There’s no doubt that police-community relations – particularly for young people – have been strained since the beginning of the pandemic, and they only got worse in the wake of the George Floyd murder and other national incidents. The increase in high-profile school violence this year has contributed to that strain, and Boston Police said they felt they needed to reclaim something they’d lost.
Last Wednesday (April 13) at TechBoston Academy – a school community still healing from last month’s shooting of a teacher and student who were boarding a fan bus on the way to a high school basketball game – this renewed effort was on full display when a group of Boston Police basketball players from across the city visited TechBoston Academy for an afternoon of dance battles and hard-core hoops.
The BPD community engagement team, District Attorney Kevin Hayden, the Boston Public Schools, and the Three Point Foundation agreed to bring back such events this spring after a long pause – one that has been costly for police relationship building with young people, said BPD Supt. Nora Baston.
“Basketball is probably the easiest way we can rebuild with these kids,” said Baston, who grew up in Boston and played basketball at UMass-Lowell. “It’s about reconnecting because during Covid-19 we weren’t able to do this…This can’t be the only time we show up, though. We need to rebuild these relationships and let them know we are family and we’re members of your community. It’s all about claiming our narrative, taking it back and changing the narrative.”
Claude Pritchard, founder of the Three Point Foundation, said this was the best time and place to begin reconnecting. “We all wanted to give these kids a good start to their vacation as they continue getting through the situation with the inappropriate pictures and then the shooting here,” he said.
“This is a chance to help them start positive. The police force has been great about this. The kids only hear and see bad things about the police, but what they don’t see is police officers are mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters – and are part of this community.”
The afternoon kicked off with a dance battle between the TechBoston Dance Team and the Boston Police Dance Team. At center court – after a choreographed routine by the TechBoston team – Boston Police officers did “battle” by dance. It was a revelation to most of the young people to see police officers dressed in full uniform matching them move for move – understanding that many of the officers weren’t that much older than them, nor that much different, either.
That was fabulous precursor for the TechBoston vs. Boston Police basketball game featuring middle school, junior varsity, and some varsity TechBoston players. Baston said she had put out the call for officers to play against the kids, expecting only a few to come from the local districts, but officers from all over the city were interested – including several who had played in a police vs. youth summer league in the South End prior to the pandemic.
Students, Police, DA Hayden, and others gather at center court following the game.
The game was no joke, but rather a real nail-biter.
The TechBoston team came out with some quick baskets inside and then from three-point range, but the police soon got their footing and surged ahead of the young people. That was a surprise for some of the TechBoston players – who said they expected a bunch of old guys who couldn’t move fast or play that well.
“I was surprised they were this good,” said Kervenslee Blanc, a 6-6 junior on the celebrated TechBoston varsity team. “They were making shots and getting all of the rebounds.”
Added Yves Conde, a junior varsity player, “They really had a good team, and I didn’t expect that.”
At halftime, DA Hayden – who had been excitedly watching during the first half – spoke to the team and to the students in attendance. Having responded to the school following the shooting last month, he said he wanted the kids to stay positive and to know adults had not forgotten about them.
“There are some truths in this life that are just what they are,” he said. “It’s like gravity. When you jump, it’s going to pull you down whether you like it or not…Only good can overcome evil. That’s the truth whether you like it or not. I want you to stay positive, and I’ll be back to see you again.”
After halftime, the police team, led by Manny Canuto, Danny Griffin and Ciaran Murphy, began to take control of the game and built up a double-digit lead. However, TechBoston teams are known for defense first and foremost, and with about eight minutes left, the kids stormed back after several defensive stops.
With just 16 seconds left on the clock, Blanc got behind the defense and fielded a perfect pass that left him all alone for a two-hand slam. That brought the home team to within two points, 66-64. An ensuing foul and two free to put the game away for the visitors, 68-64.
It was all smiles in the post-game handshake, and any strain between the young people and the police had evaporated – at least on that afternoon.
“It’s a positive event first, but it shows we’re also ready to rebuild relationships that were on pause during Covid, and so what better way to do it than with basketball like we used to,” said Baston.
“We need these relationships built here today so when things do happen, we have the relationships that are already there…If we don’t know each other, we don’t trust each other when it matters most.”
Added TechBoston player Jarell Ellerbe, “I want a rematch. I think we can beat them.”
TechBoston player Jarell Ellerbe drives the lane.
DA Kevin Hayden spoke at halftime to the students and the players about staying positive.
TechBoston’s Kervenslee Blanc slams the ball home to put his just two points behind with 16 seconds left.
Police Supt. Nora Baston, Vahsaun Givans and Claude Pritchard, of the Three Point Foundation, and Deputy James Chin. Seth Daniel photos
