Niagara County Sheriff's Office employees honor Hoelzl in bench press competition

On Feb. 16, corrections officers and deputies of the Niagara County Sheriff's Office will participate in the annual Red Brick Bench Press competition to be held at the Connecticut Street Armory, 184 Connecticut St., Buffalo, beginning at 10 a.m.

This will mark the 10th consecutive year that the NCSO has entered a team in the Law Enforcement division of the competition where they have been highly successful in past events.

In 2007, the NCSO lost a colleague when Corrections Officer Andrew F. Hoelzl passed away suddenly following his tour of duty at the Correctional Facility. In addition to being a respected member of the Sheriff's Office, Hoelzl was also a retired master sergeant in the New York Air National Guard having served honorably with the 107th Security Forces Squadron for more than 20 years.

Since Hoelzl's passing, the NCSO bench press team has raised funds in his name and 100 percent of the monies raised go directly to friends and families of Western New York military veterans. Additionally, the Red Brick Competition has honored Hoelzl by naming the first place trophy in the law enforcement division after him.

This year's team has set a goal of raising $5,000 in Hoelzl's honor to support local soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and their families. To support this cause, contact Sgt. Chris Wilson at 807- 4659 or make donations payable to Friends and Families of WNY Military and mailed to NCSO Bench Press Team, P.O. Box 496, Lockport, NY 14095.