Elgin police use sports to connect with youth

Three days after Elgin police officer Nick Mondek played in a flag football game against local youths, he responded to a call at a residence and immediately recognized the teenager who opened the door. It was one of the kids from that game who greeted him with a big "what's up!" and happily introduced him to grandma.

"We had instant rapport from that positive interaction," Mondek said. "Just that little football game turned that one child (around) from thinking there is something negative about us."

Elgin police officers participate in a variety of youth sports activities, including year-round indoor soccer and basketball games, plus softball, baseball, golf and even fishing in summertime. The goal is to make positive connections, Police Chief Jeff Swoboda said.

"It's important for the kids to know that officers are real human beings," he said. "Some (officers) are good at some of the sports, and some are not. It's not just the best athletes that go out and play, and the kids see that as well."

Those who participate typically are resident officers, who live in the neighborhoods they patrol, and neighborhood officers, who are assigned to specific areas. The games are open to all officers who want to participate on their own time.

The kids say it's cool to see officers are normal people.

"I got to know them better," said Zackery Butler, 11, among about a dozen kids who've been learning to play golf this summer alongside police at Wing Park and The Highlands of Elgin golf courses. "They are OK."

Fifteen-year-old Sawyer Shores moved from Elgin to Pingree Grove in November, but still likes to show up for soccer games with police at Intra Sports Complex. "It's just a chance for everybody to get out and have some fun," Sawyer said. "And it's a good way to have the police connect with the kids from the area, and grow a nice relationship."

His friend Alexis Quintana, 16, who also plays soccer, said other police departments should follow suit. "They could get to know the kids and have fun," he said.

Officer Teodolo "Teo" Ravadan, a neighborhood officer, said it's important for him to connect with the kids, because he was once like them.

"Growing up in Elgin, growing up in a low-income neighborhood, I feel like if I keep them occupied when they're off school, it's a good thing," he said. "And, it's good to show them that police officers are human beings just like them."

It's also easier to connect with the adults after he's established a rapport with their children, he said. "It's like, 'If my kid likes him, let me give him a chance.' So they start opening up to me," he said.

Parent Denise Cueto said she's really happy her 14-year-son, Dylan Garcia, has been taking part in the police golf program sponsored by the Elgin Parks and Recreation Foundation and businessman Bill Hoffer.

"The kids are scared the first time they meet (the police officers)," she said, "but after that, they are friends."

The sports activities date back to the mid-1990s, when resident officers - including Swoboda - started putting together teams of kids in their neighborhoods to face off in friendly basketball and softball games.

"I just believe strongly that if we do all these proactive things and continue to try to make positive inroads with kids, we can do minor course correction when they are young and avoid major issues when they are older," Swoboda said. "These proactive efforts are well worth the money and time we spend on them."