The Chester County Sheriff's Office has launched a new community engagement initiative, Benching with Badges, aimed at fostering positive relationships between local high school athletic teams and law enforcement. The program will provide student-athletes with the opportunity to participate in a friendly bench press competition against deputies from the Chester County Sheriff's Office.

Benching with Badges is designed to promote physical fitness, teamwork, and mutual respect while offering a platform for local athletes to interact with deputies in a fun, informal setting. The initiative is part of the Sheriff's Office's broader efforts to strengthen community ties and showcase the human side of law enforcement, particularly prioritizing strengthening relationships with the youths in the community.

The program is open to all middle and high school athletic teams across Chester County, with each team allowed to select up to 10 athletes to participate in the competition in a single session. On scheduled dates throughout the year, teams will visit the Chester County Justice Center or assemble at their own facility, and each athlete will have the opportunity to perform a maximum bench press. The weight lifted by each athlete will be recorded and tallied for his or her team, with the highest total weight determining the winner. Each session will feature one athletic team competing against deputies from the Sheriff's Office, with dates and times coordinated with each team's coach. The athlete who benches the most weight will receive a small prize, and the team with the highest total weight will be recognized on the Sheriff's Office's social media platforms. The losing team will treat the winners to ice cream.

For more information or to schedule a Benching with Badges session, call the Chester County Sheriff's Office at 610-344-6525 or visit http://www.chesco.org/5596/Benching-With-Badges.