On October 8, 2005, Fort Lauderdale Police Officer Jose Diaz died from a fall from a highway overpass while assisting a traffic stop of a suspected police impersonator on I-95 near the interchange with I-595.
Diaz’s legacy will be highlighted during Florida’s inaugural Battle of the Badges Law Enforcement Basketball Tournament in Fort Lauderdale October 7-9 at Cardinal Gibbons Catholic High School at 2900 NE 47th St. The community is invited to attend the three-day, family event.
Jerome Hall, a Wake County Detention Officer in Raleigh, NC, who hails from Maryland, created Battle of the Badges in 2000 to honor law enforcement officers who have died. The basketball tournament also provides a space for officers from all segments of law enforcement – police, corrections, and probation and parole officers, sheriff’s deputies, firefighters and other first responders – and their supporters to gather for friendly competition, and to network and mingle. Hall’s mission is to go city to city, state to state in honor of fallen officers.
A portion of the $5 admission funds scholarships for college-bound youth. Weekend passes are $8. Since it began, Battle of the Badges also has awarded over $10,000 in scholarship money to students.
This year’s battle occurs on the 11th anniversary of Diaz’s October 8 death. During the traffic stop, Diaz, 37, who responded to a call for back-up while he was off-duty, tried to take cover between his cruiser and an overpass barrier, and fell about 110-feet. He was transported to Broward General Hospital where he died from his injuries.
The Opening Ceremony is Friday, October 7 at 6:30 p.m., featuring special recognition in honor of Diaz’s life and law enforcement legacy and a plaque presentation to the fallen officer’s family and loved ones. “This weekend is about more than just playing basketball,” said Hall. “We’re sworn in to a brotherhood, a sisterhood. When one of us passes away, they’re still our brothers, still our sisters.”
Among law enforcement teams scheduled to convene for the Fort Lauderdale competition are the: Prince George’s County (Maryland) Police Department; Indianapolis (Indiana) Police Department; New York City Department of Corrections – Regulators; New York City Department of Corrections – Elite; New York City Police Department - NYPD Blue; Orlando (Florida) Police Department; New York City Department of Corrections – Rebels; New York City Department of Corrections – Gunners; District of Columbia Military Police Division; Miami (Florida) Dade Department of Corrections - Ballers; Wayne County (Detroit, Mi.) Sheriff’s Office; Detroit (Michigan) Police Department; Miami (Florida) Dade Express; Miami (Florida) Fire Rescue; Jacksonville (Florida) Sheriff’s Office; Palm Beach (Florida) Sheriff’s Office; and various law enforcement departments from North Carolina and Maryland playing as USA LockDown.
