Officer Pete Guerin

Pete began his career with the San Jose Police Department in 1965.  He worked Patrol, Internal Affairs, Background Investigations, the Intelligence Unit, the Airport Division and was one the original FTO’s in the FTO Program. Pete played all the normal team sports in high school. After high school, cycling became an interest for Pete. While attending San Jose City College, he joined the Los Gatos Racing Team ( cycling ). In 1980, Pete’s recruit, Wayne Welch began cycling with him and talked him into competing in the California Police Olympics. That year, he competed in his first California Police Olympics in San Diego. He won 4 Gold Medals and a Silver Medal in various Cycling events. That same year, he also competed in the International Police Olympics in New York where he won 3 Gold Medals. After this, Pete competed in every California Police Olympics, several International Police Olympics before ending his competitive Cycling career at the World Police and Fire Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 1983, Pete was the Cycling coordinator at the first World Police and Fire Games held in San Jose. Throughout his years of competing, Pete won 11 Gold Medals, 3 Silver Medals and several Bronze Medals in various Cycling events. Pete’s goal was to "Enjoy the events and competitors and to be gracious in victory and honorable in defeat". For his outstanding athletic accomplishments and his dedication to Cycling, Officer Pete Guerin is inducted into the Police Amateur Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame.

Officer Jim Tomaino

Jim was a police officer with the San Jose Police Department for 29 years. He was a member of the San Jose Police Officers Association for 21 years and was President for the last 8 years of his career. In 1978, Jim and a few other officers went to the POA and asked for eight thousand dollars to form a sports organization at the San Jose Police Department. This was the approximate amount the POA contributed each year to fund SJPD sports teams. Jim and these officers went to an attorney for assistance and formed PAAF, the Police Amateur Athletic Foundation. Jim was also the lead force in forming the SJPD tackle football team and the “ Copper Bowl “. The Copper Bowl was a tackle football game between the SJPD football team and other law enforcement teams from throughout California and Nevada. Jim served on the Police Amateur Athletic Foundation Board of Directors for several years and also served a term as President. Jim participated in the California Police Olympics competing in Fast Pitch Softball, Slow Pitch Softball and Basketball. Jim was also the quarterback on the SJPD Football team. Jim continued playing Slow Pitch Softball after retiring, winning Gold and Silver Medals at the Western States Police and Fire Games. For having the fore thought and dedication to form the Police Amateur Athletic Foundation, Officer Jim Tomaino is inducted into the Police Amateur Athletic Foundation hall of Fame.

Sgt. Ralph Garner

Ralph joined the San Jose Police Department in 1970. He worked Patrol, the FTO Program and Internal Affairs. In 1986 he was promoted to Sergeant. Before his police career began, Ralph was active in organized sports including high school and college baseball. Bowling was “ something to do in the winter months “. He began competing in Bowling at the California Police Olympics in the early 1970’s. His longtime teammates included Gary Rosso, Jack Morris, Bill Tate, Nick Muyo, Andy Lane, Pres Winters and had two talented doubles partners, Bob Hollars and later Paul Woo. Ralph and his SJPD teammates were quite successful winning several Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals. Ralph’s medals are numerous:

• 1982 : All Events – Bronze
• 1983 : Singles – Gold, All Events – Gold
• 1984 : Singles – Bronze, Team – Bronze
• 1985 : Singles – Bronze
• 1986 : Open Singles – Gold
• 1987 : Open All Events – Bronze, PBA Roll Off – Bronze
• 1989 : Team – Gold, Open All Events – Bronze, PBA Roll Off – Bronze
• 1991 : Singles – Bronze
• 1992 : Team – Bronze, Open All Events – Bronze
• 1993 : Doubles - Gold
• 1995 : Doubles – Bronze
• 1996 : Singles – Bronze
• 1997 : PBA Roll Off – Gold, Team – Bronze, Doubles – Gold, All Events – Silver
• 1998 : Doubles – Bronze, Singles – Gold, All Events – Bronze
• 1999 : PBA Roll Off – Bronze, Team – Bronze, Doubles – Bronze, All Events – Bronze
• 2000 : Doubles – Gold, Singles – Bronze, All Events – Gold
• 2001 : Team – Gold
• 2004 : Doubles – Bronze
• 2006 : PBA Roll Off – Bronze, Doubles – Bronze, Singles – Silver, All Events – Gold
• 2009 : Open – Bronze
• 2010 : Team – Silver

