Stafford Officers Take 1st In 'Grueling' Endurance Competition

STAFFORD, NJ — Four Stafford Township Police Department officers are being celebrated for taking home first place in a "grueling" competition designed for first responders.

Tyler Szwed, Nicholas Fabrizzio, Austin Pharo and William Gallagher participated in the inaugural Iron Steel Elite Endurance Competition in Laurel, Maryland on June 5.

According to the police department, the course the team completed was more than 5 miles of trail running, water crossings and intense strength challenge. They finished it in 1 hour and 16 minutes, a full 8 minutes ahead of the second-place team.

These four men are young and relative newcomers to the force - Fabrizzio, Pharo and Gallagher were all sworn in in April 2024.

Pharo continues the legacy of his father, the retired Capt. Herman Pharo. Both Pharo and Gallagher are also recent grads of the Ocean County Police Academy. Upon graduation, the two took home a variety of academic and physical rewards.

"We're incredibly proud of these officers for their commitment to excellence and for representing Stafford Township with strength and professionalism," the police department said.