Two years ago a 4-year old metro Atlanta boy was killed by a stray bullet on New Year's Eve. A year later the DeKalb County police and sheriff's office played a flag football game to raise awareness about the dangers of celebratory gunfire.
But something unexpected happened during that game that caught law enforcement by surprise.
Usually the only time metro area law enforcement agencies come together is for crime scenes and funerals. But that flag football game a year ago lit a fire under those in the line of fire. Now the men and women who protect our communities would love for the community to come out and support them in their new endeavor.
They are not just deputies from the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office. They are the Panthers of the Deal County Sheriff's Office.
Sergeant Carlton Fripp, a 14-year veteran with the sheriff's office, played in the inaugural flag football game last year between the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and the DeKalb County Police Department.
"The game was exciting. Of course the sheriff's office won. From that other agencies want to be part of a good situation," said Fripp.
Jail commander Major Reginald Scandrett organized the game but he says he was amazed by what happened next. He says morale went through the roof.
So Major Scandrett just floated the idea that instead of just the DeKalb County police and sheriff department, why not see if their other agencies wanted in?
Within weeks the Atlanta Corrections Department was on board. So was the Clayton County Sheriff's Office and the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office. The Henry County Sheriff's Office and Police Department combined to form one team. And both Atlanta and DeKalb County's fire and rescue departments said count us in too.
With that, the new eight team Metro Atlanta Public Safety Flag Football League was born.
Once again Major Scandrett was amazed.
"I was, I was very surprised. But on the other end I was not because we have common concerns, particularly morale and familiarization. We don't know each other like we used to. We stay within our boundaries and maintain there. We need to become one collective family," said Scandrett.
And it is all about family. The Panthers say in the line of duty it's the spirit of camaraderie that bonds agency to agency. But on the line of scrimmage don't be surprised when the spirit of competition takes over.
The inaugural games of the new Metro Atlanta Public Safety Flag Football League will take place next Saturday, May 5 at Hallford Memorial Stadium in DeKalb County. Kick off is at 1 p.m.. The cost is $5 for adults and children 9-years-old and under get in free.
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