Police, fire join for good causes
Published: November 6, 2007
Whoever loses Saturday’s Hendricks County police versus firefighters softball tournament had better brace themselves for some good-natured harassment.
If the Avon Police team loses, the Washington Township/Avon Fire Department has contemplated having the officers stand in front of a fire truck with a sign saying, “We wish we could be firefighters.”
“But I don’t know if that will come together,” said tournament organizer Eric Gibson, a firefighter with the Avon Fire Department.
Gibson came up with the idea for the Battle of the Badges, a tournament Saturday at Avon Softball Park to benefit the Hoosier Burn Camp and Shop with a Cop. Admission is $2 for adults, and proceeds will be split evenly between the two charities.
Teams from six departments will participate in the double-elimination slow-pitch softball tournament: Avon fire and police, Plainfield fire and police, Brownsburg fire and the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Department. The tournament begins at 9 a.m. and continues until the champion is decided, which Gibson said will likely be mid-afternoon. Bragging rights are on the line for the teams. Police and firefighters have jokingly trash-talked each other about the game the past few weeks.
“You’ll hear things like, ‘Fire can’t do anything without the cops. Cops can’t do anything without fire. Cops are too slow because they sit in their car all day eating doughnuts,’ ” said Jerry Bessler, public information officer for the Avon Fire Department.
Gibson decided to organize a charity softball tournament about two months ago after some firefighters played softball during a physical fitness day. The idea was greeted enthusiastically by other departments, Gibson said, and he would like to expand it to departments outside of Hendricks County next year.
The tournament allows the public a chance to see the relationships between police and firefighters.
“We want to raise money, but we want to show the camaraderie between our police and fire. That camaraderie is rare in some locations,” Gibson said. “In Hendricks County, police and fire get along. People don’t realize how much we depend on each other.”
Lt. Jill Lees of the Plainfield Police Department said her team has not had many opportunities to practice, though they have discussed strategy.
“We’ve definitely got a good variety of speed, athleticism and size,” she said.
Lees said she has played many team sports, but she doesn’t have much softball experience.
“Softball was never my thing, but I think what I bring to the table is that I’m a lefty. People aren’t expecting that, and they don’t know which way the ball will go,” she said.
The event also will feature family events such as a bouncy castle, food and safety information. Child identification kits and gun locks will be provided.
Though there’s some good-natured ribbing among departments, Gibson said the tournament will most importantly benefit charity and put a face on the county’s police and firefighters.
“This is a chance for people to see us under good circumstances, and this will show people that we’re human,” he said. “We just want to have a good time and raise money for charity.”
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