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What Is the Police Activities League?
The Police Activities League is a youth crime prevention program that relies on educational, athletic, and other recreational activities to cement a bond between police officers and the youth.
The Police Activities League program is based on the conviction that young persons - if they are reached early enough - can develop strong, positive attitudes toward police officers in their journey through life toward the goal of maturity and good citizenship.
The Police Activities League promotes trust and understanding between youth and police officers. It brings youth under the supervision and constructive influence of a law enforcement agency and expands public awareness about the role of a police officer. Part of that role is the reinforcement of responsible values and attitudes instilled in young people by their parents.
Studies have shown that if a young person respects a police officer on the ball field or in the gym, the youth will likely come to respect the laws that police officers enforce. Such respect is beneficial to the youth, the police officer, the neighborhood, and the business community.
History of the Police Activities League Program
The purpose of Police Activities League (PAL) is the same today as it was the day this crime prevention program began during the 1930s. PAL gives kids a chance to be respectful citizens by developing a special bond among police officers, youth, and the community.
PAL started with a bang - a rock through a window. A youth gang in New York City, harassing storekeepers and generally making life miserable in the neighborhood, caused the problem that pioneered this approach to juvenile delinquency.
Lieutenant Ed Flynn of the New York Police Department’s Crime Prevention Bureau liked kids. He wondered at the uselessness of always punishing them. He wondered whether kids might be reached before they got in trouble. He searched out the gang’s ringleader. As they talked, Lieutenant Flynn listened for the reasons behind the kids’ antisocial behavior. The ringleader shouted the frustration of the ghetto, telling the cop, "Man, we ain’t got no place to play, nothing to do. The cops are always hasslin’ us. We can't even play baseball." A baseball fan himself, Lieutenant Flynn began to wonder, why not help these kids form a team? Give them a place to play under police supervision. Be a friend instead of an enemy.
He talked it over with fellow officers and neighborhood storekeepers. Each chipped in a dollar for equipment and uniforms. Lieutenant Flynn found a playground where the gang could play under the watchful eye of friendly police officers. The team was an instant success. Before the year ended, there were close to a dozen such teams in the city. That was the birth of PAL.
PAL has since broadened its scope to include arts and crafts, dance, music, drama, social services, vocational guidance, remedial reading, and field trips, virtually any healthy activity that youth enjoys.
PAL General Information
The Police Activities League (PAL) in Hollywood is sponsored by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). PAL is a recreation-oriented youth program which develops and works to strengthen the bond between police officers and the children in the local area. PAL uses educational, athletic, and recreational activities to complete this mission.
PAL utilizes the LAPD and its officers to create constructive influences and to supervise the children. PAL is based on the belief that the role of a police officer includes the reinforcement of responsible values and attitudes which are instilled in young people by their parents.
The Hollywood PAL administrative office is located in the Hollywood Community Police Station. It shares an office with several other sections of the LAPD Hollywood Division. Currently, there are two officers assigned to the unit who work full-time organizing, preparing, and executing a wide variety of programs for the children in Hollywood.
In order to bring a diverse variety of quality activities and services to the children in Hollywood, Hollywood PAL works with volunteers, four other agencies, and accepts donations from the public. PAL is currently reliant on these resources from outside community since it does not have its own facility.
PAL Activities in the Hollywood Area
Scheduled Events
Hollywood Recreation Center, 1122 N. Cole Ave.
Art, Soccer, Theater, Tutoring - Ages 6 - 15
Tuesdays 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Thursdays 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Hollywood Little Red School House, 1248 N. Highland Ave
Gymnastics, Swimming, Basketball, Computers - Ages 6 - 15
Mondays 6:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Wednesdays 6:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Salvation, Weingart Youth Center, 5941 Hollywood Blvd
Karate - Ages 8 - 18
Tuesdays 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Saturdays 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
All participants must register before participating by calling 213-485-4310.
Activities at the Hollywood Little Red School House
Swimming is taught by two volunteer instructors. The students’ skill levels range from beginner to advanced. The swimming lessons emphasize water safety and responsibility. Advanced students learn basic water rescue techniques. The swimming program also includes special accommodations for children who have special needs. Floatation devices and extra supervision allow any child to enjoy the pool.
Gymnastics is taught with an emphasis on safety. Kids learn basic techniques of how to fall safely as well as more advanced moves of tumbling and rolling. Advanced students learn the art of expressive dance and ballet.
The arts and crafts section allows children to express themselves through art. Projects include clay and paper sculpture, water-based painting, leather and metal creations, and colored wax and pencil drawings. Students are encouraged to express themselves and to explore the wide variety of colors and materials which can be used to create art.
Fitness and athletics are encouraged by the basketball program. A basketball court with height-adjustable hoops allow children of all ages to participate. Safe stretching techniques and skill creating drills culminate in basketball games involving the children at the program. Advanced athletes compete in competitive basketball leagues in the local area.
Computer training begins with basic instruction in the operations of computers and continues into training in multi-media applications and safe use of the Internet. Adult supervision and an emphasis on the computer as a learning tool ensure that the children receive the proper training and guidance.
Activities At The Salvation Army
The computer lab at the Weingart Center allows tutors to work with the children and help them understand the operations of personal computers. Students also use the computers as workstations, typing papers and reports, which otherwise would have to be written by hand. The computer lab allows kids, who otherwise would not have access to computers, to work with these tools.
Karate instruction is done by one civilian volunteer and two off-duty officers. Instruction includes not only self-defense with karate, but also enhances self-discipline and perseverance. Instructors work with the children in groups which fosters a sense of team unity. If a child requires extra instruction, teachers interact with them on a more personal level. Advanced students are encouraged to help mentor the beginner students.
Basketball is another athletic activity which fosters teamwork. PAL is currently working in conjunction with Nike to operate a basketball league. Teams from the local area meet every Saturday and play in an organized league. Professional basketball officials ensure fair play and accurate officiating.
Activities at Parks and Recreation
Tutoring is available for all grade levels. Pre-literate children receive tutoring in penmanship and basic reading. School-age students are helped in any subject they require. Tutors clarify questions and help teach the students how to use resources, such as atlases and dictionaries, to help themselves.
Children are taught how to utilize arts and crafts to explore new mediums of expression. Children learn how to prepare canvas for painting and how to use a variety of colors to express personal ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
The acting and theater component of the program exposes children to acting and dynamic theater. Children work in teams to act out short stories and are encouraged to use one another for support and encouragement. The theater component of the program hopes the children will become more self-confident and will be more willing to be self-sufficient.
A large athletic field is the site of the soccer program. Teamwork and individual achievement are a major component of soccer. Coaches encourage the kids to use teamwork to achieve common goals and to have the self-confidence to also score on their own. Children of all skill levels and ages compete in friendly competition and learn to cooperate with each other.
Activities at the Boys and Girls Club
A computer lab provides a powerful tool for students. Training in word processing and the use of the internet as a reference resource help prepare students for the future. Mastery of the Windows operating system is the focus of the computer training.
A bike and hardware workshop enables children to get job training. Fixing and refurbishing bicycles and machines allow workers to learn fundamentals of mathematics, physics, mechanical operation, and instills a work ethic. Workers learn how to begin and finish projects and how to recycle components.
A large meeting space with activities allow teens to have a place for recreation. A safe meeting area in the neighborhood allows teens to meet after school without having to loiter in the neighborhood. This area allows mentors and supervisors to interact with the teens and provide positive role models and guidance.
A comprehensive boxing program allows teens to focus on athletic activities. A boxing ring and workout center, complete with speed and heavy bags, help teens gain a level of physical fitness and coordination.
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