UC San Diego Policeman Earns Gold in Grueling Western Games Races

Paul K. Mueller | November 13, 2007

Mike Williams, a corporal in the UC San Diego Police Department, won a gold medal in the bike-riding competition of the Western States Police and Fire Games. Williams won gold medals in three of four races, earning the overall gold medal for the 77-mile course.

In the warm desert sun of Arizona’s highways, one of UC San Diego Police Department’s finest competed in a grueling four-day race during the 2007 Western States Police and Fire Games, and came away with both the gold medal and a sense of personal satisfaction.

Corporal Mike Williams of the UCSD Police Department participated in the men’s street-cycling competition, taking the lead over the course of several races. The 39-year-old police officer won gold medals in three of four races, ranking first overall to take the gold in the exhausting 77-mile course.

“Mike exemplifies the high level of fitness we encourage both at work and at play,” said UCSD Police Chief Orville King. “A lot of people see the UCSD on his jersey, and they see a winner.”

Williams joined the UCSD Police Department two years ago, after serving for 17 years at the San Diego Police Department.

“I’ve been racing for about seven years,” says Williams. “I like the good, clean competition and the sense of camaraderie the athletes share. I’m glad that I could represent UC San Diego successfully against some very talented riders.”

He says he originally began bike riding as a way to trim his weight. “I was over 200 pounds,” he says, “and didn’t like the way I looked or felt. Bike riding helped me get into shape.” The youthful looking policeman with a ready grin now cuts a fit and trim picture in his UCSD Police Department uniform.

This was Williams’ second time competing in the Western States Police and Fire Games, the third largest amateur sports event in the world.  Multiple agencies from western states were represented in events ranging from bowling to trap shooting.

Williams is already planning to participate in the next Western States Police and Fire Games, scheduled for August 2008 in Boise, Idaho, as well as the 2009 games in Ontario, British Columbia.