In an inspiring show of community and cause, officers from the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) swapped their uniforms for gloves and bats to take a swing at mental health awareness during the Cory Slifko Memorial Softball Tournament, held in remembrance of a South St. Paul sergeant lost to PTSD. According to an announcement on the MPD's official Facebook page, the annual event this year honored late Sergeant Cory Slifko, while also supporting the pressing issue of posttraumatic stress disorder among first responders.
The tournament, held on September 14th, rallied 18 teams from 34 police agencies across Minnesota and Wisconsin, with the MPD fielding twelve determined officers from across the city; this band of brothers and sisters rallied under the banner of Officer Jamal Mitchell's Minneapolis Bomb Squad, honoring another of their own. While the MPD team emerged victorious, the true win was touted as the spotlight cast upon PTSD and the funds raised to second the cause, attention to such a widespread issue often eclipsed by the daily grind and glossy heroism is a much-needed break in the clouds, and here we saw the softer side of law enforcement as they played not just to win, but to support their brothers and sisters in arms battling inner demons.
In a statement shared on their social platform, the MPD shared, "The MPD team won the tournament, but more importantly played for a good cause," signifying that the win was secondary to the purpose; the event served as a reminder and a charitable avenue to support those who face the challenges of PTSD following the lines of duty, all in memory of a fallen comrade.
