Team“ Dirty Dodgers” of Monmouth County Detectives Local 256. From left, Charlie Trucillo, Dylan Lovgren,
Steve Hodge, Kayla Santiago, TJ Mano and Chris Schirripa
Dodge for the cause
Monmouth County Detectives Local 256 leads PBA support of Dodgetoberfest for SONJ n BY AMBER RAMUNDO
A player gets nailed in the shin by a hard-hitting Nerf ball. The referee blows the whistle loudly and signals for the athlete to drop the ball and clear to the sideline— he’ s out.
The scene is enough to trigger memories of middle school gym class, where girls and boys either cheered or shuddered at the mention of a dodgeball tournament. But on Oct. 21 at the Robbinsville Field House, the game was elevated to a whole new level as first responders stormed the courts for the 4th Annual Dodgetoberfest.
Among the refs calling the shots at the event was Robert Flanigan, a Monmouth County Detectives Local 256 member who rarely misses a chance to volunteer for Law Enforcement Torch Run events that benefit the Special Olympics of New Jersey( SONJ).
“ It’ s a great time and it’ s something different,” Flanigan said, having participated in the Torch Run, Snow Bowl and plenty of Polar Bear Plunges over the years as a state committee member of SONJ.
Flanigan and his partner ref, Todd Smith of Freehold Township Local 209, manned one of the three dodgeball courts set up in the field house, while their sons Liam and Jake helped to keep the balls in bounds for the competitors to launch at one another.
Over the years, Dodgetoberfest Event Coordinator Ed Dean has advertised the event with the slogan:“ If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge for a cause,” paraphrasing the popular quote from the movie“ Dodgeball.” But they didn’ t just dodge for a cause. The 12 teams of local law enforcement, firefighters and athletic organizations from across the state pegged, ducked and dove in support of Special Olympic athletes, while also letting off some steam from their busy lives.
“ It was an idea that we had to engage younger law enforcement officers,” Dean shared.“ It gives people an excuse to lay out some aggression and play a fun sport while raising funds for a good cause.”
The event is intended to provide firefighters and law enforcement officers with a chance to have some lighthearted fun, but the first responders and other local teams proved that there’ s no way to play dodgeball without some competitive flair.
“ People get mad and even yell,” Flanigan said.“ I have to remind them that this is a charity event and I’ m a volunteer. But at the end of the day, everybody realizes why they’ re there.”
When team Dirty Dodgers lined up on Flanigan’ s court, he knew
Robert Flanigan( center right) stands with members of Monmouth County Detectives Local 256 at the trophy table after refereeing Dodgetoberfest.
the team of six was going to be especially vocal. Not only were they up against team Wolfpack, the defending Dodgetoberfest champions, but the Dirty Dodgers also happened to be members of Local 256. They thought that they’ d be able to get Flanigan to call the game in their favor.
“ Help us win this one. This team’ s really good!” the officers joked with Flanigan, who had no intentions but to call a fair game.
Six dodgeballs were spread evenly across the centerline of the turf court. Local 256 officer Dylan Lovgren stood at the ready with the Dirty Dodgers to launch into action. Lovgren may not have played dodgeball since grade school, but his natural knack for the game came right back to him as soon as the first whistle blew.
“ It was always one of those games you looked forward to,” Lovgren described.“ Any time we’ re able to get together and have some fun, laughs and a little competition, it’ s always a good thing.”
As the game began and the balls started flying rapid-fire across the court, the officers quickly shifted into survival mode to avoid getting hit. The game may seem carefree, but for these first responders, it’ s a chance to exercise their strength as a unit and build camaraderie among the team.
“ I think any time you can get out with your partners and do things other than police work is important,” Lovgren stressed.“ You need to go out and have fun as a unit and set work aside. The dodgeball tournament was a great way to do that. You make connections in the process.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 56 www. njcopsmagazine. com ■ NOVEMBER 2017 55