Story and photos by Chris Stone
At least 10 Chicago police officers were injured in San Diego over the weekend, but the incident generated no headlines.
They were roughed up on the gridiron.
The perpetrators? Fellow local public safety officials enjoying their passion – football.
The biggest bruising to the Chicago PD Enforcers may have been to their pride as the San Diego Enforcers steamrolled them in a 35-8 victory Saturday in their first home game at Cathedral Catholic High School.
The National Public Safety Football League game served two purposes: reinforce a brotherhood between public safety officers and raise money for charity.
After winning their first two games, the San Diego Enforcers are eyeing a return trip to the championships.
“This was an impressive win for us,” said head coach Brian Salmon. “We were surprised. Chicago is a very good team, but we came out with a lot of intensity.”
The team is “all family for us,” he said. “I love it. I love it. I love it.”
Salmon said his team’s success is due to “their level of commitment; they believe in structure and discipline and we break down a lot of film.”
The roster is made up of officers from more than 18 public safety agencies, including San Diego Police Department, the Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Border Patrol, Lakeside Fire Department, California Department of Corrections and the Marines, Navy and U.S. Coast Guard.
Quarterback J.J. Carrell said, “I am 46 years old now, and to play with guys that are two decades younger than me is still a thrill.”
A Border Patrol agent at the San Clemente station, Carrell said it’s good “to come here and release all of that, the reports, criminals you have to catch and cases you have, the troubles that come with that and the political correctness. You can come out here and forget about it just for three hours.”
Like Carrell, who played football for Southern Arkansas University, most Enforcers played high school ball. Some played in college.
Lakeside firefighter Sean McKenna, 36, who hadn’t played since high school, said he joined the team after his 10-year-old son encouraged him to play. At the time, he had been pushing his sons to play.
Asked what his fellow firefighters think of him on the gridiron, McKenna said, “They think that I’m crazy, that it’s not a good decision and that I’m going to get hurt.”
He has been uninjured in his two seasons.
“It’s a brotherhood, “ McKenna said. “I enjoy the camaraderie, and the physical activity helps me stay young and keeps me motivated to take care of my health.”
He admits “hitting other people” is the best part.
Because of the team members’ “crazy schedules,” they can come together only once a week for practice, Salmon said. They have 16 coaches, and the 62 members of the roster range in age from the mid-20s to 46.
Players take a lot of pride in giving back to the community and their chosen charity, McKenna said.
The team won league crown in 2012 and were contenders in 2013 and 2014. They will face New York and Los Angeles police departments, which will give them stiff opposition, Salmon said.
They play the U.S. Marine Corps (location to be determined) April 11, The New York PD Finest on May 2 and the LAPD Centurions at home on May 30. They beat the Bakersfield Falcons 33-12 on March 7.
The league has 20 nationally and the national championships will be held June 20.
Players spend their own vacation time and dollars to attend away games.
Jason Sullivan, a former president, helped restart the league in 2005 after it ran out of money.
Then he and friends got a $5,000 donation from Jimmy Johnson Chevrolet and the team and league and grown since.
“There isn’t a lot of opportunity for guys to give back to charity doing what they love,” Sullivan said.
This year, the Enforcers are raising money for United Cerebral Palsy. March Is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, drawing attention to the disorder that impairs control of movement due to damage to the developing brain.
More than $110,000 has been raised for charities since 2008. The Enforcers are a 501c(3) charitable organization.
The team boasts a 15-member Enforcer Girls cheerleading squad that entertains on the sidelines and at halftime. Many of the members are professional dancers and college graduates. Some have gone on to become Charger Girls, said dance director Alexis Rodriguez.
Chargers defensive lineman Sean Lissemore delivered a $5,000 check from the NFL team to the Enforcers.
Lissemore said, “I think it’s awesome to see all of these branches of the military and police and fire departments and first responders come together as a team.
“(The Chargers) like to show our support and let them know that we appreciate what they do.”
