St. Paul kids, police build trust via basketball

When Alex Glass started gathering young people to play basketball against local police officers, he had a lot of convincing to do. Many of the kids said they didn't want to participate, largely because of the distrust — real or perceived — that they have for law enforcement, he said.

In the week before the outreach event, Glass assured East Side ­residents that it would be an entertaining way to build relationships with police and help move past some of the city's volatile history. By the end of Saturday's event, even the kids thought so.

About 30 St. Paul children faced off against volunteers from the Asian, Black and Latino Peace Officer associations at Arlington Hills Community Center. If there was any animosity among the players, spectators attending the three pickup games would never have known.

Kids fist-bumped officers after making particularly sweet shots, and officers heckled referees for letting some calls go.

"It's our job as city employees to keep our kids in a safe atmosphere — sometimes that means putting them in uncomfortable situations," said Glass, program director of the community center.

"I just like that everyone came out and gave it a shot."

The lively crowd roared when kids — who ranged in age from elementary students to high schoolers — were able to dribble through the towering adults' defense. And they chuckled when officers would get away with a double dribble.

Officers from St. Paul police, the State Patrol, the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office and parking enforcement all volunteered their time.

After a similar event at Conway Recreation Center last fall, they wanted to continue to try to foster relationships on the East Side, said John Lozoya, commander of the Eastern District for St. Paul police.

"It pays huge dividends because the kids see us — and we look like them," said Lozoya, president of the Minnesota Latino Peace Officers Association. "Now when they see us on the street they know our names, and that breaks down a lot of barriers."

Cassandra Carter, who cheered on her son Amari on Saturday, said she'd like to see community outreach events between police and local children at least once a month. During a time of national tension between law enforcement and minority youths, she said, these interactions are important because they build trust.

"Some people never interact with the officers and just assume they're bad because of what they hear. This is a good way to break those ­stereotypes," Carter said.

Some of bonds formed between officers and students were readily apparent after East Side teens won the last game by three points. Several boys took the time to seek out members of the opposing team to shake their hands and thank them for coming.

Parents also were grateful to meet some of the East Side officers, many of whom live in the neighborhood they serve.

Glass collected surveys from the kids who participated and was pleased to read that their attitudes had changed: Nearly all wrote that they had a good time and would do it again, he said.

Resident Mike Hess said the event made him think better of police as a whole because the officers didn't have to take the time to interact with the local kids but did so anyway.

"It shows you that they're people too," he said.