ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Police Department is gearing up to offer a new multicultural youth basketball league.
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All of the league’s six teams - one for each of Orlando’s community districts - will be coached by Orlando police officers.
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Thank you to community partners @Academy, @OrlandoMagic, & @MagicAmbassador for connecting with OPD in our efforts to build positive relationships and foster trust with youth throughout the @citybeautiful. 🏀 🚔 pic.twitter.com/B2e8CQpC1u
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) April 6, 2022
To help the league get off to a good start, Academy Sports + Outdoors provided the police department with a donation of a gym’s-worth of equipment Tuesday.
The donation includes 60 pairs of basketball shoes, 80 balls, gear bags and more.
“The biggest thing was to start at ground zero, for these kids to see us as people, and there’s no divide,” OPD Lieutenant Matthew Ochiuzzo said at Tuesday’s donation presentation.
Former NBA Player Bo Outlaw was also on-hand for the presentation. He’ll join Orlando police officers as they surprise the kids with the new gear at their practices over the next few weeks.
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