Cpl. Bart Veal

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-798-2368 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

Texarkana Arkansas Police Badge

Join us for the first Annual Public Safety Softball Tournament to benefit Shop with a Cop and Firefighter

On Saturday, May 8th, 2004 at 8:00am, there will be a public safety softball tournament at Grady Wallace Park in Texarkana Texas. All proceeds will go to benefit the Shop with a Cop and Firefighter Program. This event is called the Battle of the Badges (softball) and will be held annually with the football game of the same name. Teams from the Texarkana Arkansas and Texas Police and Fire Departments along with the Texas Department of Public Safety, Bowie County Sheriffs Department, and the Red River Sheriffs Department will be participating in the charity event. The event is open to the public. Donations are appreciated but not required and T-Shirts will be sold at the games.

The “Shop With A Cop and Firefighter” is an opportunity for Public Safety employees to team up with Texarkana Wal-Mart Supercenters to bring Christmas cheer to less fortunate children from our area. Children from the Texarkana area are picked by social workers to receive one hundred dollars to spend in Wal-Mart at Christmas time. Area Law Enforcement Officer provides the children money raised from these events and helps them shop for toys or other items.

This highly anticipated annual event will be held ever year to assist local children who may not otherwise have a Merry Christmas. The event is made possible by the generosity of both Texarkana Wal-Mart Supercenters, Area Public Safety Officials and the many local citizens who donate and attend the annual Battle of the Badges football and now softball games.

Any member of the local media is invited to join us and all help with public announcements are appreciated.

Thank you and you can visit the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department online at http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.