Prior to the Owensboro Thoroughbreds home game on Friday, a short basketball game donned the “Battle of the Badges” will allow local law enforcement and firefighters to face off in front of the community for a good cause. The entire evening is themed “First Responders Appreciation Night” so that all local agencies can be recognized for their efforts.
Thoroughbreds owner Chris Allison said that the idea has been in the back of their minds dating back to last year, but it just didn’t come to fruition due to a number of factors. After taking some time to decide upon a name, they were able to pull the trigger this season.
“We were going to call it ‘Guns and Hoses,’ but we realized a lot of people were already using that,” Allison said. “We did a couple different name ideas and so we came up with ‘Battle of the Badges’ and so it’s just an opportunity to bring some attention to our first responders and appreciate them. We thought this would be a fun way to do that.”
Members of the police and fire departments in Owensboro will get to compete against one another in a game that will be two 10-minute halves with a running clock. For each person that buys a ticket to the Owensboro Thoroughbreds game that day, a dollar will go to the Green River Area Down Syndrome Association.
Allison said that the local first responders had the choice of a charity that they would like the money to be donated to, and they agreed that it should be GRADSA.
“Last year we gave away $75,000, and we want to either match or exceed that this year,” Allison said. “This was an easy way to be able to make the goal while also bringing attention to those who protect and serve.”
There will be plenty of equipment and first responder vehicles along with their members outside the Owensboro Sportscenter, where people can check everything out before and during the game.
When it comes to events like these, Sgt. Tyler Free with the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office loves the opportunity to be amongst the community’s youth.
“Interacting with the kids during events like these are always a highlight,” Free said. “You can never give out too many stickers, plastic Sheriff badges, high fives, or fist bumps.”
Free said that when they were approached with the idea for the Battle of the Badges they loved it, noting that events like these are instrumental in forming a tight-knit community.
“I believe that any time law enforcement and the community can come together in a stress-free and non-work-related capacity it builds the trust and rapport between law enforcement and the community during times when they may cross paths during emergency situations,” Free said. “On behalf of everyone at the Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement in general I would like to thank Daviess County for the overwhelming support that they give. It is appreciated and does not go unnoticed.”
