By Ted Czech
York Daily Record
YORK COUNTY, Md. — A local flag football team has shown its support for two Baltimore City Police officers who live in York County, in response to recent events in Maryland.
The Tri-Town football league, which has players from Dover Township, West Manchester Township and West York, took a photo Sunday with two Baltimore City Police officers — coach Chris Heath and Jerry Leisher, whose son plays on a Tri-Town team.
The players then presented cards and framed photos to Heath and Leisher, said Crystal Berkheimer, who also has a son on a Tri-Town team.
Two Baltimore city police officers, Coach Chris Heath and a team player’s father, Jerry Leisher, were honored by the children who play flag football for Tri-Town. This photo was taken Sunday. (courtesy of Crystal Berkheimer)
She said the football players and their families honored Heath and Leisher to counter what she said were photos of children circulating on social media holding negative signs referring to Baltimore Police.
“These two gentlemen do so much for us; we just weren’t going to stand for that,” she said.
Public outcry followed the death of Freddie Gray, a man who was arrested recently, suffered a spinal chord injury in police custody and later died.
News of Gray’s death triggered protests and rioting in the city.
“We are tired of seeing all the negative press with kids holding signs up about the police,” Berkheimer wrote in an email. “These kids learn respect and discipline. We totally support the BCPD.”
Copyright 2015 York Daily Record