HERSHEY, Pa. — Police officers can feel helpless when one of their own pays the ultimate sacrifice on duty. The families left behind can feel hopeless.
The Cops for K.O.P.S. charity hockey game addresses both of those feelings by gathering police officers from across Pennsylvania and beyond together and showing the families of fallen officers that they have support and help. All proceeds from the hockey game, including admission and raffles, are given to the families.
This is the 19th year of the event.
"The mission is to benefit the fallen officers every year in the state of Pennsylvania," explained Lower Paxton Township Detective Gareth Kauffman. "This year, we’re honoring five families. During our pregame ceremony, we honor all of the families and all of those that have fallen in the last 18 years and even before.”
Michael Bowser is a warrant officer for Swatara Township. He has skated in all but two of the previous 18 games.
“It’s a thin blue line, we all come together, doesn’t matter who you work for, where you work, we just go out, show them that we are here to support them, get as much money as we can for them and go from there," Bowser said.
The Cops for K.O.P.S. charity hockey game takes place on Saturday, February 3 at GIANT Center. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. The pregame ceremony takes place at 12:45 p.m. with the faceoff at 1 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door with free parking.