Battle of the Badge to return to Larson Playfield

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Department and Grant County Sheriff's Office will be hosting their Battle of the Badge community outreach softball game on July 20, raising money for local community outreach programs.

“It’s a great event,” MLPD Evidence Technician Miranda Martinez said. “It’s been a great way to get people to come out and we’re human too, you know. We just want to go out there and have fun. At the same time, it’s entertainment.”

Martinez said in the past the game has benefitted the Boys & Girls Clubs, but the organization had to put its focus in other directions. Instead, the Battle of the Badge will raise money for future community outreach events in Grant County. Community outreach programs are a proactive way for members of an organization, as a police department, to connect with members of the community they work in. They serve as a means for locals to put faces with the names and build positive relationships.

“It’s for the community to hang out with us, build a relationship with the community to say ‘hey, come out, hang out,’” Martinez said. “We want to get to know you as much as you want to get to know us.”

Some of the events that are currently in the works are barbecues in local parks, inviting community members to come out and spend time with the officers and deputies. The events are planned for once or twice a month according to Martinez, with focus being on locals being able to meet those in the police department.

“Once or twice a month, (we plan to) go out to the parks, invite local kids there, barbecue, hang out with the cops and deputies, play sports,” Martinez said. “Just kind of get the community involved.”

Martinez said that a lot goes into planning the event, firstly making sure that there are two teams to play. The event used to be held with the Moses Lake Fire Department before switching to the Grant County Sheriff's Office. Once teams are chosen the logistics of location and concessions are locked down in collaboration with the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services department.

The game will feature display cars, food, entertainment between innings and, of course, softball. Some of the side entertainment included are raffles given to attendees upon entry, games, relay races in police gear and more.

“(The other entertainment) is a way to get the community involved besides just watching softball, and have some fun,” Martinez said.

The game took off a few years due to COVID and other factors, Martinez said, but had been an annual event since 2015.

“We still wanted a way to pour back into the community to give the kids something to do during the summer,” Martinez said.

The winning team will receive not only a trophy but bragging rights as well. The game will be held at the Larson Baseball Field in Moses Lake on July 20, with the first pitch set for 6:30 p.m.. The event is free for the public to attend.

“We have the stadium, the mic, the speaker, the full-blown effect just to make it a great experience not just for us, but for the community to come on, enjoy a good game,” Martinez said.

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.