Officers from the Redlands Police Department will join with other Southern California law enforcement agencies and Special Olympics Athletes at the Rose Bowl March 14 for the Guardian Bowl flag football tournament benefiting Special Olympics.
The Guardian Bowl will match teams of five Special Olympics Athletes with five sworn officers each from the Redlands Police Department, Pasadena Police Department, the San Fernando Police Department and others in the Unified Division.
The RPD will also join police departments from Chino, Los Angeles, Huntington Beach Beverly Hills and two all-female teams from the Riverside Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in the Sworn Division, which pits teams of sworn officers against one another.
Players from local companies and community members will make up a third Open Division.
This is the first time the Guardian Bowl will be held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Each team is guaranteed to play a minimum of three games on the iconic field.
This is second year that Redlands Police have participated in the Guardian Bowl. In 2018, RPD was the only agency from the Inland Empire participating. RPD raised $3,000 for Special Olympics at that event.
Redlands Police Officer Eddie Herrera is the Committee Chair for this year’s tournament.
“Being involved with such a respected organization as the Southern California Special Olympics Chapter has been both an honor and a privilege,” Herrera said. “It has allowed me to continue to give back to the community I live and work in. Playing and competing alongside the Special Olympics Athletes is something I will truly cherish.”
The Redlands Police Department team, “Redlands Five-Oh,” will hold a practice with Special Olympics Athletes at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, at the Redlands Soccer Complex, 1790 N. Dearborn St. and distribute team shirts to every team member by the Redlands Police Community Foundation. The department also purchased brand new football cleats for the Special Olympics Athletes with funds donated by Blue Collar Athletics.
Every dollar raised through the Guardian Bowl event will help fund Special Olympics Southern California programs throughout the community. Special Olympics Southern California enriches the lives of athletes with intellectual disabilities and their communities through sports, education and athlete health. To learn more about Special Olympics, visit www.SOSC.org.
To start or join a team, donate or volunteer for the Guardian Bowl, visit www.SOSC.org/GuardianBowl.
Redlands Police press releases and other information are available on the Redlands Police Department Facebook page at www.facebook.com/redlandspolicedepartment or on the Department website at https://www.cityofredlands.org/police