SYRACUSE, NY (NCC News) – Local kids are putting their cleats back on and dusting off their catching gloves for the summer flag football season that is right around the corner. But this football season means a lot more than just football. The Syracuse Police Department is continuing an organization that builds relationships between city youth and law enforcement called the Police Athletic/Activities League or PAL.
Jimmy Oliver is the director of community engagement for the Syracuse Police Department. He was born and raised in Syracuse and says after his mom died the community around him supported him and he wants to do the same for the youth around him.
“A person who grew up in this town who knows how hard it is and how tough it is and knows the reach of this community,” Oliver said with tears in his eyes. “I want this for our youth because they need it now more than ever.”
Reflecting on the killing of George Floyd, Brianna Taylor, Travon Martin and so many more, Oliver says a major goal of his with this organization and this flag football season is to bridge the gap between two parties that may not fully understand or trust each other.
“How do you bridge that gap? Which I am tasked to do is by building relationships, being consistent, showing up, being engaged,” Oliver said.
The PAL program is allowing community kids to be divided into teams, given jerseys, practice once a week and have a game once a week. Oliver said Syracuse police and other city officials will be attending games and practices to become familiar faces to the youth.
Flag football coach Kelly Ross says positive relationships between the community’s youth and the police are essential to growth in the heavy climate the community is in right now.
“So, we’re trying to do our part to try and build that relationship so that when kids come into an encounter with an officer it’s not always so stressful, people aren’t scared, fearing for their lives and stuff. We’d just like to change the narrative,” Ross said.
Ross said he would much rather see the kids on the football field than on the streets.
“I just want to give them something positive to do, somewhere else to go, other people to be around that’s not negative influences on them,” Ross said.
High school football player D’adj Love said what PAL is doing is very important to this community. He thinks of football as an escape from everyday life.
“We only gone make it to the top together. We’re stronger together,” Love said.
The football season starts June 15 and will end around mid-July. If you are interested in playing flag football or want more information about the PAL program visit their Facebook.