Summers are especially fun in Bayonne where the Police Athletic League hosts its summer camp at Midtown Community School for elementary and middle school kids. Last week, Bayonne police officers participated in the police mentorship program, fostering positive relationships with kids and healthy perceptions about police.
“These kids are the future,” said Bayonne Police Sgt. Carlos Betancourt in between shooting hoops with girls at Midtown Community School on Thursday, July 13. “And we’re going to need them to help us out when anything is going on, so it’s good to have that personal relationship, and so there isn’t that barrier to a person in uniform they’ve never seen before.”
Betancourt and his colleagues who participate in the mentorship program connect with kids the way kids connect with kids – with games and physical activity.
Police officers were shooting hoops, setting up obstacle courses, playing dodgeball, whiffle ball, and all kinds of games. They’re even teaching kids games from the older generations.
“It’s funny, they don’t even know the game of hit the stick and hopscotch,” said PAL Director KT Torello. “They laugh at it, but then when we play, they want to play again.”
To play hit the stick, participants stand on a sidewalk and place a popsicle stick on a crack. Then players stand opposite one another with equal space between them and the center crack, and throw a ball at the stick for points. Hitting the stick with the ball gets one point, and flipping the stick with the ball gets two. First to reach 11 wins.
Boys and girls at the PAL participate in the same activities, mostly separated. The girls say it’s for the best, though, because the boys can be “rough.”
“Oh, [police officers] have been really fun,” said Lyna Baal, 12. “Earlier we were in the police cars and we got to get in and push the buttons.”
The girls at the PAL said that their positive experiences with the police officers showed them a new, fun side of police they did not see before. And not just that. “I now know that there’s no cushioning on the police car seats,” said Yanelis Vasquez, 8. “It’s super uncomfortable.”
“I had a great four days with them, and we made some great memories. That is going to carry with them throughout their lives.” – Lt. Carlos Betancourt
“I got to tell you, I just turned 40 over the weekend, and these kids are reminding me that I’m 40,” said Betancourt. “You’re running around with them for eight hours nonstop. My ankles are hurting, my knees are hurting. I’m getting old.”
All the sweat from the police mentors was well worth it, according to Torello. He said that kids are now always asking about the officers and when they’re coming back.
“It’s been really nice having the guys in blue come down because they see things on TV and it gives the cops a bad image sometimes,” Torello said.
“If you inject a positive experience when they’re young, you can show that police aren’t all about making arrests, taking people to jail, and writing tickets,” said Betancourt. “I had a great four days with them, and we made some great memories. That is going to carry with them throughout their lives.”
Respect breeds respect
Torello takes a holistic approach to social education. He and his staff practice what they preach, which are simple concepts often taken for granted, like to treat others the way you would want to be treated, and to show respect to get respect.
“We tell our staff to speak to the students, not through him,” said Torello. “Just because a student is younger, that doesn’t make him not intelligent. They understand everything.”
When guests visit the PAL, kids line up and introduce themselves, shaking hands and asking the guest questions. Kids seem to feel very comfortable there. When a camera is out, the girls pose for photos, making sure the photographer captures their “good side.”
“There is too much emphasis on education and being the best at everything,” said Torello. “Sometimes a kid needs to be a kid. Just give them respect and let them use their imaginations.”
New bus
The PAL has been much in need of transportation, as it went from having five buses down to three this year. Luckily for the PAL and its students, IMTT and Bayonne Energy Center teamed up to donate a $90,000 school bus that can seat up to 54 passengers, which is two and a half times more capacity than its other three buses.
“Without that bus, we would probably cease to exist,” said Torello. “Transportation is vital in this industry. Without it, we’re out of the game.”
The larger capacity bus will save the PAL money in bus rental costs for local field trips that it will use for additional long distance field trips. Trips down the shore can cost up to $5,000, as the PAL has to rent a bus with a bathroom for trips that long. Kids already go on one trip to the shore every year, but now can expect to go on two.
Father Phillip of Blessed Miriam Teresa Demjanovich Parish on Avenue C blessed the bus on Friday, July 21 when it was unveiled.
