This Saturday, firefighters and police officers will trade duty gear for jerseys in Peoria’s 14th Annual Battle of the Badges, a charity flag football game supporting two first responders and their families. The event will take place at Liberty High School, located at 9621 W. Speckled Gecko Drive, with activities starting at 5:00 p.m. and kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
According to the City of Peoria’s official website, the evening will include family-friendly festivities such as emergency vehicle displays, a kids’ bounce house zone, and a variety of local food trucks. A K9 demonstration from the Peoria Police Department is set to take place at halftime.
The Eastside Sentinels and Westside Warriors, representing police and fire departments respectively, are playing in support of Phoenix Police Officer Tyler Moldovan, who was critically injured in the line of duty in 2021, and Peoria Fire-Medical Captain Jeremy Gibbons, who is battling occupational cancer.
Proceeds from the game will directly benefit both families. Organizers emphasize that the event not only builds camaraderie between public safety departments but also fosters community support and engagement.
