Smith & Wesson Corp., the legendary, 153-year-old global provider of products and services for safety, security, protection and sport, will feature two nationally renowned law enforcement heroes as honorary crew chiefs at the #30 Smith & Wesson Chevy SKI Motorsports’ final two Busch Series events of the year at Texas Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway. In this special tribute to America’s law enforcement heroes, Smith & Wesson has partnered with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Grand Lodge national headquarters, which recently reviewed “Heroes” nominated by the FOP Lodge in each state. From that distinguished list of nominees, Detective Jennifer Fulford-Salvano of the Orange County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office, and Officer James Niggemeyer of the Columbus (Ohio) Police Department, were selected to receive national honors by the Grand Lodge.
Officer Niggemeyer, who brought an end to a deadly siege in a famed Columbus nightclub last December by shooting and killing the gunman, will be honorary crew chief for the Smith & Wesson Racing team during the O’Reilly Challenge event at Texas on Nov. 4-5. Among the four people killed by the gunman that fateful night in Columbus was rock guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott. Three others were injured in the incident. Officer Niggemeyer was the first to respond to the incident and ended it some three minutes after the initial 9-1-1 call, saving further casualties as the gunman held a hostage in a headlock armed with dozens of rounds of ammunition.
Detective Fulford, Smith & Wesson’s honorary crew chief for the Busch Series 200 at Phoenix on Nov. 11-12, was shot 10 times a year ago last May while trying to rescue three young children from two gunmen in a residential garage, but still had the wherewithal to shoot and fatally injure both gunmen and helped to bring an end to that siege without further incident. She was back on the job less than four months later and currently works in the OCSF’s Child Abuse Unit.
In addition to honoring Niggemeyer and Fulford, Smith & Wesson will host numerous FOP guests at the Texas and Phoenix races in a VIP hospitality venue. The #30 Smith & Wesson Chevrolet, driven by two-time Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday, Jr., will also sport a unique “black-and-white” law enforcement paint scheme, with the FOP logo displayed on the deck lid.
Commemorative racing merchandise honoring “American Heroes” featuring the FOP logo and “black-and-white” race car are currently on sale in conjunction with this special recognition program. A portion of the proceeds of these merchandise sales – which include stylish t-shirts, hats and scale replicas of the race car – will be donated by Smith & Wesson Racing to the FOP’s Grand Lodge Foundation. Items also are available at the Smith & Wesson Racing trackside trailer at NASCAR events, at selected collector’s shops and sporting goods stores nationwide, at www.smith-wesson-racing.com in the Smith & Wesson Racing Store, as well as the QVC shopping network.(PR)(11-1-2005)
