In Denver, police officers and children go to court together to build relationships – and argue

On a recent weekend, a group of children were conducting basketball drills and training. The squeak of the floor filled the gymnasium at the Auraria Event Center at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

And in the middle of it all, a group of Denver police officers joined in, trying to keep up with the youthful exuberance around them. This was all part of the Hoops 4 Safety event, which is held annually to give officers and children a chance to get to know each other.

“I’m also from Denver. So I’m one of those kids. I also attended all the camps back then and all the fun things that were offered there,” said Officer Mike Borquez, a 26-year veteran who attended MSU Denver as a cadet. “So it’s pretty nice to see the kids out here taking advantage of these programs.”

But if you ask DPD Deputy Chief Joe Montoya, the officers weren’t the event’s headliners.

“We just want to mingle with people,” Montoya said. “And I think where the safety aspect is, if you get kids involved in positive things like sports or whatever, it generally helps them in their lives and I think it might stop them from getting involved “To engage in activities that could lead them into dangerous situations.”

The event is a collaboration between the MSU Denver men’s and women’s basketball teams, DPD and the Gold Crown Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides youth sports and enrichment programs.

Teamwork was the highlight for 10-year-old Selena Gallardo — well, that and the basketball she received during camp.

“We were all able to collaborate and work together and use teamwork,” said Gallardo, who attended the event wearing the jersey of Danilo Gallinari, her all-time favorite Denver Nuggets player.

Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

MSU Denver players and coaches conducted drills and drills throughout the clinic. However, the event was not just about excitement. The children, players and DPD officers also took part in a huge game of dodgeball.

“Not because I’m here. Giving back to youth has always been a passion of mine,” said Roadrunners senior point guard KJ Garrett from High Point, North Carolina. “As a child, I also looked up to older children. Now that I’m in this position, my best job is to look after the children again and make sure they have a good time too.

Hoops 4 Safety is in its fourth year. Bill Hanzlik, CEO and co-founder of the Golden Crown Foundation, said DPD’s involvement in the camp gives officers relief from their day-to-day duties.

“They are under a lot of stress every day on the road,” said Hanzlik, a former player and head coach of the Denver Nuggets. “They’re all having fun. So it’s a great relief for them and it’s nice to see that they’re really committed and caring.”

Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

DPD’s participation in the clinic gave 16-year-old Jordan Sanchez a positive perspective on police officers.

“I think it’s pretty cool. I think they just showed that sometimes they’re the good guys and not all of them are bad,” Sanchez said.

Borquez also answered questions from children about his job at DPD.

“Some of the kids out there asked me why I wanted to be a police officer and how I was going to become a police officer. And not just the little kids, but also some of the basketball team asked me questions about it,” said Borquez, who works as a technician in DPD’s Community Resource department.

Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

MSU Denver basketball players also answered questions from the children, who each received prizes such as basketballs and backpacks.

MSU junior point guard Ashlyn Yow hopes the experience inspires the young participants to pursue their dreams.

“Sometimes you find a child who gets attached to you or is really attracted to you, and that’s my favorite thing about it [clinic]Yow said. “Sometimes you see kids from previous years, or sometimes we work at Gold Crown and see kids there. It’s just a great way for us to interact with the kids. And when we see them later, they will know our faces.”