Fundraiser holds special meaning for Nahant cop

NAHANT – Ten years after former colleagues on the New York City Police Department told him to honor commitments at home rather than join the 9-11 rescue, Nahant Police Sgt. Stephen Shultz is heading to New York to help recovery efforts. This time he’s bringing ice skates.”I was very torn at the time,” Shultz said, recalling the events of Sept. 11, 2001. “I had inner feelings of responsibility to help out, but it was four days before my wedding and I had other responsibilities here. [Former colleagues] said to stay home ? it will be pretty special for me to get back down there.”Shultz, along with Swampscott Police Sgt. Jay Locke, and Nahant resident and Amtrak Police Officer Michael Szczawinski will be playing on the New England Police Hockey Team at the World Police and Fire Games from Aug 26 to Sept. 5. The event – which Shultz described as the Olympic Games for fire, police and emergency medical personnel – is held every two years. This year, it will be held in New York City to commemorate the 2001 attacks, and organizers expect it to attract 15,000 competitors, Shultz said, in events from ice hockey to off-shore fishing. The games are currently the second-largest multi-sport event in the world after the Summer Olympics, and organizers expect representatives from more than 70 different countries to attend, according to the website. Proceeds will benefit the Police Athletics League and the New York City Firefighters Burn Center.Nahant native Shultz started his police career in the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in 1999. By September 2001, he had transferred to a department in Bartlett, N.H. Although he didn’t have any personal friends who were lost in the terrorist attacks, Shultz said he still felt the impact of the event.”Everywhere from New York City to a small town like Nahant, our responsibilities as a police officer changed that day,” Shultz said. “It put being a police officer in another light.”Shultz said the terrorist attacks also solidified his resolve to be a police officer. But he has also had a long dedication to hockey, starting at age 5 and continuing with pick-up games approximately 34 years later.This will be Shultz’ second time competing at the games. He joined the New England Police Hockey Team before the 2005 games in Quebec City and said that he really enjoyed the opportunity to gather with other fire and police professionals in celebration rather than after a tragic event. Plus it was “pretty good” – but fun – competition.”As competitive as it is – and police and firefighters tend to be competitive – it is pretty lighthearted,” he said. “There’s no body checking. We do have jobs we go back to,” he joked.To help cover the team’s expenses, Shultz has helped organize a fundraising event at the Lazy Dog Sports Bar in Wyoma Square on Thursday, Aug. 18. The restaurant will dedicate 10 percent of liquor and food sales to helping the team offset traveling and registration expenses, said Lazy Dog Owner Tom Dill, who said he was “glad to help” his friend Shultz.In addition, there will be a 50/50 raffle, and raffles for gift certificates and other prizes. The money raised will supplement the $500 gift donated by the Community Credit Union of Lynn.”It’s a lot of fun, ” Shultz said. “I grew up playing hockey and the fact we’re doing that and it’s somewhat profession-related and charity? everybody wins.”If you go ?The Lazy Dog Sports Bar, on 328 Broadway, Lynn, will hold a fundraiser for the New England Police Hockey Team on Aug. 18 from 6 p.m. to close. For more information, contact Tom Dill at 781-477-1988 or Sgt. Stephen Shultz at [email protected].