Bartlett police officers race up stairs for American Lung Association

A team of Bartlett police officers and their friends and family celebrated Valentine's Day by climbing stairs in the Oakbrook Tower to raise $1,226 for the American Lung Association.

The team took 1st place in the police department team category at the Oakbrook Terrace Tower Fight for Air Climb on Sunday, pulling ahead of 2nd place finishers, the Addison Police Department.

Officers Tom Alagna, Evan Moy, Tracey Hunter, Adam Svoboda and Rob Sweeney pounded the steps with hundreds of other climbers. Sweeney's brother, Matt Sweeney, his sister-in-law, Christine Sweeney, and friends Melissa and Kyle Vasel rounded out the team.

Sweeney, the team captain, participated in the climb last year, and was awarded the "Fastest Police Individual Challenge" award.

Sgt. Geoffrey Pretkelis said participating in events like the stair climb isn't out of the ordinary for the department.

"A lot of our police officers and police personnel try to do stuff like that to build camaraderie and help the community," Pretkelis said.

Next up on the docket, four Bartlett police officers, including Sweeney and Hunter, will plunge into icy water in Palatine's Twin Lakes this Sunday, Feb. 21, for the Polar Plunge to support Special Olympics.