It's much more than that.
"I got to tell you, it's one of the most satisfying feelings of my career when we help out like this," said Herrera, a police officer for the city of Redlands. "Earlier this year a small group of us visited Loma Linda Children's Hospital, and we saw their struggles and their battles. For them to tell us what it meant to them was really special."
Herrera and the Inland Empire Enforcers, a football team consisting of law enforcement personnel from throughout the Inland Empire, play in several charity football games every year.
On Saturday the Enforcers will face the Spokane County Sheriff's Department at Citrus Valley High School. The game will serve as a fundraiser for the Loma Linda Children's Hospital.
"It's not like we are donating a million dollars," Herrera said. "But they told us every little bit counts. That makes it special."
Herrera, who played football at the University of Redlands before graduating in 2001, has been with the Redlands Police Department for 11 years.
The Enforcers is a non-profit group and is a full fledged football team, but isn't considered a semi-pro team.
The team's roster consists of law enforcement officials from the Chino Police Department, the San Bernardino Sheriffs and probation departments, Riverside Sheriffs department
and the Redlands Police Department.The Enforcers, a mixture of law enforcement personnel and volunteers, plays teams that belong to the National Public Safety Football League (NPSFL). The Enforcers, however, are not an official member of the NPSFL. The Enforcers rosters features volunteers.
The Enforcers have held similar fundraiser games for the Special Olympics, the boys and girls club and the Wounded Warrior Foundation.
"For me, I guess I just can't get football out of my system," Herrera said. "I love the game of football. I get to go out there and play football and we get to try and raise money for a good cause."
This year alone the Enforcers have played in Chicago against that city's fire department and last year played the Chicago Police Department in Las Vegas.
"When we were at Loma Linda they showed us what our help does," Herrera said. "They buy crayons, coloring books, new toys. All of it means something."
Several bicycles will be raffled off during Saturday's game.
Tickets for the game are $5. For more information on the game call 909-685-9542.
Contact Ed via email.
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