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July 17, 2008 - 8:59PM
Gilbert cop's epic climb honors dead colleague
Devon Hersom, Tribune
After climbing for five days to reach the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, Gilbert police Lt. Pete Smith scratched the frost from the corner of a wooden summit sign to place the badge number of close friend and fallen Gilbert officer Rob Targosz.
Targosz, a motorcycle patrolman, was struck and killed in Tempe by a drunken driver in 2006.
The emblem placed by Smith bore Targosz's badge number, 761. It was designed from the pin that motorcycle officers wear as a tribute to Targosz's memory.
The hike allowed Smith to reflect on his fallen friend of 11 years, he says, adding he took comfort in knowing that Targosz would be by his side.
"We spent countless hours together," Smith said. "We had a close personal relationship."
Smith, 36, has spent 13 years with the Gilbert Police Department and currently supervises special operations, which includes the traffic unit. He lives in Gilbert with his wife and three teenage children.
Smith's older brother, who lives in Payson, was the one who pitched the idea of climbing the tallest peak in Africa during a family barbecue as a chance for the two to do something "epic."
Months later, the "epic" adventure began on June 25 after the group of five men and three women flew to Africa to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
Mount Kilimanjaro reaches almost 20,000 feet above sea level at its highest point, but Smith said that altitude sickness, not fitness level, would determine whether most people reach the peak. Smith said all eight people in his group were able to reach the summit at a slow and steady pace, unlike others who had to turn around due to altitude headaches from climbing too fast.
The group began their climb on June 29 and reached the summit on July 4 at 6:30 a.m., just as the sun was peeking over the horizon.
"We started at 11:30 at night and hiked all night by head lamp," Smith said.
After reaching the peak on Independence Day, with Targosz on his mind, the accomplishment couldn't have been more meaningful to Smith.
"I kind of took Rob with me," Smith said. "He would have been proud."
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