Local police take to the gridiron

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT BEACH -- Six of Newport Beach’s finest will suit up with their

Orange County Lawmen football teammates tonight to raise funds for

children.

It is the Orange County Cop Bowl, where a team of local police officers

are pitted against law enforcement football teams from across the

country. The event benefits youth and school athletic programs.

The Lawmen will take on the San Diego Enforcers in the Western Division

championship game at Newport Harbor High School, 600 Irvine Ave. in

Newport Beach. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. today and admission is free, but the

Lawmen will be selling T-shirts and seeking donations.

So far this year, the Lawmen have defeated the South Bay Blue Knights,

the Los Angeles Police Department Centurions and the South Florida

Bandits for a perfect record.

“It is extremely exciting,” said Newport Beach Police Officer Rick

Bradley, who also serves as Orange County Cop Bowl president. “If we win

against San Diego, we get to go to the Super Bowl.”

A win tonight will send the team to the National Public Safety Football

League Super Bowl in Florida.

In its 22 years, the Orange County Cop Bowl Assn. has raised more than $3

million, Bradley said.

The proceeds will go to various school athletic programs, the Police

Explorer program and the Bob Henry Memorial Scholarship.

Each year, in choosing a recipient for the money, the Cop Bowl Assn.

looks for a project that will best serve local students.

“Two years ago, Newport Harbor had to refurbish their field and we gave

them $5,000 to $6,000 toward that because that was going to serve a lot

more than one team,” Bradley said.