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Guns 'n Hoses: STL officer has always been a fighter

Metzner is a former St. Louis City police officer who knows firsthand the pain of losing a fellow officer. Simms dreamed of becoming a police officer one day.

ST. LOUIS — It's the night before Thanksgiving, and both police officers and firefighters are preparing to go toe-to-toe. Wednesday night, they'll slug it out at Scottrade Center — all to raise money for BackStoppers.

Tawanna Simms and Julie Metzner have a lot of passion for the cause they're fighting for.

"It’s the best and the scariest feeling in the world at the same time," explained Metzner.

Metzner is a former St. Louis City police officer who knows firsthand the pain of losing a fellow officer.

"I lost two friends in the line of duty. My father is a St. Louis firefighter and he lost friends probably 15 years ago in a big warehouse fire," said Metzner.

This will be Metzner's fourth year in the ring. It’s her first in a professional fight and she’ll be against a professional MMA fighter with the St. Louis County Police Department.

“Am I nervous about that? Of course. I’ve seen the girl fight; she’s a mean girl. But, I also know that I’ve been sparring mean girls myself," explained Metzner.

Simms is the other fighter sparring in the ring. She had a tough childhood. She grew up in the Clinton-Peabody housing projects and dreamed of becoming a police officer one day. She accomplished that dream and has been an officer with the city of St. Louis for a year and a half.

"I’m new to everything and I’m excited. I just want to be involved. I’m nervous just because there's going to be like 15 thousand people," explained Simms.

One of the people watching is Chief of Detectives Jerry Leyshock. He fought eight years for Guns 'n Hoses and is now a coach. He remembers Simms when she was a little girl.

Leyshock said, "She used to come to our boxing gym at 12th and Park and even at 12, she was telling me she was going to be a police officer someday. So this is going to be really fun to watch. She's good."

Everyone fighting Wednesday is in it for the same reason: to support the BackStoppers. They’re the organization that steps in to help the families of injured and fallen first responders.

"I’m ready. I have the mindset as it doesn’t matter who wins or loses that fight because when we walk out of there we helped raise money for those families and that's what it’s about," Metzner said.

Last year, Guns 'n Hoses raised record-breaking $653,000. They're hoping to beat that number this year — and they just might with a sold-out show.

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