Region 6

Jacksonville Regional Report

Jacksonville selected to host the 24^th National Conference on Preventing Crime In The Black Community. The conference is sponsored by Attorney General - Bill McCollum. Assistant Chief Booby L. Deal is the Chairman of the Host Committee. Conference schedule for May 20^th - 23^rd, 2009 at the Hyatt Hotel, Downtown Jacksonville. Sheriff John Rutherford welcomes the committee and is excited about hosting the conference in Jacksonville and is committed to its overall success.

On February 27^th, 2009 PAL gave a farewell celebration to Deputy Executive Director, Alton Kelly for his hard work, dedication and contributions to PAL and the Jacksonville community. The PAL Board of Directors elected Mrs. Renee Naughton (Attorney and former Executive Director of Character Counts-Jacksonville) as the new DED, Mrs. Naughton looks forward to joining the Jax PAL team on May, 1, 2009.

PAL After-School Education Program Successes

On January 26, 2009, The Police Athletic League of Jax launched its second edition of Team-Up at R.L. Brown Elementary School. Team-Up, is an academic and enrichment after-school program offered to school-aged children enrolled at R.L. Brown Elementary School. This program is made possible through Jacksonville’s Community Wide Anti-Crime Initiative: The Jacksonville Journey. Students received fun-filled lessons on instruments, rhythm and tempo led by UNF’s Jazz Students.

Sheriff's Star Student Program a Success!

Over 75 students enrolled in our After-School Education Program received mentoring and educational assistance for four consecutive Saturdays in the month of February. PAL and JSO staff delivered over 302 sessions to help students prepare for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Tests. FCAT PEP
RALLY: As an incentive, we planned a special celebration to help motivate, encourage and reward them for their efforts. Students who attend all four sessions received a certificate of completion signed by Sheriff Rutherford. JSO Director Michael Edwards and Chief David Stevens were guest speakers at the FCAT Pep Rally and presented the certificates to students on behalf of the Sheriff Rutherford. Students also received a surprise visit from Senator Tony Hill.

All PAL After-School Education Program sites were considered more successful during the 2008/2009 School Year, earning an above satisfactory rating of 143, out of a total score of 144. The rating was a result of an annual audit conducted by the Jacksonville Children’s Commission. The PAL Team Up Program at Palm Avenue Exceptional Center earned a PERFECT SCORE!
Congratulations to Ms. Janice Williams, Lead Teacher of PAL TEAM UP After-School Program at Palm Avenue Exceptional Student Center will receive the 2008-2009 Teacher of the Year Award on April 30, 2009 for her unique teaching style, hard work endless hours and dedication to the students and Palm Avenue. Ms. Williams has contributed to the PAL TEAM UP Program for over 5 years.

Athletic Accomplishments

Tackle Football:
Eight youth from the PAL football program were recognized at the Pop Warner Scholastics banquet. Randyl Baker, Amanda Davis, Tracy Davis, Lewis Langley, Clarence Sealey, Jared Smith, and Phillip Steelman.

Congratulations to the Junior Midget Enforcers football team for winning the Junior Jaguar Bowl. The Junior Midget team is coached by Aaron Bass.

Congratulations to the Junior Pee Wee Enforcers football team for winning the Creeks Athletic Association bowl game. The Jr. Pee W team is coached by Matt Duncan.

Special Olympics Soccer:
Officer Waarum has created a partnership with Palm Avenue this year. PAL will be sponsoring 60 youth from Palm Avenue in the Special Olympic Games

Cheerleading:
Two PAL cheer squads participated in the Greater Jacksonville Pop Warner cheerleading competition at the University of North Florida. The Junior Midget squad placed third in the competition. Three squads participated in the State PAL cheerleading competition. The mitey mite 10U squad won 1st place.

Boxing:
The boxing program participated in the State PAL Boxing tournament hosted in Fort Myers, Florida on November 7-9.

Championship Belt
Tony Morris won the 141 Pound weight class.
Haziel Yisrael won the 125 pound weight class.

Gold Medal/Walkover
Maurice Amos III
Yaj’Maere Parker
Silver Medal
Travis, Juan, Maurice Amos Jr. and Wesley

Total Accomplishments:
Two championship belts, two gold medals, four silver medals in the State of Florida PAL boxing tournament; three gold medals two silver medals, in the Florida Sunshine State Games; two first place, three second place in Port St. Lucie, four championship belts, two second place trophies, in Kingsland, Georgia; four championship belts in Quincy, Florida; one first place Golden Gloves in Boca Raton, and one championship belt in XTREME boxing.

