After being on the job for a little more than two years, North Bergen Police Officer Arthur “Pete” Del wanted to do something different in serving the community. He aspired to earn his certification with the New Jersey Regional Police Institute, in order to do more community policing.
However, to earn that certification, Del had to help organize a project that would build community partnerships, in particular, with the young people of the community.
“I figured basketball is the best way to get through to the kids,” Del said. “It’s a good way to meet the kids and it’s a good way for the kids to meet us on a different level.”
Del was introduced to John Belluardo, the chairman of the North Bergen Against Drugs and Alcohol Alliance, and Ralph Marino, the coordinator of the North Bergen TIPS (Teen Initiative Prevention in Sports) program, to see if there was a chance to organize a charity basketball game.
The TIPS program was started a few years ago in an effort to keep teens off the street and give them a positive influence in utilizing the gyms in the schools.
“I thought it was a good way for the police department and the kids to get along,” said Belluardo, who also serves as the attendance officer at North Bergen High School, as well as the head soccer coach there. “Officer Del approached us with the idea to run the program and we were more than willing to help.”
Del was also able to get 11 police officers who were willing to donate their time to play in the game. Lt. Joseph Bode and Sgt. Robert Dowd served as the coaches for the police department team.
The charity game, with all the proceeds going to defray the costs for the TIPS program and other juvenile community programs in the township, was held last Wednesday night at the high school gym, with a team of police officers taking on the All-Stars of the TIPS program.
The game went well, with almost 300 people attending. It was also an exciting game, with the TIPS All-Stars eventually prevailing, 61-59.
“We could have pulled it out at the end, but we missed some key shots,” Del said. “But it was a fun game. At least we kept it close. I was worried we were going to get hammered. I think everyone had a good time.”
Del said that the teams got together after the game to share hot dogs, soft drinks and laughs.
“Some of the kids brought their parents in to meet us,” Del said. “It was an all-around good time. It was good, because a lot of the kids got to see us on a different level, on a first-name basis, not Officer Del or whatever. That was the goal of the project, to get the kids to see us in a different light.”
Belluardo said that because it was a first-time event, he was a little skeptical in the beginning.
“If it’s successful, we’d love to try it again,” Belluardo said. “We want to build a rapport between the police and the teenagers, to let them know that if they’re in trouble, they have someone who would be willing to help. It’s sort of a prevention and intervention thing. This gives us another option.”
The game was such a success that Del is already planning other activities, like a charity volleyball or softball game in the future.
“It looks like something we want to do more often,” Del said. “And that definitely feels good. It tells you that you’re doing a good job. Hopefully, we’ll get more kids involved in the future.”