By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA – Registration is now open for an annual golf tournament that supports the Helena Police Explorers organization and also serves to remember former Helena Police Chief Doug Jones.

The 11^th annual Douglas W. Jones Memorial Golf Tournament is set to take place Thursday, May 2, at Bent Brook Golf Club where all of the proceeds will directly benefit the Helena Police Explorers.

The tournament is named in honor of Jones, who served the Helena community for more than 34 years in law enforcement before retiring in August 2015. During his 34 years of service, Jones served the Helena Police Department in a variety of roles including a K-9 handler, an investigator and as chief of police from 2004-2015. He died in May 2016.

The Helena Police Explorers, a local post which consists of young men and women ages 14-21 interested in law enforcement, is in search of players and sponsors for its annual golf tournament in early May.

The cost of the tournament is $105 per player and will include a round of golf, range balls, a gift bag, lunch following the conclusion of the round and automatic entry for door prizes.

Interested players may sign up now as individuals or sign up a team. In addition to players, the committee is in need of tournament sponsors.

The cost of a hole sponsorship is $150 and will include a sign with your business name displayed at one of the 18 tee boxes. Drink cart and practice range sponsorships are also available for $500 each.

Sign in and practice will begin at 7 a.m. the morning of the tournament followed by a shotgun start at 8 a.m.

The Helena Police Explorers program is managed by the Boy Scouts of America Learning for Life Division. The local post is sponsored by the Helena Police Department. The explorers assist the police department with public events and other projects and also attend local, state and national level competitions. The mission of the Helena Police Explorers is to instill, using law enforcement as a medium, basic values such as honesty, integrity, team work and pride in the young men and women of our community.

For questions regarding the tournament, call Captain J. Penhale at 663-6499 or email him at jpenhale@helenapd.com.