Our Mission:
Since 1978, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Centurions have been playing football for kids. This unique fraternity of Los Angeles Police Officers practice, play, and travel on their off duty time to raise money for the Blind Childrens Center of Los Angeles. The center provides research and development of educational programs for families in the Los Angeles area with young children who are blind or severely visually impaired.

Since joining the National Public Safety Football League (NPSFL) in 1997, the team has had a strong winning record. The team has been the Western Conference Champions several years. In 2001 the team won the championship game over the Houston Gunners, earning them a number one ranking for semi-pro teams in the American Football Association for that year. The Centurions are one of 20 Law Enforcement and Public Safety Football Teams that travel nationwide to play football and raise money for charity. The LAPD Centurions is proud to be a part of this Organization that put so much emphasis on giving back to the community.

The History of the LAPD Centurion Football Team:
While visiting with friends from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, in Arizona, Los Angeles Police Department SWAT Sergeant, Ron McCarthy waged a friendly bet. He stated that the LAPD tackle football team could beat the Arizona DPS tackle football team. The only problem with the bet was that neither department had a tackle football team.

Once Sergeant McCarthy returned to Los Angeles, he contacted his good friend Sergeant Jerry Bennett, who at the time was assigned to Rampart Division and was the flag football coach for the division.

Sergeant Bennett took on the task with several of his friends and established The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Centurions Football Team in 1979. The Centurions, coached by Jerry Bennett played their first game on May 5, 1979 at Jack Rabbit Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona, against the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The Centurions won the game 21-0. The first Centurions team included Centurions legends like Quarter Back-Rick Alatorre, Running Back’s- Carl Steel and Ron Shipp, Linebacker Jim Choquette and Defensive Back Ed Lindsey.

In 1981 the Centurions formed a non-profit organization, 501-C3 and officially adopted The Blind Children’s Center of Los Angeles as their charity. The football team's motto “The LAPD Centurions play football for kids” was established. Over the past 29 years, the Centurions Football Team, has contributed over $500,000 to The Blind Children’s Center of Los Angeles and other local charities. The police officers that are members of the team, practice, travel to and play the games on their own personal time and finances, in an effort to raise money for charity.

In 1989 the Centurions played their biggest game ever in the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fl. In front of 40,000 fans, the Centurions defeated the Metro-Miami Magnum Force in double overtime, winning their first National Championship. The Centurions went on to win back-to-back National Championships in 1991-1992.

In 1998 the National Public Safety Football League (NPSFL) was formed. In 2001 the Centurions won the (NPSFL) National Championship, defeating the Houston Gunners. Currently there are 22 teams in the (NPSFL).