Log in

Apopka Police Department and OCSO partner for youth basketball week

Posted

Orange County Police Athletic League holds first camp in Apopka

The Orange County Police Athletic League held a basketball camp in Apopka this week, which attracted 57 Apopka students that are in 5th-8th grades. It was Pal's first camp in Apopka - held at Apopka Memorial Middle School. The Apopka Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff's Office partnered in the four-day event, which focused on basketball, but presentations were also given on crime prevention and safety programs.

"This was our first year in Apopka and the first collaboration between APD an Orange County Deputies," said OCSO Deputy Sal Saldano. "What you saw were all Deputies working with the kids during a four-day 9-3pm basketball camp. Officer (Barry)Brown of the APD coordinated all facility needs and registration. We could not have done it without him. Our final count was 57 youth for the week with hopes of reaching 80 next June. Keeping the registration fees low allows us to target low-income youth who otherwise wouldn't be able to compete."

Brown is also the APD's Resource Officer for Apopka Memorial Middle School.

"This is an opportunity for us to reach out to the kids," said Brown, who is also the Resource Officer for Apopka Memorial Middle School. "Most camps are hundreds of dollars. This gives the kids an inexpensive opportunity to learn the fundamentals of basketball and we have a chance to build relationships with them so they can grow and be a benefit to their communities."

The mission of the Orange County PAL is to provide athletic, recreational and educational programs for at-risk youngsters by using law enforcement officers as coaches, mentors, instructors and role models to influence children to avoid crime, drugs, gangs, and violence and truancy. Through grants, donations, and fundraising, PAL offers quality programs at little or no cost to families who can not otherwise afford them. These programs are made available to communities identified with high crime concerns, low-income households, and diverse populations.

"We mainly do these programs in the crime corridors," said Saldano. "This keeps these kids active and off the streets and into an inexpensive program to start the summer."

According to Saldano, through grants, donations, and fundraising, PAL offers quality programs at little or no cost to families who can not otherwise afford them. These programs are made available to communities identified with high crime concerns, low-income households, and diverse populations. The Apopka program cost $25 for the four-day program.

"They're not on the couch playing video games, and they're not out causing trouble in their neighborhood, said APD Chief Michael McKinley. "Along with a week of basketball, these students receive mentoring on life experiences with law enforcement officers. It's an important program."

Apopka Police Department, Orange County Sheriff's Office, Police Athletic League

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here