Andover police step up to run Bosworth Memorial golf outing

By MANDY CORISTON
LAFAYETTE — Torrential storms the night before left soggy ground but beautiful skies for the 21st Annual William Bosworth, Jr. Memorial Golf Outing, held Wednesday, Oct. 3, at the Farmstead Golf and Country Club in Lafayette. The outing, which raises funds for Concerns of Police Survivors, or C.O.P.S., was hosted for the first time by the Andover Township Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #177, after being run by the Bosworth family the for two decades.
The golf outing was founded by the family of William Bosworth, Jr., an Andover Township Police Department patrolman lost in an automobile crash while on patrol on Aug. 5, 1997. His mother, Judy Bosworth, credits her daughter, Lisa, and son-in-law, John Kelley, with originating the idea for the event. “After we lost Bill, we wanted to do something for the community,” Mrs. Bosworth said. “John was the first one to suggest a golf outing.”
The Bosworth family ran the outing by themselves for 20 years with over $80,000 being raised and donated to C.O.P.S. and C.O.P.S. Kids. The organizations provide financial and emotional support to the survivors of police officers who’ve fallen in the line of duty.
Mrs. Bosworth, who is a past treasurer of the Garden State chapter of C.O.P.S., said the family discovered the group after her son’s death, and wanted to give back to them for the assistance they’d been given.
“We did this for 20 years, and it was lot of work,” Mrs. Bosworth said. “We weren’t sure we could do it again, but the police department stepped up and took over. Andover (ATPD) has been so supportive of us over the years, and they’ve always helped with anything we’ve asked. We’re so grateful to them for believing in this cause.”
Fifty-six golfers took part in the event, which included an afternoon of golf, a buffet dinner, and raffle prizes. Andover Township Police Department Ptl. and F.O.P. Lodge #177 Secretary Matt Puccio chaired the event and said he was happy to have the nice weather, even if the course was a little wet. “Farmstead has been great to us,” he said. “They’ve been extremely accommodating.”