Two Powell residents have founded a golf tournament that will raise support and funds for local law enforcement agencies.

The “Back the Blue 2020” golf tournament will be held at Powell Golf Club on Sept. 19. It was organized by Amber Simonson and her husband, Allen, who felt it was necessary to provide support to police in a time when the force has been widely criticized following nationwide protests.

“We were inspired to organize this tournament because frankly we are sick and tired of seeing all the abuse the police have been receiving lately as well as talks to defund them,” Amber Simonson said in an interview last month. “We are hoping that people will realize that the mistakes of one officer should not reflect on all of them.

“Officers are people, too,” she said. “They have families and lives and should not be treated the way that they have been.”

All proceeds from the tournament will be divided evenly between the Powell Police Department, Cody Police Department, Park County Sheriff’s Office and the local office of the Wyoming Highway Patrol. Each of those organizations will have teams in the tournament as well.

Simonson hopes the funds from the tournament “will help ease some financial pressure from the departments.”

“There is no talk of defunding here but perhaps this event will help ease the minds of the officers in knowing that there are people that still love and support them and are willing to put their businesses and reputations on the line to support them,” she said.

But more than that, the event’s goal is to give officers and their families peace of mind during a difficult time.

“Hopefully this event will help to make our officers feel a little bit safer while patrolling after they see how much support they have,” Simonson said. “The financial aspect is nice, but the main goal is to show them support and love.”

The Simonsons own the Cody Paw Spa, a pet grooming business near downtown Cody. They understand they could receive negative reactions from clients with the statement from the tournament. But they are willing to take that risk.

“Allen and I know that we are going to receive some backlash both personally and at our business but we are willing to put our reputations on the line to do what is right,” Simonson said. “Hopefully members of the community are willing to stand up with us.

“So many people are afraid to stand up for their beliefs right now because of the cancel culture and the attacks that you receive for standing up for beliefs that others don’t believe in,” she said. “We feel that if one person or business takes a stand many others will follow and hopefully some normality will return and it is our time to stand up for what we believe in.”