A Big Success

Area law enforcement officers battled 8th grade boys basketball players during the third annual Cops vs. Kids basketball game – an event that collected money and item donations for the Crawford Ausable School District Viking Pantry – on Tuesday, December 13, at the Grayling Middle School gymnasium.

Crawford County Sheriff Ryan Swope said the 2022 Cops vs. Kids basketball game “was once again a big success.” 

“Officer Mike Paille and Deputy Chase Lohr and others worked together to put this event together and did a great job,” Sheriff Swope said.

It wasn’t entirely a normal basketball game; the event featured players on the court handcuffed together, a beach ball being used in place of a basketball at times, a hula hoop penalty box, doughnut treats for the police officers, and cards played by the coaches to alter the score. (The Vikings won the game 42-36.)

Police officers who played in the game said it was a fun experience and they were glad the event was able to assist the Viking Pantry.

“The 8th grade boys basketball team always seems to look forward to challenging the cops and they seem to enjoy a little trash talk towards us as well,” Sheriff Swope said. “We look forward to this event every year and thank everyone for attending and their donations.”

Officer Paille from the Grayling Police Department also played in the Cops vs. Kids game on Tuesday.

“Each year we as officers look forward to the game and the antics that both us and the kids pull. As officers and deputies, we take pride in the ‘Protect and Serve’ part of the job. I believe helping the Viking Pantry out covers both aspects of that with making sure families have a little more this year,” Officer Paille said.

Officer Paille said the event raised more than a thousand dollars in cash for the Viking Pantry.

“This was our third year running the event,” Officer Paille said. “We raised $1,647 dollars with a $300 donation from Fraternal Order of Police, a $310 donation from Fit North Gym, and a $250 donation from Matt LaFontaine Auto. The remainder of the money was gathered from ticket sales and voting for MVP (Most Valuable Patrolman), which Deputy Lohr won this year. We had around $200 of food and hygiene products donated at the game as well,” Officer Paille said.

Sheriff Swope said Fit North “purchased the cops’ jerseys this year” to help with the event.