“This is like a big reunion for all of us,” said Timothy Kerr, left, after he reunited with Lewiston Police officer Tom Murphy, center, and Keith Draper, right, Monday during the Special Olympics.

Lewiston Police officers Craig Johnson, left, and Tom Murphy escort Kristen Selwood to the awards platform during the Special Olympics Monday at Sugarloaf.

Penny Smith wraps Sgt. Marc Robitaille in a giant hug after he awarded her with a ribbon for her fourth place finish in her event during the Special Olympics Monday at Sugarloaf.

CARRABASSETT VALLEY — Bravery despite adversity was commonplace on
Monday at the 41st annual Special Olympics Maine Winter Games at
Sugarloaf USA.

Not only did 500 athletes from more than 80 communities courageously
overcome various handicaps while competing in alpine and Nordic skiing,
ice skating and snowshoeing, but they and hundreds of volunteers also
had to fight off fierce subzero wind chills.

It was 10 degrees Fahrenheit at about noon as Lewiston police Sgt.
Marc “Bull” Robitaille, and officers Thomas Murphy, William Rousseau
and Craig “Teddy Bear” Johnson looked down from a balcony walkway at a
sea of colorfully-garbed athletes gathered for the opening ceremony.

The four men — all wearing black leather jackets and police uniforms
over black thermal clothing — stood out among other law enforcement
officers, dignitaries and resort and Special Olympics officials.

All are members of the department’s new Community Resources Team.
Their jobs are to improve the quality of life for the people they
serve.

On Friday, they helped members of the Navigators Special Olympics ski team train at Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn.

On Monday, like other Special Olympics volunteers, they came to help any way they could.

“Our biggest role is passing out the medals and awards,” Murphy said.

“This is definitely the meaningful part of police work,” Johnson said.

Since the early 1990s, Lewiston police have served the Special Olympics community at the Winter Games, Robitaille said.

But Monday was the team’s first foray into the ski hill’s “wind tunnel” on the slope side of Widowmaker Lounge.

Murphy took off his gloves and snapped a few digital photographs of
the athletes. The flesh-freezing wind instantly turned his hands and
fingers bright red.

“This is brutal,” Murphy, a Georgia native, said. “I was so cold and shaking, they all came out blurry.”

The four men listened and shivered as the athletes recited the
Special Olympics oath in unison with Norissa Morse, Miss Maine Teen
2009.

“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt,” they loudly chanted.

The officers spotted and traded waves with the athlete who outran
Robitaille during an impromptu race on Friday, and did the same with
fellow Lewiston officer Jeff Burkhardt, who was assisting his parents
with their five-person team of athletes, the Flying Eagles of Lewiston.

And then it was lunch time, during which, the four officers proved
popular with the athletes inside The Cant Dawg Express Mosh Pit of
Munchies.

“This is definitely the high point of law enforcement,” Robitaille said of interacting with the Special Olympians.

While chatting with athletes Mike Ash and Aaron Ward, both of
Auburn, Johnson, Rousseau and Murphy handed out each their police
cards, while Robitaille sheepishly looked on. He forgot his, he said.

One young man gave Robitaille a hug anyway.

“That’s what’s cool. These guys love us,” Murphy said.

“Hey, you guys got some cards?” Flying Eagles athlete Joel Burkhardt of Lisbon Falls asked, walking over.

Out came the cards again for officer Jeff Burkhardt’s brother, who
would compete later in 1-kilometer and 500-meter Nordic skiing.

Back in the cold, the Community Resources Team learned they would be
helping alpine athletes onto the winners’ podium and bestowing awards.

First up were alpine super glide winner Joseph Westberry; Hilary LaRochelle in second and Jennifer Cativera in third.

Then, a strong gust of wind blew down the medals board for the first
of three times and the officers scrambled to pick them up and re-hang
them.

Special Olympian Penny Smith spotted Robitaille and ran up and
hugged him. After receiving her bronze medal and walking away, she
turned and yelled, “Hey! I love you Bull!”

And then Murphy spotted athlete Jeremiah Beaudoin of Greene approaching
the podium, helped him up and placed a medal around his neck after
Beaudoin removed his racing helmet.

“It’s so awesome to see you out here,” Murphy said to the John Murphy Homes Team athlete.

Afterward, he said he was shocked to see the grinning young man,
whose father, who died of cancer, was a good friend of Murphy’s.

An hour later, while waiting for the next group of medalists, Robitaille said their task “certainly changes one’s perspectives.”

“In our line of work, we deal with a lot of negatives, so being out
here today, this gives you a really good sense of accomplishment,” he
said. “We really feel honored for them to include us as part of this
whole ceremony.”

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Lewiston Police officers Bill Rousseau, second from left, and Tom Murphy inspect Min Bartley’s missing tooth during the Special Olympics at Sugarloaf Monday. Bartley, of Falmouth, was cheering on her brother, Jacob, left, with her mother, Dorcas, right. “This is our first year here and we’re having a blast,” Dorcas said.