Hatboro Officer Allen Little League Tourney Begins Play

HATBORO, PA —The 2nd Annual Officer Allen K-9 Classic Memorial Tournament begins Wednesday with proceeds benefitting the family of a fallen Norristown police officer.

The Hatboro Little League said the tournament takes place Wednesday through Saturday at the little league complex on Blair Mill Road in Horsham Township.

The tournament honors the memory of Hatboro K-9 Police Officer Ryan Allen, and was started last year.

This year, the tournament's beneficiary —as chosen by the Allen family —will be the Kozera family.

Brian Kozera, a 16-year veteran of the Norristown Police Department and a cancer survivor, was tragically struck and killed last year while biking and training for a triathlon while raising money to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

All net proceeds from tourney team fees, 50/50 drawings at the games, and tournament shirt sales will go to his wife and three young daughters.

Volunteers and sponsors include Hatboro Lumber Co. , Horsham Little League , Miller's Firewood, and Kampus Klothes.

Allen, a police officer since 2013, died on April 7, 2022, six months after having a heart attack following a freak bee sting incident.

Allen never had allergic reactions to bees and had been stung before. But in October 2021, he experienced an anaphylactic shock from a bee sting and suffered a heart attack. He never recovered.

The borough is building a plaza in his honor in the downtown district.

The Ryan Allen Plaza will include new benches, flowers, a plaque dedicated to Allen, new trash receptacles, and new sidewalks.

Hatboro officials said the plaza at 49 S. York Rd. comes courtesy of a nearly $40,000 T-Mobile Smart Growth America and Main Street America grant. A check presentation took place last April.