Groton — Police officers typically may only see members of other departments in the region when assisting in responding to a big call, but organizers of an annual event want to change that.

For the second year, police departments from around the region are slated to play in an all-day softball tournament. This year's "Battle of the Badges" event will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Washington Park and Sutton Park in Groton.

“We only really see each other when we have big calls and we respond to mutual aid to each other’s departments, so this is just a way to get us all together to play,” said K-9 Officer Eric Korteweg with the Groton Town Police Department, who is organizing the event. The tournament is sponsored by Groton Town police, City of Groton Police Department, Groton Police Benevolent Association and United Way.

About five years ago, the police departments in Groton City and Groton Town started playing in a softball tournament, Korteweg said.

"I think it's just a fun day where we get to hang out with each other outside of work and in training and get to be out playing softball in a less stressful environment," said Brittany Duclos, corporal with the City of Groton Police Department. "It's just really relaxing to be out in the community and have a good time."

Korteweg said he wanted to expand and involve all law enforcement agencies in the area, and six teams from southeastern Connecticut participated last year in the first regional tournament. So far, teams from Groton Town, Ledyard, Waterford, New London, Norwich and state police from Troop E have confirmed they will play.

Heather McClelland, community policing officer with Groton Town police, said the softball tournament is a way to have a fun competition and have the officers' families there — and hopefully people from the community will come out and interact with the officers, as well.

Groton Town police Patrol Officer Robert Saracina said it only makes sense to have that kind of friendly competition.

Korteweg said the event also builds camaraderie within the police department as representatives from across the department play together and have fun.

As the tournament continues to grow and evolve, officers said they are trying to involve the community more. People are asked to bring nonperishable food items to donate to the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Bank. Organizers also hope to line up face-painting, balloon animals and police cruisers for children to explore. Details about the event will be posted on the Groton Town Police Department's Facebook page closer to the date.

The event is in line with other efforts by area departments to involve the community. Groton Town police recently held a National Night Out and, like other departments locally and nationally, holds "Coffee with a Cop" events, with the most recent held on Aug. 31 at Starbucks in the Big Y Shopping Center on Poquonnock Road.

McClelland said people can come to meet and talk to officers "on a low-key basis, as opposed to on a call."

"It's intimidating for people to come up to an officer in uniform, so here's an opportunity for people in the community to come in and sit down and talk on a personal basis with them and try to put the uniform aside and actually just talk as people instead of that authority figure," Korteweg said.

The September softball tournament is both a chance for the officers around southeastern Connecticut to come together and an opportunity to interact with the community.

"It’s the chance for us as law enforcement officers to get together and compete with each other, but on the other side of that it’s an opportunity for the community to come and watch us compete against each other and see that we’re just like them," Korteweg said.

Attendees can show up any time during the day to watch the games. If people want to get involved with the event or have questions, they can email ekorteweg@groton-ct.gov.

k.drelich@theday.com