Some Maryland law enforcement officers plan to see a lot of youth this summer.
But they’re hoping that takes place on the ball field, not crime scenes.
Maryland safety agencies and the Cal Ripkin, Sr. Foundation are teaming up for a youth-mentoring program called “Badges for Baseball” that connects kids with cops who play sports with them and act as mentors.
The Maryland Attorney General’s Office is coordinating the program in nine jurisdictions with a $212,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention.
“Badges for Baseball not only teaches kids the basic skills of the game, but also helps them learn critical life lessons in leadership, good sportsmanship, and integrity, while developing positive relationships with law enforcement officers in their own communities,” Douglas Gansler, the Maryland attorney general, said.
Participating agencies include the sheriff’s offices in Prince George’s and Charles counties, the Anne Arundel County Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA of Prince George’s County. Kids in the program will learn basic baseball skills, take part in a character-development program and attend a camp in Maine.
The Ripkin foundation sets up baseball- and softball-themed programs in disadvantaged communities.
The Badges for Baseball initiative started in 2007 through a collaboration with the Department of Justice, said Jeff Breslin, the foundation’s director of grants and programs.
He said the foundation wanted to help young people find mentors.
“We thought, ‘What better group of mentors is there than law enforcement?'” he said.
Maryland began participating in the program last year, said Steve Ruckman, a spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office. Ruckman said state officials view it as a way to curb crime because it keeps youth occupied and helps them view police more favorably.
“This kind of mentoring is one of the best tools we have for preventing kids from getting involved in crime in the first place,” he said.
More than 1,000 Maryland youths are expected to take part.
