Salisbury police officers and firefighters will be in the ring at Main Street Gym on Saturday (Dec. 13), boxing in public for the first time as they raise money for charity.

Part of the gym’s annual boxing show, it will be the city’s first Guns and Hoses, a smaller version of the popular event in major cities around the country, and that generates hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Beginning at 7 p.m., the local fete will feature four officers and four firefighters, fighting four of the eight or nine bouts that evening, said Hal Chernoff, promoter and owner of the gym.

From the police department are Brian Barr, Ryan Brittingham, John Oliver and Jesse Kissinger. Firefighters are Carlos Stanley, Ken Vickers, Edward Moses and Brandon Records.

“They are very unified within the police department and the fire department, so they will be boxing for bragging rights, for who’s the toughest that night. The community comes out to see the rivalry, under the rules of USA Boxing,” Chernoff said.

“It’s a fun thing for the public for a lot of reasons. For one thing, for the public to see what Main Street Gym does with the kids in our community. This annual show gives them a chance to highlight the skills they’ve been working on every week, all year long,” he said.

Tickets cost $20 each, and $700 for a sponsorship table of eight. Tickets are available at Salisbury Pohanka, the main sponsor.

They’re also for sale at E.D. Supply Co. Burnett White Tire Pros, Delmarva Auto Glass, Backstreet Grill and Robinson’s Clocks. Or, call Chernoff at 410-430-6687.

Sponsors are needed for each four-man team,  to pay for their uniforms and shoes. For a $600 sponsorship, the company will have its name printed on the back of each man’s jersey.

Chernoff has been training the contenders, none who has boxing experience, and teaching them to keep their hands up and throw punches correctly. As the youngsters in the gym become acquainted with the officers and firefighters, a positive relationship develops.

“These kids are seeing them as ordinary people who put on a uniform just like everybody else does, so we’re already breaking those walls down,” Chernoff said.