About 280 law enforcement members and supporters from throughout the state gathered at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort on October 1 for the 2022 Police Officers’ Ball benefiting PLEA Charities. This year’s gala kicked off with an expanded “cocktail hour and a half” with the opportunity to pose for photos next to a new police Chevy Tahoe as well as a vintage cop car. In addition to bidding on silent auction items, attendees welcomed the return of “mystery boxes,” a popular feature last seen at the 2019 Ball, which could be purchased for $40 and contained surprise items ranging in value from $40 to $200. The boxes sold out, as did the new “Bourbon, Bubbly and Beyond” wall, which offered attendees the chance to try their luck by buying wrapped packages for $20 that contained bottles of wine, bourbon or other liquors worth anywhere from $20 to $200.
The delicious three-course dinner was followed by a live auction for three firearms, with retired Sergeant Tommy Thompson, a 37-year veteran of the Phoenix P.D., doing the honors as auctioneer. Next up were live music, dancing and professional casino gaming — another new element of this year’s event that kept the fun going all the way until the 11 p.m. closing time. Each guest received a $250 voucher to play with at the six blackjack and two roulette tables, and additional vouchers could be purchased for $50 apiece. At the end of the evening, attendees could cash in each of their $50 chips for a ticket giving them the chance to win their choice of one of three great prizes. The winners of the prize drawings were announced in a PLEA Charities Facebook livestream the following week.
Special thanks to the committee members who helped put this amazing event together, including decorating the venue to ensure this year’s Ball was the most glamorous to date:
- Claudia Abril
- Hillary Hancock
- Ashley Kidd
- Kalie Lindmark
- John Maxwell
- Haili McCance
- Dani Pomeroy
- Santos Robles
- Amber Ruiz
- Haley Schuster
- Ada Smith
- Whitney Stevenson
- Mike Thomas
All proceeds from the Police Officers’ Ball support PLEA Charities’ mission of helping police and caring for the community through programs including the Back to School Drive, the Phoenix Police Cadet Scholarship and Shop With a Cop.