PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Officers Justin Harris and Shamsadeen Baukman of the 18th District have spent almost every Friday at the Christy Recreation Center in West Philly, for the past 18 weeks. That's where they helped dozens of kids, ages 8 and up, practice up on their basketball and football 'skills and drills.'
"We saw a need for a safe place for children to go, the schools were out, there was nothing for children to do. So there was a need there and we tried to fill that need," said Harris.
For the officers, the time and effort was an investment that went further than improving the kids' athleticism. Attendees learned much more than the skills and drills they signed up for. They also received lessons in trauma care, financial literacy, accountability, consistency and more.
"The kids felt like they completed something, which they did: 18 weeks of dedication coming out here in the hot sun, the rain. It was a very hot summer and they came out here every week, every day on a Friday. They could have been somewhere else. They came here and played basketball and football," said Baukman.
"We built a rapport, respect, it was like, 'OK now, these are like our big brothers,'" said Harris. "We saw a little bit of maturation over those few weeks and that was great. They started to form structure. We didn't have to talk to them as much, like knew what they needed to do."
The pair explained the project was in the works for some time before it launched. COVID-19 restrictions also put a pause on plans. Unfortunately, in March, a teenager was shot on the same basketball court at 55th and Christian streets.
"Unfortunately, it took the tragic death of Kahree [Simmons] to really get the ball moving," said Harris.
The tragedy rocked the community and many kids that attended the recreation center to play. It was a stain that imposed upon the kids' rights to be kids and to play safely in their neighborhoods. However, the officers said skills and drills changed that.
"They were happy that we were there," Harris said. "They felt safe on the courts, the parents felt safe to bring that children back here. It was important, the children acknowledging, 'Hey, you know, we finally can come here and play and not have to worry about certain things.' You can see that they kind of just let their guard down and became free while we were here."
Thanks to Harris and Baukman — along with many coaches and other volunteers — the recreation center is now also a place of some amazing memories and bonding that happened during the summer of 2021.
"Once we got the ball moving, it was a great event each Friday. The kids showed up, they were dedicated, they were positive, they were just ready to play," said Harris.
"And everybody was happy that we were doing something on a continual basis, because it's one thing to just do something once or twice. But to come out and deliver every Friday was something special."
"You just remember those relationships, because in this profession, you don't get a lot of thank yous," Baukman added. "And this is like the one time where you get a thank you. 'Yo, thanks for having us.' People acknowledge how great this actually was."
He said those relationshipd were also essential to the way the children and community members interact with police.
"For the whole time, they got to see as an individual instead of a police officer. They didn't really see the blue shirt, the black pants, the blue stripes and the gun — they saw a human being playing football and basketball," said Baukman.
According to Harris and Baukman, the district has plans to continue to foster those relationships. They said they don't plan on becoming strangers to the West Philly recreation center — or the kids.
"We're coming back into Christy," Harris shared. "We'll dedicate a night to a like a tournament or something. And we're speaking with the coaches, once we get the logistics together, it'll turn into a league. One of the requirements is that they attend a mentorship. Officer Baukman and myself will probably be stopping in the schools to check on them."
While the kids are back in school now, the two said they will miss those summer Fridays spent at Christy Recreation Center.
