On December 10, the Gilbert Police Department (GPD) hosted the first 'Battle of the Badge' competition. Participating schools included Greenfield Junior High School, Mesquite Junior High School, South Valley Junior High School, Cooley Middle School from Higley Unified, and Payne Junior High School from Chandler Unified. The event aimed to promote healthy habits among students and strengthen bonds with their Student Resource Officers (SROs).
The competition was inspired by GPD's physical fitness standards for new recruits. Students were tested in a series of rigorous events: a one-minute sit-up challenge, a push-up challenge requiring as many consecutive push-ups as possible, and a timed 1.5-mile run. Beyond promoting physical exercise, the event sought to create a positive environment where students feel comfortable approaching their SROs.
“Our SROs play an indispensable role in fostering growth, unity, and pride within each student," said an officer at Gilbert PD. "This event is more than just a competition; it is an opportunity to strengthen the bonds and rapport between SROs and students."
The winner was determined using GPD's physical evaluation requirements as the basis for a point system. New recruits must complete 36 push-ups in one minute, perform 20 consecutive push-ups, and finish a 1.5-mile run in under 15 minutes and 48 seconds. Scores were calculated based on these standards for both boys and girls from each school to create an overall team score. The winning school will be awarded the Battle of the Badge trophy along with custom shirts.
Gilbert Public Schools (GPS) emphasizes promoting exercise while ensuring student safety.
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