Highlands Sheriff wins 2nd in Rough Riders Tournament | Community Spirit

Highlands County, Florida-- Highlands County Sheriff's Office members participated in the Rough Riders Sporting Clays Tournament, walking away with second place in their inaugural appearance at the event.

The 3rd Annual Cop Cup Sporting Clay Tournament was held this spring at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays.

Other law enforcement agencies who participated in the 2012 event included:

Sheriff's Offices:

• Defending champion Polk County
• Hillsborough
• Hernando
• Highlands
• Pasco County

Police Departments:

• Temple Terrace
• Auburndale
• Winter Haven
• Haines City
• Lakeland
• Plant City
• Tampa
• Orlando SWAT 

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office team consisted of Captain Paul Blackman, Lieutenants John Barcinas and Keith Starling and Detective Sergeant Brian Kramer.

The team scored a total of 339 points led by Detective Sergeant Kramer who posted 93 points individually. This was the highest score of all of the contestants in the Cop Shootout.

The event was won by the team from Lakeland Police Department who posted a team score of 355.

Sheriff Benton congratulated the Highlands County Sheriff's Office team for their impressive showing as first timers in this event.

"We are happy to support the charitable work of the Rough Riders for our children across the state," she said. "We hope to continue our sponsorship of a team in this event again next year."

The 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment "Rough Riders, Inc." was formed as a living memorial to the accomplishments of President Theodore Roosevelt and the members of the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment known as the "Rough Riders" in the Spanish-American War of 1898. The modern day Rough Riders organization was formed in 1978.

Today, they accomplish their charitable mission by supporting charities including, but not limited to:

• Special Olympics
• Ronald McDonald House
• Faces of Courage

Their signature charity work however is collecting and distributing Teddy Bears to local hospitals and children's homes.

Last year, Rough Riders collected and distributed over 17,000 Teddy Bears throughout Florida.

For more information on the Rough Riders Sporting Clays Tournament, or  to find out how to sponsor a team in 2013, please contact Captain Paul Blackman at the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, 402-7200.