Dothan Police Department seeking the help of community in sponsoring PAL program

Dothan, Al.

The Dothan Police Department is happy to announce an exciting new program for the City of Dothan. Our agency has begun a valuable partnership with members of our community which will allow our agency to be a part of a national trend, Police Athletic Leagues (PAL). This tremendous program has been in existence for over ninety years and has evolved into a successful program that has touched thousands of young lives.

The Police Athletic League  allows members of  police forces to coach young people, both boys and girls, in athletics, as well as helping with tutoring and other school-related activities. The interaction between participants and officers strengthens police-community relations and focuses on youth enrichment, educational programs as well as sports. Studies have shown that if a young person respects a police officer in the gym or classroom, the youth will likely come to respect the laws that police officers enforce.  Such respect is beneficial to the youth, the police officer, the neighbourhoods and the business community.

In 1914, Arthur Woods, a police commissioner in New York City began the movement that would eventually be known as the Police Athletic League. Commissioner Woods’ reputation held him as an advocate of New York City’s poor who frequently instructed police to seek out needy citizens to participate in charitable programs. Commissioner Woods’ convictions reached out particularly to poor children living in congested areas without safe areas to play. It was this concern that led to an organized city-wide search for vacant lots which could be turned into playgrounds. These areas were dubbed “playstreets” which eventually became a recognized program name. The playstreets program grew and flourished and paved the way for the Junior Police Athletic League which focused on baseball and boxing for boys and basketball for girls. Within four years the successful program was declared the Police Athletic League and the first week of August 1936 was declared “PAL” week.

The PAL program has continued growing with leaps and bounds ever since. The program saw expansion in the 1930’s, threats of budget cuts in the 1940’s and renewal after the war in the 1950’s. The 1960’s marked a significant period for the program with Head-Start educational programs partnering with existing athletic programs. During the 1970’s PAL expanded once again to include nation-wide programs which educated children and teens about the dangers of drug use. During the 1980’s the program continued to thrive increasing playstreet areas and reaching a new group of youngsters by the addition of a therapeutic horseback riding program for physically disabled participants. During the 1990’s, an aggressive forty million dollar campaign launched to create new facilities and improve those already in existence. From 2000 to present, PAL programs have continued to thrive in cities across America serving children and teens with athletic, educational and cultural programs. Today, there are over 400 PAL Member Chapters in law enforcement agencies servicing over 700 cities throughout the United States serving more than two million children and teens ages five through eighteen.

The Dothan Police Department will be seeking the help of our community in sponsoring this beneficial program. Police Departments that participate in Police Athletic Leagues generally solicits funds to help support the program from members of the community. As refrenced previously, studies support the benefits of the program to the community in which it is held, showing participants are statistically less likely to engage in crime and more likely to discourage their friends from committing criminal activity.

We would like to encourage our community to join us as we embrace the children and teens in our area. Citizens will soon be hearing of ways to get involved through sponsorship, donations and volunteerism. The first priority for our league will be remodeling the chosen location for our Police Athletic League, 1183 Headland Avenue. A 24 hour build project is being planned to remodel the front of the facility to have offices, a conference room, concession stand, as well as men’s and women’s restrooms and shower rooms. To defray project costs, a motorcycle charity ride is being held and a golf tournament and fitness race are being planned for next spring. Ultimately the goal of our local league, upon completion, is to be the home of boxing, chess, tutoring and mentoring for our younger generation. We thank our community in advance for the assistance you give us through financial donations, equipment donations and giving of your time. Together we CAN make a difference by touching one life at a time.