Bragging rights and a trophy are on the line this month when Fremont Police and Fire departments meet to test their basketball skills in
a charity event benefiting Special Olympics. The third annual Guns ‘n Hoses Charity Basketball game returns to Washington High School May 23, a community event that pits Fremont police officers against Fremont firefighters. A couple of years ago, Fremont police Lt. Clarise Lew came up with the idea for a game between the two departments with fellow officers in a Leadership Fremont training class. Leadership Fremont is a nine-month program started by Fremont Chamber of Commerce to develop a collective resource and problem-solving network to address community needs. A variety of people from the community meet each month to build their personal leadership skills, among other things. Through a series of eight daylong sessions held between September and May, the goal is to successfully implement a community project. Some projects have included building a playground for a transitional housing apartment complex and white washing the Mission Adobe in Niles. Because law enforcement worldwide has had a fund-raising relationship with the Special Olympics for nearly 30 years, Lew and her team thought there was nothing better than continuing that tradition through a friendly game of basketball. Fremont Police Department holds several events throughout the year to benefit Special Olympics, most notably its “Tip A Cop” fundraiser held at local eateries such as Applebee’s. Besides donating proceeds from the benefit game to Special Olympics, the winning team will get bragging rights and the opportunity to proudly display the perpetual trophy passed between the two departments.
The trophy is inside the Fremont Police Department thanks to a second consecutive police victory at last year’s event.