Below is listed the criteria for entry into the World Police and Fire Games. Please read carefully. If unsure of your eligibility after reading, a questionnaire is provided. Please answer all questions completely and submit to our office at the address, fax or e-mail listed at the bottom of the form.

WORLD POLICE AND FIRE GAMES ENTRANT ELIGIBILITY

In order to be eligible to compete in the World Police & Fire Games, a person:

Must be at least 18 years old and be publicly employed as a full time Law Enforcement Officer or Firefighter;  

Must have formal Firefighter or Law Enforcement Officer training;

Their primary occupation must be that of a Law Enforcement Officer or Firefighter;

Must be a member of an eligible agency; or, a retired Law Enforcement Officer or Firefighter from an eligible agency.

Must have been sworn, or appointed, as a Firefighter or Law Enforcement Officer by an eligible agency.

Training/Academy Time:  If an agency hires officers or firefighters but requires completion of an academy prior to swearing in, the competitor may use the first day of the academy for the sworn date on the Sports Entry Form.

RETIREMENT STATUS DEFINED

Any person that enters the WPFG as a retired Law Enforcement officer or Firefighter must provide identification, in the form of an identification card or letter of identification from their agency, at Host Registration.  The two primary eligible retirement status definitions are as follows:

Normal Retirement:  The person has served an eligible agency for a time long enough to qualify for service retirement and has reached the age established by their retirement system for such retirement.

Length of Service Retirement:  The person has completed no less than 20 years of good conduct service, and resigns from his/her service, with or without a retirement benefit.

Other criteria may apply, including “Deferred Retirement”, “Lump Sum Retirement”, “Contract Retirement” and “Disability Retirement”.  Contact the Federation Headquarters office in San Diego if you are unsure as to your status.  Upon request from the Host or the WPFGF, any medically-retired entrant must provide a sport-specific medical release, authorizing that person to compete in the sport.

Any person terminated from an eligible agency for less than honorable reasons shall not be considered eligible to compete, regardless of length of service or retirement status.

AGENCY ELIGIBILITY

All eligible agencies must be specifically approved by the WPFGF (see listing).  The WPFGF may approve additional agencies, job descriptions and individuals if, after examination, it finds they qualify under the WPFG eligibility rules. 

If a full-time Law Enforcement Officer or Firefighter is employed by one of the following agencies or their equivalent, he/she is eligible to compete in the WPFG.   “Equivalent” means:  a duly-organized governmental sub-division such as municipal, provincial/state, national, etc.  Retired members of eligible agencies are also eligible.

Municipal, State and National Police Departments/Services
Municipal, County, State and National Fire Departments/Services
County Sheriff's Departments
County Correctional Officers (with Peace Officer status)
National and County Marshal's Offices
District Attorney's Investigators
Airport and Harbor/Port Police and Fire Departments
Highway Patrols
National Border Patrols
National Bureaus of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms
National/Federal Bureaus of Investigation
National Customs and Excise Services
National Department of Commerce: Special Agents
National Dept. of Treasury Criminal Investigators
National Immigration & Naturalization Services
National and State Parole Agents
National Postal Inspectors
National Secret Service Agents
National and State Alcoholic Beverage Control Officers
National and State Criminal Investigators
State Lifeguards
National and State Bureaus of Narcotics
National and State Corrections Officers
National and State Departments of Fish and Game
National and State Departments of Forestry
Accredited University & College Police
County and State Probation Officers

Any agency or representative from an agency not mentioned above, meeting the requirements of a Police or Fire Agency as defined, may petition the WPFGF Eligibility Committee for inclusion in the WPFG.

Agencies and Classifications Specifically Excluded:

Military Police and Fire Departments (non-civilian)
Volunteer Fire Departments
Private Business Fire Departments (Except as specifically approved)
Police and Sheriff's Reserves       
Police Cadets, Interns, or Community Service Officers
Private Security Services
Private Paramedic Services
Paramedics (without Firefighter status)
Auxiliary Police
Pre-employment Police Science Students
Seasonal Firefighters or Smokejumpers
County Correctional Officers (WITHOUT Peace Officer status)
Municipal Corrections Officers (Except as specifically approved)

* Note to applicants outside North America:  The definition of the term “volunteer” varies from country to country.  Direct inquiries to the WPFGF office in San Diego for specific guidelines.

 Eligibility Questionnaire