It's Official: Toughest Cop In The World

Dane Jenkins could have been content as the two-time defending champion of the title "Toughest Cop in Florida."

But his competitive spirit wanted to go bigger.

As of this week, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office can now boast that one of its deputies is the toughest cop in the world.

Jenkins returned this week from the International Police Olympics in Orlando bearing a gold medal and the highest all-around score in the "Toughest Cop" competition.

He not only bested his competitors in a grueling nine-hour contest of rope climbs, weight lifting and a 3 ½ mile run but beat all of his own personal records.

"I knew I had to step up my game" to win against the greatest in the world, Jenkins said Friday at Powerhouse Gym.

To be fair, the only international competitors in his game were from Canada. And one of them was disqualified after being found cutting through the woods during the long run.

Still, Jenkins' worst fears were realized when he arrived at Disney's Wide World of Sports. After winning the Florida games by a narrow margin back in June, Jenkins knew it would take twice the effort to compete on an international level. While Jenkins packs a lot of muscle on his small frame, he was hardly a match in size against the other contenders.

One fellow from Pennsylvania traveled around the country regularly competing in these types of games. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound monster with "muscles on top of muscles" brought a posse.

Jenkins' misgivings quickly disappeared once the competition began, though, and it wasn't long before the big guy's sponsors were giving him the evil eye.

The weather didn't help. As Tropical Storm Fay churned across the state earlier this week, it dumped buckets of rain on Central Florida.

"It was a real treat," Jenkins said wryly.

The 30-year-old deputy views the victory as a win not only for himself, but his department, too. Patrolling his beat in South Brooksville almost daily brings a foot chase and occasionally even a scuffle with a suspect. Staying in peak shape not only keeps Jenkins safe, but his co-workers, too.

Furthermore, his off-duty training and competitions have inspired some of his fellow deputies to start exercising more frequently.

As a part-time personal trainer at Powerhouse Gym and a physical fitness nut, Jenkins is always glad to give tips or advice on workout regimens.

"I just love physical fitness," he said. "I get a real kick out of it."