Families Behind the Badge softball tournament
scores big win for survivors of fallen officers
n BY JENNIFER TRATTLER
Woodland Park Local 173 members wanted to find a way to honor
Jersey City Officer Melvin Santiago a year after his tragic line of duty
death on July 13, 2014.
Before Santiago became an officer, he was a high school shortstop
and an avid New York Yankees fan, so Local 173 members thought the
best way to honor his memory would be with a softball tournament.
In conjunction with the town’s Public Safety Committee, the Local
held the first-ever Families Behind the Badge Softball Tournament at
James Belford Memorial Field in Woodland Park on Aug. 29.
“I want people to remember what an awesome kid he was,” said
Santiago’s mother, Cathy McBride. “He would have enjoyed this
game. He should be going to it and watching with everyone else.”
More than 2,000 people attended and watched McBride and her
14-year-old son Alex toss out the ceremonial first pitch to Local 173
State Delegate Daniel Dugan, who returned the ball to Alex.
“With everything going on in the country, we’re a big target. So for
us to come together and do things for each other, it means a lot,”
voiced Dugan.
The tournament featured 150 officers representing departments
including Clifton Local 36, Little Falls Local 346, Montclair Local 53,
Passaic Local 14, Passaic County Sheriff’s Office Local 286, Passaic
County Corrections Local 197, Paterson Local 1, Totowa Local 80 and
the Jersey City Police Department.
“At the end of the day it’s us protecting each other on the road,”
noted Dugan. “Keeping the memories going of officers who give the
ultimate sacrifice is important and sometimes that is forgotten.”
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NOVEMBER 2015
From left: State PBA President Pat Colligan accepts a check for the NJ State PBA
Survivor and Welfare Fund from Passaic Local 14 State Delegate Mauro Farallo,
Montclair Local 53 State Delegate Joe Savittieri, Totowa Local 80 State
Delegate Gary Bierach, Passaic County Sheriff’s Office Local 197 State Delegate
John Welsh and Woodland Park Local 173 State Delegate Daniel Dugan on
behalf of the 10 Locals involved in the inaugural Families Behind the Badge
Softball Tournament.
At the Oct. 13 NJSPBA State Meeting, State Delegates from the
Locals involved in the tournament presented a $7,000 check to State
PBA President Pat Colligan for the NJ State PBA Survivor and Welfare
Fund.
Local 173 plans to hold another tournament in the spring and will
honor a fallen officer each year it’s held. d