For his outstanding athletic accomplishments, Sgt Ralph Garner is inducted into the Police Amateur Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame.

Officer Donna Arndt Backman

Donna began her career with the San Jose Police Department in 1983.  She worked Patrol, the Horse Mounted Unit, the FTO Program, the Vice Unit, the Assaults Unit and the Training Unit. In 2002, she decided to lateral to the Palo Alto Police Department. She retired from the Palo Alto Police Department in 2009. Donna began participating in the California Police Olympics and the World Police and Fire Games in 1985. She competed in Tug of War, Cross-Country, Triathlon both women’s and mixed team, Bench Press, Bodybuilding both individual and mixed pairs, 800 Medley Relay in Track and the Toughest Competitor Alive. Here is a list of Donna’s accomplishments :

• 1985 : Tug of War – Gold
• 1988 : Cross-Country – Bronze
• 1990 : Women’s Team Triathlon – Gold
• 1991 : Mixed Team Triathlon – Bronze
• 1992 : Cross-Country – Bronze, Women’s Team Triathlon – Silver
• 1993 : Bench Press – Gold, World Police and Fire Games Bench Press – Silver
• 1994 : Bench Press – Gold, Bodybuilding Mixed Pairs – Gold, Bodybuilding Individual – Bronze
• 1996 : 800 Medley Relay ( Track ) – Gold, Team Cross-Country – Gold, Bench Press – Gold, Cross-Country – Silver, TCA – Individual
• 1998 : Cross-Country – Bronze
• 1999 : TCA – Mixed Pairs – Silver, World Police and Fire Games Bench Press – Gold
• 2000 : Bench Press – Gold
• 2001 : Bench Press – Gold, TCA – Individual – Gold, TCA – Mixed Doubles – Gold, World Police and Fire Games TCA – Mixed Doubles – Silver, World Police and Fire Games TCA – Individual – Silver, World Police and Fire Games Bench Press – Gold
• 2002 : Bench Press – Gold, 800 Medley Relay ( Track ) – Silver
• 2003 : Bench Press – Gold
• 2004 : Bench Press – Gold

17 Gold Medals, 8 Silver Medals, 5 Bronze Medals. For her outstanding athletic accomplishments, Officer Donna Arndt Backman is inducted into the Police Amateur Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame.

Officer Mike Braxton

Mike began his career with the San Jose Police Department in 1994. He has Worked Patrol, the FTO Program, the Metro Unit and the Burglary Unit. He attended George Mason University where in 1982, he was the Jr National Champion in the High Jump and was a Bronze Medalist at the Jr Pan American Games also in the High Jump. In 1985, he was the IC4A’s Champion in the High Jump. Mike has competed in the California Police Olympics, the Las Vegas Games and the Western States Police and Fire Games. He has competed in the High Jump, Decathlon, Shot Put, Discus, Triple Jump, Flag Football, 5x5 Basketball and 3x3 Basketball. Mike has won 7 Gold Medals in the High Jump, 1 Gold Medal in the Decathlon, 1 Gold Medal in the Triple Jump, 2 Silver Medals in the High Jump, 2 Silver Medals in the Shot Put and  1 Silver Medal in the Triple Jump. He has also won Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals in Flag Football and medaled in 3x3 Basketball. Mike still holds the Western States Police and Fire Games Senior "A" record in the High Jump at 6’ 4”. For his outstanding athletic accomplishments, Officer Mike Braxton is inducted into the Police Amateur Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame.