TAMPA, Fla. -- The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office softball team won the inaugural Dustin Ramsey  “Swing for the Fences” Classic.

  • Deputies hold tournament to raise money
  • Money goes to people who want to enroll in law enforcement academy
  • Tournament held in memory of academy graduate, Dustin Ramsey

The tournament for first responders was held at the Auburndale Softball Complex to raise money for people who wish to enroll in Polk State College’s law enforcement academy.

Teams from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Winter Haven Police, Lakeland Police and Fire, and Polk County Fire Rescue also participated.

Dustin Ramsey graduated from the academy and shortly after, passed away from melanoma in 2012. His dream was to become a Lakeland Police officer.

Soon after, a scholarship was created in his honor, to help others who had to pay their own way through the academy.

Ron Jackson, a member of the current class of recruits, came up with the idea to host the Classic, to raise money for the scholarship fund.

A former classmate of Ramsey, Matthew Phillips said he’s happy to see Ramsey’s legacy live on.

''It just makes you feel good. The guy, he didn’t get to be a cop but he’s still going to be remembered,'' said Matthew Phillips.

While Jackson is being sponsored by Winter Haven Police Department, recruits like Morgan Mumbauer are having to work a part time job to pay for tuition.

She too wants to become a Lakeland Police officer, just like her father, Sgt. Chad Mumbauer, who also battled cancer. He beat it twice.

''You want to go out and help people and it’s a cliche answer to say you want to help the community but in times how police are being treated it says a lot about your character if you can still put on a uniform and go out with those battles,'' Mumbauer said.

Considering tuition is around $3,000 and recruits still have to pay for their books and uniform, she said receiving the scholarship was a big help.

''It’s like the weight of the world lifted off of you. You know it’s $500 you don’t have to come up with,'' Mumbauer said.

Like some of the other recruits, she has a college degree and student loan debt. She and others believe the scholarship will help those who want to work in law enforcement, but are having trouble finding the funds to get through the academy.