City of Columbus Launches Police Athletic League for Local Youth
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther today announced the Columbus
Police Athletic League (PAL), a new partnership between the Columbus Recreation
and Parks Department, Division of Police and Department of Neighborhoods in
which officers volunteer to work with youth ages 6-18 in organized sports and
other programs.
“Columbus PAL is a great opportunity for law enforcement to
further strengthen their relationships with our city’s youth and their families,”
said Mayor Ginther. “By serving as mentors, coaches, advocates and role models,
our officers will connect with the community on a more personal level – building
the kind of trust, understanding and support that lasts a lifetime.”
“We are thrilled to start this initiative with the
Columbus Division of Police and have these officers take the time to invest in
our students’ lives,” said Charnon Barnes, recreation administrative manager of
Youth Sports for Columbus Recreation and Parks. “Columbus PAL will offer a safe
environment where our students can have fun while also developing life skills
that go beyond sports.”
Five Columbus community centers will initially participate in Columbus PAL: Douglas, Adams, Marion Franklin, Sullivant
Gardens and Blackburn. All volunteers will undergo a specific training course,
which includes Columbus Recreation and Parks’ youth sports philosophy, a
sports-specific curriculum, understanding the youth in our community,
social-emotional learning, and modeling and teaching empathy. The public is
also invited to take the training and volunteer.
“Getting to know our community is an important part of
our job, as it allows us to better understand them and better serve them,” said
First Assistant Chief of Police LaShanna Potts. “We are all invested in improving
our community, and Columbus PAL provides a vehicle for us to create a safe and
fun environment for our youth.”
Columbus PAL will begin in December with basketball and
eventually expand to include baseball, boxing, cheerleading, gymnastics, softball,
soccer and summer camps. The department will consider adding other sports and
programs in the future as well, such as lacrosse, cricket, pickleball and
tennis.
Anyone interested in volunteering must complete the Columbus PAL interest
form. More information can be found on the Columbus
PAL website.