HALIFAX — There was a one-day youth soccer camp Tuesday at Dalhousie University, but it was no ordinary summer sports camp.
A group of boys and girls were playing soccer with and against Halifax Regional Police (HRP) officers. It was a way for the officers to get kids to see them in a different light and build good and lasting relationships.
“It’s just policing kids in a different setting,” said Const. Dwight Hennigar, who is the organizer of Sports Pals and one of the 10 HRP officers taking part in the day. “They just see us as one of the kids out here playing. And we are. We’re just big kids, right?
“We all got the same T-shirts on, we’re all chasing the same ball,” he told Global News.
It’s the fifth year for the program; the last three of which have been held at Dalhousie University.
“We want to give these kids and opportunity to have a fun day,” said Nearing. “That’s our role, to support the police mission to connect with those kids and give them an opportunity with the platform here.”
The young players are used to seeing police officers in their uniforms — not as teammates. “These are police officers?” questioned Austin Tanner. After today, the 9-year-old will look at police differently in the future.
“I will probably look at them as my friend,” said Tanner.
Jenaiya Fraser, 11, was also impressed with the police. “Actually I don’t even recognize them because they’re not in their uniforms,” she said. “So yeah, I think it’s nice that they came and played with us.”
That’s mission accomplished for the police.
They’re trying to build life-long relationships with the kids.
Both the police and the kids felt the day was well spent. “I do think it’s a good idea because kids need to be active and they have to learn play all the time,” said Fraser.
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