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Lynchburg police build relationship with kids through baseball

The "Badges for Baseball" program teaches kids sportsmanship, and allows them to relate with police officers in a fun setting

Tim Saunders

Reporter/Lynchburg Bureau Chief

5:21 PM EDT, June 26, 2012

LYNCHBURG, Va.

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Students climb off a school bus for a face-off with the Lynchburg Police Department.

A seventh grade boy can be heard yelling "lets go big guy" to one of his friends.

It's not a confrontation, but a chance for kids to learn teamwork and see a different side of law enforcement.

"I think so much of what we do as a police agency is built on relationships," said Major Todd Swisher with the Lynchburg Police Department.  "This gives us a great opportunity to go out and build relationships with kids in the community."

On Tuesday mornings, students from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg come to the Presbyterian Home for a game of baseball.

Police officers act as coaches and mentors.

"This is a good chance to just relax a little bit and have fun," said Lynchburg police officer J.J. Collins.

Every week about 30 kids take to the field.  For some of them, it's the first time they've ever played baseball.

"We get to have fun and be entertained, instead of just sitting around the Boys and Girls Club," said Isaiah Goode, a Dunbar Middle School student who is using the program to work through personal issues.

"I like to hit the ball, and it takes out some of my anger sometimes," said Goode.

His grandmother, Christine, has seen a big change since he started playing.

"It's changed him a lot toward cops and what they're out here to do," she said.

Changing perceptions is a major goal of the program.

"A lot of times, kids just see the badge, they don't see the person," said Collins.

Students walk away with a different attitude.

"I know that they help our communities, and get the bad guys out of our community," said Rodney Spinner, a Dunbar Middle School student.

They also learn sportsmanship.

"It's not about being great.  It's about going out there, having fun, playing the game, learning how to catch, hit, and throw," said Mark Sheehan, Executive Director for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg.

The program is funded by a grant from the Cal Ripken, Senior Foundation.  Baseball star Cal Ripken, Junior started the organization in honor of his dad, to teach at-risk kids character and life lessons.