Milwaukee Police Athletic League returns as crime prevention tool for youth

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee police are announcing the return of the Police Athletic League (PAL). It's a program connecting youth to local law enforcement and hopes to also be a crime prevention tool.

Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman says he's excited about the return of the program. "This is where we are showing the proof in the pudding that we put an investment into our youth," he said.

The program is a partnership with MPD, the Office of Violence Prevention, and the United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee (UNCOM).

There are about 10 kids from eight different community centers around town currently part of the program.

One Friday each month, they rotate locations, and the kids spend time with officers playing sports and doing other activities.

Officials say this is a crime prevention tool and a chance to focus positive efforts on kids in the community.

"They're all learning about violence reduction, whether they are aware of it directly or not," said Renee Logee, executive director of UNCOM.

Lemarus Shields is part of the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center. He says the program has been a great help to him.

"I didn’t really have great experience with police so being able to sit down and actually talk to them and get to know more about them exposed me to greater things," he said. 

Shields says the community needs to come together for programs like this to help stop the violence.

"I do not feel safe in my city, but I feel like if there's anything we could do to make it better, I just say come together," he said.

Kids and officers participate in sports together and other activities such as T-Shirt making or even cooking. The schedule varies from month to month.

Dick’s Sporting Goods is a sponsor and provides activity bags to help officers engage with youth.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said he's excited about the relaunch of this program. "It's going to engage so many young people all across the city and to have UNCOM to be the bedrock, they'll be able to serve kids in neighborhoods all across Milwaukee," he said.

The Milwaukee Police Athletic League UNCOM Teen Nights will continue through the year.

Contact [email protected] for more information.