WASHINGTON 鈥� It was just over a year ago that Prince George鈥檚 County Detective Jacai Colson lost his life in a chaotic shootout outside police headquarters.
Colson, an undercover cop, was as police scrambled to respond to another man who opened fire at officers.
This year, one of Colson鈥檚 close friends on the force is trying honor his fallen colleague鈥檚 legacy in a way that stays true to his spirit while also promoting continued service to the community.
The inaugural Jacai Colson Invitational basketball tournament is being played throughout the weekend at Oxon Hill High School.
The event features a slew of teams from D.C., Maryland and northern Virginia, but has also attracted teams from New Jersey and Virginia鈥檚 Tidewater area.
The first games tipped off Friday night and will culminate with the championship game at 3 p.m. Sunday.
鈥淗e was a big sports fan,鈥� said Detective Jonathan Sanders, the organizer of the event.
The two shared a love for football, if not football teams; Sanders is a big time Redskins fan while Colson grew up in Pennsylvania and was an Eagles fan.
鈥淲e just wanted to do something to keep his name alive and keep everything going on, keep everything upbeat,鈥� said Sanders. 鈥淗e loves sports, and I know if he was here he鈥檇 definitely be enjoying this.鈥�
The story of Colson鈥檚 death was shocking in its brazenness and inhumanity, and even now the events of that day stick out, even if Colson鈥檚 name doesn鈥檛 still resonate with the public. But to those who did know him, Colson remains an unforgettable member of the Prince George鈥檚 County Police Department.
鈥淗e was a very humble, and very genuine person. It鈥檚 hard to find people like that,” said Sanders. 鈥淵ou could talk to him about anything. He always had an ear to listen to anything you wanted to discuss with him. He just was a genuinely good person. He put people鈥檚 thoughts and feelings above his own. He would always go the extra mile for everyone.鈥�
It鈥檚 that spirit that brought teams from D.C. police, Metro Transit Police and other first responders from around the area to Oxon Hill High School.
Rodney Rogers, a probation officer from Patterson, New Jersey, who used to work in the area, brought a squad down for this event too.
鈥淲hen I hear of tournaments and stuff that鈥檚 taking place, I try my best to support them,鈥� said Rogers, who played ball in college for Drexel University. 鈥淲hen they gave me the call we started a team, brought some of my friends down to support.鈥�
Rogers said it wasn鈥檛 hard to do.
鈥淲e鈥檙e always willing to support something like that, being officers ourselves,” Rogers said. 鈥淲e know what it鈥檚 like being in the field and we support those guys fully.鈥�
While this is the first event, Sanders said it won鈥檛 be the last.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to look to build and have more teams next year and have bigger venues. We have a lot of plans and a lot of thoughts in the works,鈥� said Sanders. “Of course by being the first year you鈥檙e testing the waters out and see how everything goes, and we鈥檙e just going to build from here and make it just a bigger and better event each year.鈥�
Money raised will help set up a scholarship in Colson鈥檚 name. It鈥檒l be awarded to a graduating senior from Chichester High School (outside of Philadelphia, where Colson grew up and graduated from) who shows an interest in law enforcement.
