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Taken to court! Police, kids play friendly basketball game

Taken to court! Police, kids play friendly basketball game
Photo by Angel Zayas

It’s the one time you can steal from a police officer!

About 30 cops and teens squared off in a friendly-but-intense game of hoops at the Kings Bay Y in Sheepshead Bay on June 11. Teams — composed of a mix of youth from the Police Athletic League and officers from the 61st, 63rd, and 69th precincts — went head to head to foster sportsmanship and a better relationship between adolescents and officers, and it was a slam dunk, the event’s host said.

“They’re part of the same team, so they know they can trust each other — they are all human, it’s not you against me, we are a team,” said state Sen. Roxanne Persaud (D–Canarsie).

The youth ranged in age from about 13 to 17 years old, but some of them handled the ball so well they looked talented enough to be drafted to the Nets, said Persaud, who is already looking forward to the next tournament on June 26.

“Some of them were at the professional level,” she said. “Everyone was having a great time.”

Reach reporter Julianne Cuba at (718) 260–4577 or by e-mail at jcuba@cnglocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @julcuba.