Deputies, Police Collide on Gridiron for Charity : Benefit: County sheriff’s deputies face off with Los Angeles police in a football game to raise funds for children’s causes.

Orange County sheriff’s deputies hoped to beat the Los Angeles Police Department and win the national title of No. 1 law enforcement football team, but such hopes were destroyed Saturday when they lost their starting quarterback near halftime.

The Orange County Lawmen and the LAPD Centurions--both undefeated in their playing circuits last year--faced each other for the first time ever on a hazy afternoon at the Santa Ana Municipal Stadium. About 3,000 showed up to support the teams.

It was all for a good cause--children’s charities--but still the competition was fierce. Sheriff’s Investigator Tom Dove, 34, starting quarterback, fractured two ribs when he was tackled by several officers. Another deputy strained a knee and was removed from the game.

At halftime, the score was even, 14 to 14. But after the Lawmen lost Dove, LAPD pulled ahead by 21 points during the third quarter. At the end, the LAPD Centurions won, 35 to 20.

“Tom Dove was the spark in our offense,” said Bill Heron, a deputy who was on the Lawmen team. “We actually won because we held up, and, for a brief time, we were beating the No. 1 football team. We’ll be back next year.”

LAPD Officer Tom Hazleton admitted that civic pride mattered, but emphasized that the game’s proceeds would help the Blind Children’s Center in Los Angeles and an Orange County drug education program.

“We’re just a bunch of guys trying to do something for kids,” he said. “We’re doing this on our own time because we want to help.” Officials hope to have raised $25,000 through the game and related events.

In Orange County, the beneficiary will be “Drug Use is Life Abuse,” a nonprofit organization that offers drug education to elementary school children. A free service to public and private schools, the program is taught by sheriff’s deputies, Heron said.

The lessons are divided into two sections: “Free from Drugs,” which addresses children in kindergarten through third grade and utilizes Disneyland characters, and “Positively No,” directed toward those in grades four through six. The program, now 4 years old, has been hailed by President Bush as the second best drug education program in the country, ranked only after Miami’s, and representatives nationwide come to study the program, Heron added.

In the program, deputies define what a drug is, distinguish between legal and illegal drugs, categorize different types of drugs and explain how drug use harms the individual and the family. Last year the program addressed nearly 25,000 children throughout the county. The program is expanding to add a lesson on gangs.

“We’re a coalition of private business owners, students and law enforcement officers,” Heron said. “And what makes our program stand out is the cohesiveness of all the people involved.”

Meanwhile, the Centurions’ efforts will help the Blind Children’s Center, which provides blind children ages 3 months to 7 years with special training, psychiatric counseling and guidance. A staff of special-education teachers, a child psychiatrist, an infant development specialist and a psychiatric social worker help the children to develop self-esteem and survival skills.

Last year’s police contributions from the football game proceeds provided enough money to install a new heating and air-conditioning system at the center.