Courtney Kerr
News@queensledger.com
This past weekend it was time for the FDNY and NYPD annual “Battle of the Badges”
volleyball game at the Maspeth High School gym. The annual match is in honor of the people
who have lost their lives in the line of duty throughout the years. For 10 dollars per person,
with kids being admitted free, the community gathers together in order to support their local
city heroes.
The proceeds from this year’s event are going towards two charities, the PBA’s Widow’s and
Children’s fund as well as the Ray Pfeifer foundation. Both organizations are near and dear to
the departments and focus on supporting the families of the people who have lost their lives
in the line of duty. The Ray Pfeifer foundation is dedicated to assisting September 11th first
responders with medical needs not covered by insurance.
Police officer Malcolm Brissett-Ortiz is the president of the NYPD volleyball team, and has
been with the force for nine years. It was the officers he met while studying in downtown
Brooklyn that inspired him to make the change from electric engineering to joining the force
instead.
“The best part of the job is meeting the community and being able to make a difference,
every day is a different story,” Brissett-Ortiz said.
The NYPD volleyball team was founded about four years ago, in September 2021 towards
the end of the pandemic, and they hosted their first game in February the following year. The
game is a dedication to the first responders and the sacrifices they’ve made over the years.
“This year I also want it to be dedicated to the mental health of our officers. It is a tough job
and unfortunately we have lost a lot of officers to suicide” Brissett-Ortiz said.
He continues explaining that there are a lot of active teams and that this is an important part
in caring for the mental health of first responders. Playing sports together is a way for the first
responders to break out of their cycle of everyday life. Through these events, they are also
able to connect more with the communities they serve.
“We also do clinics with kids, it’s a rewarding experience meeting with kids and being able
to teach them to play volleyball,” Brissett-Ortiz said. “We are reaching the gap and
elementary reachout, a form of goodwill tour we do every year.”
The organization just came back from Costa Rica where they donated volleyball equipment
and food, in hope of being able to bring volleyball to more communities and continue to be a
positive influence for everyone.
The FDNY’s volleyball coach Gerry Matacotta has been involved with the sport for 55 years,
he describes the day as a fun opportunity for both the community and the players.
“This neighborhood has been very, very supportive of the police department and all our first
responders. It is always a great time being here,” Matacotta said.
Matacotta and Brissett-Ortiz are both very proud of being able to bring the community
together in order to showcase the fun side of the police and fire departments and to let people
know that they are humans as well, and “only enemies on the court”. The NYPD ended up
walking away as winners in this year’s edition of the “Battle of the Badges”, being able to
raise the trophy for the fourth year in a row.
