Cops on Top would like to introduce the 2012 Cops on Top Aconcagua memorial expedition team members:
Troy Bacon is the Chief of Police at the Frankfort Police Department in Indiana and will serve as the expedition team leader. Troy has lead two successful major expeditions for Cops on Top which include the 2009 Aconcagua expedition and the 2010 Denali expedition. He has reached the summits of Denali, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Whitney, Mt. Hood, Granite Peak, several Colorado 14ers, and over half of the Southern Sixers (as recognized by the Carolina Mountain Club). Troy has been an active member of Cops on Top since 2005 and currently sits on the Cops on Top Board of Directors.
Chuck Porter has been an active member of Cops on Top since 2005 and believes strongly in the mission of never forgetting and helping those who have lost loved ones in the line of duty to heal. He was a team member on the successful Denali expedition in 2006 for the Summit for Heroes memorial climb and serves as the 2012 Aconcagua expedition manager. He has reached the summits of Mt. Whitney, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Hood, Granite Peak, 34 Colorado 14ers, and other state highpoints. He enjoys mountain biking, ice climbing, and participating in Colorado Mountain Club activities. Participating in this expedition is a dream come true for such an amazing cause.
Ryan Hunt is a veteran of the Mesa Police Department in Arizona and is currently a Detective on the Community Interaction and Neighborhood Enforcement Team (C.I.N.E.T.). Ryan has been a Cops on Top member for two years, has reached the summit of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Whitney, and made multiple ascents of Humphreys Peak; including a summit during the 2009 Cops on Top Summit for Heroes memorial climb. Ryan also organized and lead the 2010 Cops on Top Summit for Heroes Mt. Rainier team. Ryan enjoys distance running, climbing and hiking, and is a member of the Arizona Hiking and Off-Trail Explorers.
Nelson Grant is a Deputy with the Flathead County Sheriffs Office in Montana where he served on the Flathead County Mountain Rescue Team, the Special Weapons and Tactics Team, and in the Patrol Division. Nelson is an outdoor fanatic and loves to hunt, backcountry snowboarding, and climbing. Nelson reached the summit of Denali during the Cops on Top 2010 Denali memorial expedition.
Paul Hermans has ben a Police Officer with the Peoria Police Department in Arizona for the past 13 years. Paul has completed multiple multi-day backpacking expeditions, reached the summits of several 14ers including Mt. Elbert and Uncompahgre Peak, and other state highpoints including New Mexico's Wheeler Peak (13,161 ft) and Nevada's Boundary Peak (13,140 ft). Paul has completed training in winter survival and crevass rescue and has completed the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim in under 12 hours. He is also a department physical fitness instructor and an IPMBA police mountain bike instructor.
Joshua Wiseman has given service to the USMC FAST Teams as well as the Portland Police Department in Maine. In 2010 Josh retired early from law enforcement due to a career ending injury. This injury also prevented Josh from participating in the 2010 Cops on Top Denali memorial climb. His climbing ambitions were briefly sidelined but now have become reality as he has recovered. Josh has been a Cops on Top member and supporter since 2008 and has reached the summits of the high points of ME, NH, MA, VA, CO, NM, and CA as well as successful ascents of dozens of New England classic rock and ice alpine routes. Josh feels the Aconcagua trip is a natural progression and dream to honor a fallen officer.
Robert (Bob) Gabrych is an Officer with the Surprise Police Department in Arizona and former Summer Mountain Leader, Winter Mountain Leader, and Military Ski Instructor with the United States Marine Corps. Bob has climbed Mt. Whitney, Mt. Shasta, Finsteraahorn and Frundenhorn in Switzerland, Mauna Kea, and Humphreys Peak. Bob stays in shape by regular cardio and muscle training, hiking, mountain biking, and running.
Norman Simons is an Officer with the Seqium Police Dept, in Washington. He is also a retired NOAA Special Agent and NPS Ranger. Norman is an Emergency Medical Technician and is a former Avalanche Rescue Instructor. Norman has climbed Kilimanjaro, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Whitney, Mt. Shasta and numerous other mountains above 14,000 ft in Colorado. Norman maintains his physical fitness by mountain biking and running long distances daily.