Behind the Badge
The Tustin Police Foundation and Tustin Chamber of Commerce co-hosted their first golf tournament three years ago to keep alive the memory of Wally Karp, Tustin Police Department’s only officer killed in the line of duty.
This year, the tournament was taken to the next level.
With the objective of getting more public safety agencies to participate, the name of the tournament was changed from the “Wally Karp Memorial Tournament” to the “Battle of the Badges Memorial Tournament.”
Golfers from the Tustin Police Department on the green during the Orange County Battle of the Badges 2019 Memorial Golf Tournament at the Tustin Ranch Golf Course.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The inaugural Battle of the Badges, held May 16 at the Tustin Ranch Golf Club, drew 88 players with more than half being first responders.
Every public safety foursome that participated was allowed to donate the prize money to the charity of their choice, said Tustin Lt. Ryan Coe, one of the main tournament organizers.
“There are 12 first responder foursomes and every foursome gets something regardless of what place they finish in,” Coe said.
Tustin Police Lt. Ryan Coe tees off during the Orange County Battle of the Badges 2019 Memorial Golf Tournament.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Under the new format, the tournament had more than twice the number of participants over last year.
Along with Tustin Police Department, participating agencies included the Orange, Irvine, Anaheim, and Santa Ana police departments, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Orange County Fire Authority, and Orange County Intelligence and Assessment Center.
“We really wanted to expand it to be a destination tournament so it was truly an inter-agency competition that people sought to participate in every year,” said Wendi Forrest, executive director of the Tustin Police Foundation. “It made total sense to extend it to really be inclusive and they should have a way for the agencies to benefit as well.”
Tustin Police Officer Gus Gonzalez on the green with Officer Eric Kent and Det. Ryan Newton behind him.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“The whole goal of this is to continue to grow this to where next year we have a foursome coming from all 26 law enforcement agencies and all fire departments (in Orange County),” Forrest said.
Retired Irvine Police Officer Al Murray, a former Tustin councilman and now executive director of the Tustin Chamber of Commerce, was also a key tournament organizer.
Murray said his time on the Tustin City Council provided the opportunity to make connections with supporters of law enforcement throughout the community.
Tustin Police Officer Eric Kent hits the ball during the Orange County Battle of the Badges 2019 Memorial Golf Tournament.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“We’ve got a multitude of folks here for the same reasons, to support public safety,” Murray said. “Everybody wants to (participate) to make sure that we don’t ever forget the officers who’ve been killed in the line of duty by making sure that we have funds to be able to take care of their families.”
The tournament relies heavily on contributions from local corporate sponsors, all of which were glad to open up their checkbooks.
Tustin Police Sgt. Manny Arzate watches the ball after teeing off during the Orange County Battle of the Badges 2019 Memorial Golf Tournament.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“I can go on for three hours about all the things Tustin PD does to serve our community,” said Patrick Adams of 526 Media Group, a 20-year Tustin resident and major sponsor of the tournament. “They are truly the stewards. It’s just a small thing each of us can do to give back.”
Adams said he has been a supporter of the Tustin PD “almost since birth.”
“They have our back and the community has their back and any opportunity I have as a community member to step up and show them support for all the things they do to keep us safe and support our community, all the better,” Adams said.
Darrel Tallon of the Sterling Collision Center, right, chips the ball onto the green as Alex Ortiz, left, watches.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The Sterling Collision Center donated $10,000 to the tournament, with $5,000 being distributed to multiple first responder memorial funds. Prize money was also given for the best badge foursome, best civilian foursome, and the longest drive.
This year’s winning team was the Orange County Intelligence and Assessment Center, with Joe Ferrante, Matt Nieuwsma, Pete Onorato, and Alberto Martinez.
Patrick Adams of 526 Media Group sizes up his upcoming putt.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Sgt. Manny Arzate swings for the green over the lake during the Orange County Battle of the Badges.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Kristin Fetterling, left, and Wendi Forrest sell raffle tickets to Karina Alcala at the Tustin Ranch Golf Club in Tustin.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Golf carts line up for the start of the Orange County Battle of the Badges at the Tustin Ranch Golf Course.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
John Stain, retired from the Tustin Police Department, putts on the 9th hole.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Matt Rhodes of Sterling Collision Center successfully makes his putt with Joe Kazemi, left, and Alex Ortiz behind him at the Tustin Ranch Golf Club in Tustin.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Jim Harada of the Tustin Police Department tees off.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Officer Eric Kent tees off during the Orange County Battle of the Badges.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Orange County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Mike Rupley hits his ball out of the sand trap with Det. Kevin Taylor, left, and Dep. Justin Leong behind him.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Sgt. Manny Arzate at the 12th hole during the Orange County Battle of the Badges.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Patrick Adams of 526 Media Group tees off during the 2019 Memorial Golf Tournament.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Lt. Ryan Coe putts during the Orange County Battle of the Badges.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Anaheim Fire & Rescue Engineer Jeno Gilia looks at the ball during the Orange County Battle of the Badges.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
JJ Garzone of the Tustin Police Department tees off.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Det. Ryan Newton tees off during the Orange County Battle of the Badges.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Officer Gus Gonzalez tees off during the Orange County Battle of the Badges.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Joey Ramirez of the Orange Police Department tees off during the Orange County Battle of the Badges.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Orange Police Lt. Dennis Gomez tees off during the Orange County Battle of the Badges.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Orange County Sheriff’s Department Dep. Kevin Taylor hits his ball out of the sand trap during the Orange County Battle of the Badges 2019 Memorial Golf Tournament.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Officer Eric Kent tees off on the 12th hole during the Battle of the Badges 2019 Memorial Golf Tournament.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Orange County Sheriff’s Department Dep. Justin Leong tees off at the 12th hole during the Orange County Battle of the Badges 2019 Memorial Golf Tournament.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Orange Police Lt. Scott Trausch tees off during the Orange County Battle of the Badges 2019 Memorial Golf Tournament.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
