Prince George’s County, Maryland…The Commander of the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Youth & Family Services Division, Captain Rex Barrett, said today that the Department’s Police Athletic League (PAL) summer basketball  program will begin league play on June 23, 2008.

    The league is comprised of teams recruited from the Department’s six police districts and includes over 100 players ages 13-15 years of age. The league teams will play every Monday and Wednesday for ten weeks at the Capitol Sports Complex at 6417 Marlboro Pike, District Heights, Maryland. The teams will play through the playoff brackets to the championship title game. 

    Mr. Eric Trick Washington, operations managing partner of the Capitol Sports Complex, and host of the league said “The summer-league play allows us to provide young people with a wholesome experience that includes athletic and social interaction with each other. We’re delighted to support Chief High and the Police Department’s activities with young people.” 

    “PAL offers a safe and free experience for young people, especially teenagers, and gives them a constructive option for their summer. The league is a positive outlet and an excellent tool for bringing us together with teens in positive and safe environment”, said Chief High. To support participants and their parents, and to have countywide participation, each Police District provides transportation to and from the games.  

    While athletics provides an attractive outlet for teens, Captain Barrett said the Department includes many other things. “In addition to sporting activities, we engage our participants in active discussions about juvenile crime and anti-gang prevention, drug awareness, and other life skills.  It’s our chance to hear from them and positively influence them and their choices of friends and activities.”

    PAL is a National Police Athletic League of cops and kids working together for a better tomorrow and is a youth crime prevention program for teenagers.  It is organized and supervised locally by the Police Department, and provides opportunities for youth to have positive interaction with law enforcement personnel.

    Parents are encouraged to get their students, especially those who are not involved in organized sports or other recreational activities, involved in the PAL program.  For more information, contact the Youth & Family Services Division at (301) 772-4402. 
 
    Each participating member will receive a free t-shirt representing their individual team and free transportation to and from the basketball games.