It might be fun and games when Fishers firefighters and police hit the softball field, but the cause supported by Battle of the Badges is no joke. Money raised by the charity game goes toward mental health resources for first responders.
This weekend, that long-time rivalry will come to a head and the two departments will battle it out. “The rivalry stems from the fire guys really not doing anything and just kind of sitting around all day,” Jarred Koopman with Fishers Police Department jokingly said.
“Every time I see them, they're kind of usually ... we've woken them up."“One of the things that most people don't know is that when you don't score very well in the fireman's test you become a police officer,” Will Ortiz with Fishers Fire Department said. “You know, police just kind of sit around, drive around eat donuts all day." This weekend, members of the two departments will meet head-to-head in the Battle of the Badges, a charity softball game held at Holland Park. “It is very serious. I mean, I think the police — we take it very serious. The fire department from last year's score ... I don't know how serious they take it,” Koopman said.“We let them win last year and this year we're going to definitely bring our 'A' game and make sure that we tie up the series,” Ortiz said.The softball game is hosted by the Donaide Foundation. It raises money for the Behind Thin Lines Program which supports first responders, and their families working through the effects of the job. Depression, anxiety, PTSD and thoughts of suicide are all serious side effects of working as a first responder. According to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security rates of PTSD and depression among firefighters and police officers have been found to be as much as five times greater than the general population.While it’s a lot of fun and games, the softball game raises money for additional mental health services for Fishers first responders. Homeland Security says these conditions are ones first responders should look out for in themselves and their coworkers: “We are human beings like everyone else and we do have a lot of stress and things that go on in our lives and we need help just like everyone else,” Ortiz said. Besides the softball game, there will be music, contests and kids’ activities. Even a photo opportunity with the fire truck. “Everybody wants to get on the fire truck and even the police officers can come and take pictures with their trucks and put on our suits, our helmets and that kind of stuff and feel like they're truly doing something important,” Ortiz said.“The police are going to win. I mean, there's no there's no other option. The police are going to win,” Koopman said. Ortiz hit back by saying, “Last year just kind of gave them a freebie, just kind of get their self-esteem up a little bit,” Ortiz said. The first pitch is at noon on Saturday, Sept. 24. The entire community is invited to come out and cheer on their favorite department and enjoy the activities around Holland Park.Be Well Indiana988 Suicide and Crisis LifelineTOP STORIES: Queen Elizabeth II has died: Now, what happens to her beloved dogs? | IMPD adding 214 new license plate readers to city streets this week | Broad Ripple lounge owner opens second Las Vegas-themed bar in Lawrence | Richmond officer Seara Burton moved to hospice facility | Kokomo man killed at Howard County Vietnam Veterans Campgrounds