Police Officers Join Kids for Soccer Game After Complaint Calls
One officer posted a video of the soccer game on Facebook.
— -- A group of police officers who responded to complaint calls about kids playing in a parking lot started a pick-up game of soccer with the kids instead of kicking them off the lot.
Birmingham, Alabama, police officer Jordan Burke told ABC News his department had received several complaints over a few days about kids playing in a parking lot after business hours.
Burke, 25, and about five other police officers decided to respond to the complaint calls in a more positive way.
“We kind of decided as a group that we’re going to use this as a good opportunity to introduce ourselves further and get to know the kids and hopefully make a positive impact,” said Burke, a four-year Birmingham Police Department veteran.
The officers pulled up to the parking lot last Friday, sparking a fear in the kids that was quickly relieved.
“I motioned to one and said, ‘Hey, you want to play catch?,’ and they lit up,” Burke said.
The officers played catch and then soccer with the kids -- who ranged in age from around 5 to around 13 –- until they got another call they had to respond to. They then came back after that call to keep playing.
Burke posted a video of the soccer game on Facebook, along with a clear message, saying, "Please stop calling the police telling us to tell children to stop playing outside. This will be the result every time.”
Now, the officers are trying to get sports gear like soccer nets donated to the kids, and they are trying to find a field where the kids can play. Burke and his coworkers are also still meeting up with the kids for soccer breaks during their shifts.
“We work in a pretty dangerous area and it results in a lot of stress, so to be able to go out on our breaks and play soccer with a bunch of kids who know nothing but pure happiness is a great stress reliever,” Burke said.
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