Paintball game will benefit fallen Tampa police officers

Tampa police Officer Jeff Kocab competed on the Tampa Bay Vengeance air ball team, a travelling group that plays in paintball tournaments.

The team won first place in Division 4 in the PSP Chicago Open paintball tournament the last weekend in June.

"Jeff was not on this trip. If he had been, he wouldn't be dead," said Donald Thompson of Valrico, a co-founder of Warriors for Christ Paintball Ministry Inc.

Aaron Vega and other team members were driving through Atlanta on their way home from Chicago when they got a call saying Kocab and fellow officer Dave Curtis had been killed during a traffic stop in Tampa.

"Jeff was a friend ... and he will be sorely missed. (He was) a great guy, a great teammate and a great police officer," said Vega, also a TPD officer and owner of Tiki's Paintball of Tampa.

Upon hearing the news, Vega and Thompson began planning the Fallen Heroes Benefit Paintball Game to honor Kocab and Curtis. Proceeds will be split between the two families.

The fundraiser is co-sponsored by Warriors for Christ Paintball Ministry, Tiki's Paintball of Tampa, Lightning RV Supply, Gideons and Greco Plumbing Co., the Veterinary Center at Fishhawk, Emu Web Design, Draxxus Paintball, Empire Paintball, FishHawk Fellowship Church, Tippmann Sports LLC, Americraft Building and Development Inc. and Lifestyle Family Fitness.

The event will take place July 31at FishHawk Fellowship Church, 15326 FishHawk Blvd. Registration will be at 8 a.m; a safety briefing will precede games, beginning at 9. The last game will start at 2 p.m.

Thompson and co-founders Brad G. Green of Plant City, Daniel McKeithan of Apollo Beach and James C. Scaife of Brandon started Warriors for Christ Paintball Ministry at Bay Life Church as a youth ministry. The organization is separate from the church but works closely with it and with Bell Shoals Baptist and FishHawk Fellowship, Thompson said.

Warriors for Christ Paintball Ministry sponsors charitable games regularly, Thompson said.

The group's Selfless Service fundraisers raised more than $11,000 last year for the Emergency Care Help Organization, the Women's Resource Center at Bay Life Church and Promised Provision Ministries, which helps the people of Haiti.

"Our personal connections with the officers are making this fundraiser particularly poignant for us," Thompson said.

The fee for playing in the games is a $20 donation in advance or $25 the day of the event. The cost includes all-day play, all-day air and a lunchtime drawing with prizes such as a Tippmann 98 paintball gun and Lifestyle Family Fitness club memberships.

Food and drinks will be available. The purchase price will go to the families.

Players are encouraged to bring their own equipment. A limited amount of gear packages (gun, tank, mask and barrel sock) will be available for a $5 rental fee.

Paintballs from Tiki's Paintball, 428 Brandon Blvd. W., may be preordered at special prices: $30 for Draxxus Basic or $45 for Draxxus Silver. On the day of the games paint also will be available for slightly higher prices. Proceeds from paint sales will benefit the families.

Details and online registration are available at www.wfcpaintball.com.

Players also may register in person at Tiki's Paintball or by mailing a check to WFC c/o Veterinary Center at Fishhawk, 5484 Lithia-Pinecrest Road, Lithia, FL 33547.

For information call Tiki's Paintball, (813) 571-1300.

"Jeff was part of the extended paintball family," said Mike Deep, who photographs local paintball tournaments and events. "I may not have known him very well, but his death was, nonetheless, shocking. I could tell Jeff loved the game, and it won't be the same without him."

Barbara Routen's Neighbors column features people profiles. Send news and photos to her at neighbors@tampabay.rr.com.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: A paintball fundraiser to help the families Tampa Police Department Officers Jeff Kocab and Dave Curtis, who were killed in the line of duty June 29.

WHEN: Registration 8 a.m.; safety briefing 9 a.m.; last game 2 p.m. July 31

WHERE: FishHawk Fellowship Church, 15326 FishHawk Blvd., Lithia

WHO: Anyone; players under 18 years old need parental consent

GEAR: Participants may use their own gear; limited amount of rental gear available for $5

ENTRY FEE: $20 per person suggested donation; $250 for corporate sponsors
REGISTRATION: www.wfcpaintball.co;, Tiki's Paintball, 428 Brandon Blvd. W., Brandon; or mail a check to WFC c/o Veterinary Center at Fishhawk, 5484 Lithia-Pinecrest Road, Lithia