22nd Annual Special Olympics
Plane Pull
In it for the long haul
Steven Giardino has stepped up to the rope 20 times for
the Special Olympics Plane Pull, and the thrill of getting the
wheels rolling has yet to fade.
“I still look at the plane and think, ‘There’s no way we can
pull this,’” Giardino admitted. “And then it goes.”
Throughout Wayne Local 136’s illustrious plane-pulling ca-
reer, Giardino has experienced wins in both the lowest com-
bined weight and fastest pull categories. He knows all the
strategies used on the tarmac to get the plane moving with
record speed and strength. But after 34 years on the job, Giar-
dino’s plane-pulling mission is being refocused.
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ OCTOBER 2018
“At this point, the goal is to not get hurt,” he joked. “Now,
we’re bringing the new officers in and trying to get them in-
volved so that they can keep this event going and continue to
give back.”
The Local 136 team consisted of nearly 15 first-timers, and
Giardino is confident that they will continue to represent
“Wayne’s Finest” at Special Olympics events for years to come.
Longtime member Joseph Rude also participated in the
pull with his son, a Special Olympics athlete who will benefit
from the team’s $2,000 contribution to the cause.