The Byrnes Mill Police Department has been named Outstanding Agency of the Year by the Special Olympics of Missouri.
“I am just blown away,” Byrnes Mill Police Chief Frank T. Selvaggio said.
He said the department received the honor at a Dec. 10 awards luncheon in Jefferson City.
“We knew we were getting some kind of award; we didn’t know it was to this level,” Selvaggio said.
Byrnes Mill police officer Cody Umfress said the department raised more than $9,000 for the Special Olympics of Missouri over the past year.
“It’s an honor,” he said. “As a department, we don’t do it for recognition. We do it because we truly care about the athletes.”
Selvaggio said the department took part in a polar plunge, sold T-shirts and hosted a car show to raise money for the Special Olympics this year.
Umfress said officers took part in several medal ceremonies at Special Olympics events in the past year.
He also said the department has been involved with the Special Olympics since 2011.
“Special Olympics has always been near and dear to me,” he said. “I have a brother who has autism. I also have some really close friends I grew up with and went to high school with who had Down syndrome. Seeing their determination, seeing what they were involved with in the Special Olympics, just really resonated with me.”
Selvaggio said he also understands the importance of helping people with special needs, like those who take part in the Special Olympics.
“When my son, Tony, was a teenager, he lost his vision,” Selvaggio said.
He said Tony attended the Missouri School for the Blind and became active in several sports.
“What I saw with him competing in sports was that he was able to overcome his disability,” Selvaggio said. “It was the athletics more than the schooling that showed him that he could succeed in life. Now as a young man, he owns his own home. He has a very good job.”
Selvaggio said he knows the competition in sports taught his son he could overcome challenges.
“That’s what I see in all these kids in the Special Olympics is that these sporting events give them an opportunity to know they can succeed in their lives, no matter what their challenges are,” he said.