On 06-17-08, Ventura County Sheriff Bob Brooks was presented with the Allen Heersch Memorial Cup from the members of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department’s Baker to Vegas Team. The Memorial Cup is given each year to Ventura County’s fastest law enforcement team.

The Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup is often referred to as the “Ultimate Foot Pursuit.” The relay race is a 120 mile, 20-stage, foot race that starts in Baker, CA, travels through the Mojave Desert to the town of Shoshone, CA, then north to Pahrump, NV, over the Mountain Springs Pass (5600') and down to Las Vegas, NV. Different stages range in times of days starting on a Saturday afternoon in Baker and finishing on Sunday Morning in Vegas. Temperatures range from 115 degrees during the afternoon to freezing temperatures atop of Mountain Springs Pass. This year the race consisted of over 250 teams of 20 runners each from law enforcement and criminal justice agencies from the United States and other agencies around the world.

In addition to competing against teams from around the country, Ventura County law enforcement agencies compete against each other for the Allen Heersch Memorial Cup. The Ventura County Deputy Sheriff’s Association in remembrance of Allen Heersch established the Memorial Cup in 2003. Sergeant Allen Heersch was a member of the Sheriff’s Department who died as a result of cancer. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department has captured the Memorial Cup for 5 of the 6 years since it has been established.

Among the Ventura County teams that have competed in the Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup are the Oxnard Police Department, Simi Valley Police Department, Ventura Police Department, Ventura County Highway Patrol, Ventura County State Parks and The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. The race over the past years has been extremely competitive with the top three county teams from this year as followed: Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Simi Valley PD and Oxnard PD, the three teams were separated by only 25 minutes.

The Baker to Vegas race is privately funded and the teams and runners must come up with funds to pay entry fees, transportation to and during the race and other incidentals. Each year the Sheriff’s Department and local police departments are looking for sponsors to help with supporting the cost of the race and also for volunteers interested in joining and helping the teams for the weekend in Las Vegas. Although anyone can volunteer to help, runners must be sworn law enforcement officers and must be employed by the team for which they compete.

The members of the Sheriff’s Department’s Baker to Vegas team would like to thank the following sponsors: Bernzott Capital Advisors, Road Runner Sports, Steve Thomas BMW, On Duty Uniforms, El Rio 76 Gas Station, Camarillo Tow, Enterprise Rental Cars, The Ventura County Sheriff’s Correctional Officer’s Association, The Ventura County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, the over 30 race volunteers and the members of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

If interested in sponsoring or volunteering to assist with next years race contact Mario Molina or Robert Steele from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department or your local law enforcement agency.