Police officers in Rochester, New York have gone above and beyond the call of duty. The officers recently chipped in to purchased a basketball hoop for kids in one of the city’s roughest neighborhoods.
The kids were playing with a basketball net that had become so worn down that it was barely usable.
Eight officers had been patrolling the area around 1st street from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. for the past six years.
Recently, the police began playing pick-up basketball with several of the neighborhood kids. They quickly realized just how bad the local basketball hoop had become.
“Basically the backboard itself, where the rectangle is, was gone,” explained Officer Michael Collins. “So they either had to swish it or not use the backboard at all.”
The officers donated $15 each to cover the cost of a new hoop.
“We tried to make a big deal out of it,” Collins said. “It was the first day of summer, so we went down the street with the police cars and the sirens on so they were wondering what was going on and then we pull out the hoop and they were really excited.”
The officers admit that anytime they can forge a bond with the kids “it’s a really good thing.”
The kids say they are really enjoying their time spent with the officers. “It’s fun because we all get to verse them because we’re all basketball players and we get to show them our skills,” said 12-year old Daymeir Cain, adding, “You get to play against people who help you.”
