Officers of both Texarkana police departments along with other duffers assembled on the green of Texarkana Golf Ranch. Clubs at the ready, they were set to golf for a good cause, raising money for Texarkana PRIDE Academy, an initiative run by the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department intended to help the youth of the community as well as maintain relations between the police department and the citizens they serve.
The fund raiser was the first put together by Just Love and Kindness, an organization formed by Rob and Laura Klein, in memory of their son, Jerrod. They sought to take the darkness that had come into their lives as a result of Jerrod's murder and transform it into light they can share with the community. The organization, run completely by volunteers composed mostly of family and friends, sought around 17 teams, four people each, to take to the links.
"We got 96 players, 24 teams," said Connie Loomis, daughter of Rob and Laura Klein and brother of Jerrod. "This was an overwhelming result, more than answering our prayers. Simply overwhelming. In fact, we had so many golfers, we unfortunately had to turn some away this year. Next year, knowing there is this level of interest, we will try to organize things to accommodate more players."
The event also featured a silent auction, with a range of items, like art from local artists, spa packages, and more.
"We've got some good stuff up for grabs," said Loomis. "Want a golf trip? a two-month membership to Texarkana Golf Ranch? A hunting package to Argentina? All that and more was available for the bidding."
Loomis was very happy at the day's results, taking in the sight of hungry golfers taking in a steak lunch from Texas Roadhouse.
"We are extremely grateful to all those who turned out to make this happen," she said. "It is such a blessing. I'm proud of our city, what they are doing, this outpouring to help PRIDE Academy and our kids."
Texarkana Arkansas Interim Police Chief Kristi Bennett was proud of that day's results, not only of the turnout and the support of PRIDE Academy, an initiative she put together with other department officers in 2012, but the officers of both sides of the city coming together to support this event.
"It costs approximately $250-thousand to run PRIDE each year," she said. "All the facets involved in running it, it extends far beyond the week of the academy itself. Buying backpacks, getting presenters, tours for the kids and more, it all costs. All what we managed to raise here will help PRIDE do its job."
Looking at the results of PRIDE Academy and the effect it has had on the community, Bennett says the results speak for themselves.
"The academy is there to support youngsters as they grow up, and head out on their journey through school," she said. "It is to be a positive influence in their lives, teach them to manage their lives better, and be a positive interaction between them and the police department. According to numbers from the Arkansas-side school system, 90 percent of our PRIDE students have not had significant behavioral infractions while in school. And according to the department's numbers, juvenile arrests have fallen by 43 percent since the establishment of PRIDE in 2012."
In addition, older kids, upper classmen in the high school as well as others who have gone on to college, have returned to volunteer for the younger ones starting out.
"We were approached by Laura and Robert Klein and they presented their proposal for making the academy the recipient of Just Love and Kindness's first fundraiser," she said. "Our detectives worked the case of Jerrod's murder, so we knew them and the situation very well. We already had a bond, so when they came to us, we knew it was the right thing to do."
Overall winner in the golf tournament, the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department defeated their rivals, the Texarkana Texas Police Department for the Border Battle Championship. They hold onto the trophy for one year and defend their title during next year's fundraising event.
The top teams were as follows:
- 1st: Bravin McCollum, Randy Haltom, Kenny Brown, Brad Stormes
- 2nd: Micah Sidwell, Raffy Seares, Steve Mounce, Matt Hawkins
- 3rd: Michael Butler, Drew Gainor, Roy Agee, Corey Lehr
The winning team from the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department:
Tanner Freeman, Payton Harris, Corvette Phillips, John Gilbert