Basketball:
State PAL results:
10 and under girls- SILVER
10 and under boys- BRONZE
12 and under girls- GOLD
12 and under boys- SILVER
14 and under boys- BRONZE

State PAL Hot Shot- Jenae’ Wheeler (10 and under girls)- 1st Place

Parks and Recreation vs. PAL (“CITY CHAMPIONS”)
March 12, 2009 at Monument PAL
10 and under boys-Runner Up
12 and under boys-Champions

March 13, 2009 at Edward Waters College
14 and under boys- Champions
16 and under boys- Runner Up

Camp PAL 2008/2009 fiscal year

Monitoring results:
Mallison: 95
Eastside: 98
33rd: 98
Monument: 98

154 Youth participated in a survey. Take a look at some of the results.
93% felt safe at camp
95% had fun
94% enjoyed interacting with Counselors

75 Parent/Guardians participated in a survey.
98 % felt their child learned new skills
98 % felt their child was treated like an individual
100% felt their child was safe

Dyslexia: Success
Joshua Berry, 9 year old student was recognized early for showing indicators of Dyslexia. He is below grade level and is now being tutored twice a week at his school. A total of Fourteen youth are undergoing tutoring.
* Undergoing a plan to start a Flag Football program on the Eastside.

Palatka PAL Regional Report

Sgt. Jason Shaw

The PANTHER Summer Youth Camp started out the year with 110 campers in attendance, over fifty five percent of which were from the Weed & Seed area. This year marked the third year in a row that the camp was held at the Weed and Seed Safe Haven. The Safe Haven provided several new educational and recreational activities for the campers this year. The Safe Haven additions and the expansion in numbers were just two of the many new things for the camp. Monday through Thursday the campers were able to attend the Family Life Center again this year, where they participated in organized recreational activities as well as swimming in an Olympic size pool and skating.

Throughout the camp guest speakers visited and spoke on different topics such as Sickle cell anemia, Health/Fitness, and computer safety. The most popular activity to the campers once again was Crime Scene Investigation, which was taught by Detective Mike Lassiter. The CSI course consisted of the campers learning about evidence detection and collection, as well as conducting an experiment with strawberries. The experiment called for the campers to extract the strawberries DNA. The CSI course was provided to both age groups and sparked some of the most interesting conversations between members at the camp.

Along with the educational information, the Campers were also provided with Life Skills, Rad Kids, Girl Scouts, and Drug Awareness. Throughout camp the campers were given lessons dealing with nutrition, personal hygiene, sexual transmitted disease, drugs, and child abuse. The campers were also taught arts and crafts, the danger of a stranger, and the importance of self esteem. It needs to be noted that the sexual discussions were only given to the older group.

Field Day was a new event that took place on three separate occasions this
summer. Field day allowed for the campers to compete against local camps in a
variety of different events. In addition to the field day, the campers participated in a
number of different activities. Community service projects, in the form of
neighborhood cleanups and landscaping.

Field trips to local colleges (Bethune Cookman University and St. Johns
River Community College) as well as The Florida Arts Museum and the Kennedy
Space Center highlighted our educational portion of the camp. The children were
also taken on fun field trips to Wet-n-Wild, Ally Kats Bowling Alley, Typhoon
Lagoon, and the Skate Station to round out a complete summer of education and entertainment.

With all the wonderful things that happened this year it proves that the
Panther Summer Youth Camp is becoming one of the biggest and best programs
within our community and consistently providing a safe/positive environment for the
youth to develop and grow.

We are just rapping up our flag football leagues and beginning registration for
our basketball leagues.

After School Enrichment

After school enrichment program is going well. We currently have over 50 children enrolled in the program. Attendance is averaging in the mid thirties. Both tutoring programs (One on One Learning and The Art Grey Foundation) have started up and seem to be doing well. The enrichment activities have also begun and are going well. Computers, Dance, and Art all have had classes and all the children seem to be excited about participating.

Pumpkin Masquerade

On October 31, 2008 the Palatka Police Athletic League, Ravine Gardens State Park, Celebrate Putnam, and the Putnam County Recreation Department came together and put on a Pumpkin Masquerade for middle school age children. The event consisted of a Costume Contest, Carnival Style Games, Dancing, Wii Tournament, and was complimented with food and drinks. There were also prizes consisting of bicycles, gift cards, and games that were given away for the above contest. A Nintendo Wii was given away as the grand prize to cap off the night. Over 200 kids attended the free event that provided a safe and fun filled environment for everyone.

Tallahassee PAL Regional Report

LT. DORITA GAVIN

Hot Shot Basketball Tournament – June 5, 2009 Time: 6PM-9PM

Location: Jack McLean Community Center

FREE to Boys & Girls

10 & Under

12 & Under

14 &Under

Prizes will be awarded

Food will be served

Summer League Basketball- June 8-July 29, 2009, 6P-9P

Location: Jack McLean Community Center

JR League: Coeds aged 10-12, Fee: $10.00

SR. League: Boys aged 13-15, Fee: $25.00

Applications will be available beginning April 24, 2009 at the Police Department.

Tallahassee PAL Garage Sale- July 11, 2009, 7A-2P

Location: Tallahassee PD, 234 E. Seventh Avenue

Tallahassee PAL Board of Directors is accepting nominations for new members.

The nomination committee will meet again in September 2009.

Next scheduled meeting of Board is November 16, 2009.

Welcome Team Xtreme Members:

A Memorandum of Understanding has been approved to partner with Team Xtreme. Team Xtreme is a fast pitch baseball team for girls 14 years and under. This team was awarded a PAL grant because it is organized and operated by Tallahassee Police Officers in the off-duty capacity.