 15, 2015 at 9:42 p.m.

ANAHEIM – Some do it for the bragging rights. For others, it’s a chance to bond.

And for Officer Heather Scaglione, participating in the Guns N Hoses Fitness Competition is a chance to show that a female cop can compete just as well as her male counterparts.

“I think it’s important for law-enforcement officers who are athletic to participate in athletic competitions, because it’s something practical that goes toward our careers,” Scaglione said, getting ready to work out on a recent day. “We all run after suspects, take them down and get the arrest.”

Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” and Warrant’s “Cherry Pie” blared in an Orange gym.

The Anaheim officer and a teammate, Deputy Kristen Garcia of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, were pumping iron to prepare for the first Guns N Hoses, sponsored by the Anaheim Police Association and set for Saturday at Farmers Park.

The strength-and-fitness contest will include three high-intensity workouts incorporating various lifting and training elements. More than 40 two-person teams of police officers, firefighters and civilians will compete in men’s and women’s divisions.

Proceeds will go to the Anaheim Police Association’s Survivors and Scholarships Fund, which doles out money to families of officers killed in the line of duty and to officers’ children for college. The police union, which represents more than 300 sworn officers in Anaheim, hopes to raise $30,000 through entry fees and sponsorships.

“It is a different way for us to raise funds while bringing police and fire personnel together with non-sworn competitors,” said Kerry Condon, the Anaheim Police Association’s president.

Newport Beach Fire Capt. Roman Taijeron and his teammate, firefighter J.C. Nessa, started CrossFit training about eight years ago and regularly enter physical fitness contests. They like to see how they measure up with other first-responders.

“When you get together with other public-safety personnel, you see a real competitive side come out,” Taijeron said. “Everyone is respectful and friendly, because we all have a job to go back to, but it’s good to walk away with some bragging rights.”

Anaheim Sgt. Dennis Briggs said training for the upcoming contest with his teammate and son, Cody, a sophomore at Canyon High School, is a good bonding experience. The father-and-son duo started CrossFit workouts a year ago.

“Cody would probably say that we’re in this to win, but I just think it’s a great opportunity to do something together,” Briggs said. “There aren’t too many opportunities where you can call your son your teammate.”

Contact the writer: amarroquin@ocregister.com