2008 Woodie Awards
E-COP program hoops it up with community
Kimberly Ansley
Issue date: 7/15/08 Section: The Games
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The program brings the community to the college with the goal of crime prevention.
Eastfield Police officer Paul Arroyo started the program three years ago when he and some friends played basketball in the gymnasium and Arroyo saw an opportunity.
"I saw there was a need somewhere in the community instead of the guys staying at home dealing or getting into trouble,so I went ahead and started the program," said Arroyo
Arroyo later had a chance to meet Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks and told Terry about the program Terry was fascinated.
Terry decided to support E-COP through a non- profit organization called the called Jason Terry Foundation. The foundation raises awareness about educational opportunities for inner- city youth and adults and stresses the importance of education for high school athletes. His foundation financed jerseys for all the teams.
Arroyo hopes the players will enjoy the college environment and hopefully take continuing education classes or go back to school for a degree to help them stay out of trouble.
"With me, I am more open to them so they feel comfort," Arroyo said
This summer the program was cancelled because Eastfield wants to expand the program by infusing academics into it and there were and not enough funds nor enough time to address the issues in a timely manner.
"We simply didn't have enough sponsorship. There's only so much funding we can provide," said dean of outreach and student development Rick Garcia. "We want the students not only to come to Easfield and take part in activities on campus like basketball courts, but also the academics that we have to offer."
While Eastfield is working to expand the program it is offering open gym time in its absence.
The pick up games, which began in April, are open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the summer from 2 to 4 p.m. in the gym
Participants can either play on their own form improv or pick-up teams.
One Eastfield basketball player is a regular at these pick-up games
"I've been hooping since I was10," criminal justice major Ryan Boyd said , "I like hooping it helps me prepare and get better for the upcoming season. I just hoop that's all I do."
Business major Hakeem Bacrad said he just wants some exercise.
"They don't pass me the ball so I just run up and down the court. Most of them like to play one-on-one or they come with their friends, I do it for the exercise so I don't care" he said
According to athletic director Anthony Fletcher open gym is a common source of possible recruits.
"We have guys who we recruit all year long and I tell them to come to open gym and then I have a chance to evaluate during that time," he said
Occasionally, even professional basketball players make appearances during open gym, and play alongside the Eastfield students.
At recent games Ike Diogu of the Indiana Pacers and CJ Miles of the Utah Jazz showed up and Jason Terry showed up to lead his support to the E-COP program.
Arroyo, with the support of the school and the high profile professional players, is excited about expanding the program.
Arroyo hopes the program builds a relationship between local police and the community.
kimberly_ansley@yahoo.com
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