HONORING THOSE BRAVE MEN AND WOMAN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE SINCE 2007
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B.O.H.A. Biography
The Badge of Honor Association (B.O.H.A.) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in Western New York.
B.O.H.A. was founded in May 2007 by Rochester Police Officers Justin Collins, Brian Phillips, Thomas Minurka, Eric Alexander, Ed Bernabei, Brent Newpher, Laurie Robinson & Richard Waldo. Justin Collins has been the B.O.H.A. President since our inception. Our organization is comprised of dedicated members of law enforcement agencies who work hard to not only raise funds but present the police profession in positive light by giving back to the community.
B.O.H.A. helps to promote camaraderie within the law enforcement community and to build strong ties between Departments and the citizens for whom they serve. The Badge of Honor Association's first goal was to dedicate commemorative plaques to honor Rochester Police Officers who were killed in the line of duty. These plaques can now be found at the locations where our hero officers made the ultimate sacrifice. Since then B.O.H.A. has assisted the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and the New York State Police in honoring their Fallen Officers.
In the fall of 2007 B.O.H.A. saw its membership expand with the addition of Rochester Police Officers Manny Marcano, Otto Harnischfeger, and Antonio Gonzalez. These members were integral in launching our first major fund raiser, the Policeman’s Ball. Since that time B.O.H.A. has hosted the areas two annual marquee Law Enforcement fundraising events, the Policeman’s Ball and Cop-a-Polooza.
Today BOHA has over 45 members from Police Departments throughout Monroe County. The B.O.H.A. Executive Board recently welcomed the additions of Rochester Police Officers Jim Perry and Steve Kovacic while our membership expanded once again with addition of Rochester Police Officers Steve Swetman & Brandon Ince as well as Brighton Police Officer Mike Romach.
The Badge of Honor Association's two major fund raising events, the Policeman’s Ball and Cop-a-Polooza, are held in order to raise proceeds to benefit the Badge of Honor Association’s Fallen Officer Fund. The summer event, known as Cop-a-Polooza, is a family style gathering featuring a 40 team softball tournament, live music, a children “Fun Zone,” food vendors, donut eating contest, a 5K run, and a “Vendors Row”. Cop-a-Polooza has attracted over 7,000 family and friends from the Western New York Law Enforcement community in our first four years. During this event the Badge of Honor Association recognizes officers from around Western New York who have been involved in critical incidents. These officers are then presented with “Western New York’s Finest” award.
The winter event, known as the Policeman’s Ball, is a black tie affair featuring live music, casino games, silent auction, dancing, formal dining, open bar, & our now famous Officer based competitions. The Policeman’s Ball has attracted over 3,000 family and friends from the Western New York Law Enforcement community in our first four years.
From the beginning BOHA believed that we had an obligation to give back to the community by helping other local charities. In keeping with this belief BOHA selects a secondary charity to share the proceeds from our events.To date the Badge of Honor Association has donated approximately $44,000 dollars to local charities. These organizations include;
Golisano Children’s Hospital, Pirate Toy Fund, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Hunter’s Hope Foundation, Autism Council of Rochester, National Kidney Foundation, Managing Autisim Together Today, Center For Youth, YMCA Invest In Youth program, and the Bivona Children Advocacy Center.
In the future B.O.H.A. hopes to continue our mission and to attract officers from throughout Western New York to join our family. We hope to accomplish this by encouraging our members to respect their profession, honor their history, never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice, strengthen the camaraderie within our law enforcement community, and to give back to the communities we serve.
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