About 10 St. Louis city police officers on March 26 walked out of the Marquette Park Recreation Center, 4025 Minnesota Ave., dripping with sweat and in shock at their basketball game loss.
“We definitely don’t like to lose,” said Sgt. Todd Ross, of the Third Police District. “We are missing a few key players, but trust me they will be here next time.”
The officers spent their Saturday afternoon facing off with a team of mentors and youth members of 28 to Life, an initiative that aims to empower the youth to be strong leaders – or superheroes, as they say – and to improve relations between police and the youth. Community organizer and Ferguson protestor Bruce Franks Jr. leads the effort, which is based in South City.
On Saturday, 28 to Life held its first “Bridging the Gap” charity game in hopes of bringing community members and police together.
“It’s important to have something like this to show that everyone is human,” said VonDerrit Myers Sr., whose son was shot and killed by a former city officer. “Police are human, and this allows them to see that we are human too.”
Franks honored three families whose loved ones died at the hands of police, including VonDerrit Myers Jr., 18, Cary Ball Jr., 25, and Michael Brown Jr., 18. All three of their families attended the game to receive the recognition. Franks also honored three police officers who were killed in the line of duty, including Nicholas Sloan, 24, Norvelle Brown, 22, and Daryl Hall, 34. The police team members received the recognition for the officers.
The two teams were neck and neck almost the entire game, making for a loud lively crowd of about 50. Several officers in uniform lined the back wall and watched the game quietly, while community members jumped up and down from their seats and yelled.
Alderman Chris Carter of Ward 27 and Carlos Ball, Cary’s brother, played on the 28 to Life team. Several of the players had high school and even college basketball experience, but the team had never played a game together, Franks said.
The police team, on the other hand, plays together twice a week, Ross said. It includes officers from downtown, the Second and Third districts. They’ve taken on Harris-Stowe State University basketball freshman and firefighters and almost always came out on top, he said.
Despite upsetting the police team’s 13-3 record, Ross said the event overall was a win. Several of the 28 to Life team probably wouldn’t have had any positive interaction with police until the initiative started, Ross said.
Franks agreed. Most of the group’s mentors and youth have had numerous negative encounters with police, he said.
“When they were able to meet officers like Sgt. Ross, they didn’t realize that not all officers are alike,” Franks said. “You find those officers that you can link with and bridge the gap.”
Ross has been working with Franks since he started 28 to Life, and both the community and police involvement has grown, they said. Currently there are 300 youth members and 24 mentors. Franks has hosted several events where police, including Chief Sam Dotson, have come to speak with the youth. However, this was the first community-wide event, and they plan on having more of them.
VonDerrit Myers Sr. said it was personally comforting for him to attend the event.
“We’re afraid for our children to walk up and down the street – not just because of regular people but police officers as well,” Myers said. “This helps show the community that there are some good officers.”
Ross said it’s the same on the reverse side.
“It lets officers know that everyone’s not criminals and up to no good,” he said. “I grew up on the South side, so I know both sides. It’s nothing but a beautiful thing going on here.”
Follow this reporter on Twitter @RebeccaRivas.
