For Immediate Release: June 21, 2024
OPD News:
OPD Officer Wins Third Consecutive Gold Medal
For the third year in a row, Oakland Police Officer David Garcia has won the gold medal in men’s Brazilian Jiu-jitsu at the 2024 United States Police & Fire Olympic Championships (USPFC), held in San Diego, CA. Officer Garcia won by besting Cole Hagel of the Covina Police Department.
Officer Garcia, who joined the Oakland Police Department (OPD) in 2016, has a strong background in the art of jiu-jitsu and grappling. He also wrestled in high school and college.
Officer Garcia won his first gold medal from the USPFC in 2022. Remarkably, Officer Garcia remains undefeated at the games and has not allowed an opponent to score a point against him for three consecutive years.
Each year, this event brings in thousands of athletes to take part in the Olympic-style nationwide competition for first responders and public safety personnel.
The athletes competed in 38 different sports, including basketball, soccer, and track and field.
The USPFC is an Olympic-style nationwide competition for first responders and public safety personnel, drawing thousands of athletes each year. Participants compete in 38 different sports, including basketball, soccer, and track and field. The event is sponsored by the California Police Athletic Foundation (CPAF) and is open to first responders, 911 dispatchers, detention-custodial officers, crime scene investigators, lifeguards, and other eligible public safety personnel.
For more information about the annual event, click the link: https://cpaf.org/