Police Athletic League
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Police Athletic League is our youth mentoring program. Our mission is to provide safe activities for youth while instilling positive values, character and leadership skills.
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STATE RECOGNIZED BOXING PROGRAM
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Under the leadership of Deputy John Brady, Executive Director, the sheriff’s office PAL boxing program is widely recognized throughout the state of Florida. Recently our PAL hosted its second PAL State Boxing Tournament at the St. Johns River State College gymnasium. The two-day event featured more than 150 boxers from PALs throughout the state of Florida.
Our boxing program has also expanded to Interlachen and plans are underway for a gym in Crescent City. The main gym is in East Palatka.
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MORE THAN JUST SPORTS
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The sheriff’s office PAL takes pride in offering opportunities for our youth to participate and remain involved in positive activities. We take pride in placing our youth as a priority and building lasting and meaningful relationships with all arms of the community collaboratively. Civic responsibility and involvement have been instrumental in building and fostering excellent relationships for our PAL program.
In 2019 the sheriff’s office PAL was awarded a grant to target at risk youth and provide mentoring as well as support.
SUMMER CAMPS
Our PAL has provided enriching summer sports camps to the community, focusing on Interlachen and Crescent City areas. Summer camps are staffed by our youth resource deputies, PAL staff and older PAL youth mentors. Our camps are designed to instill positive values and to build relationships with law enforcement.
WANT TO HELP?
Volunteers are required to pass a very thorough and concise level II FDLE background screening process necessary to work with youth. Volunteers are approved through the PAL executive board after screening is completed. They are supervised by PAL staff members and report directly to the staff on all occasions. Our volunteers are not financially compensated at any time by the PAL program, but are insured along with staff by our liability insurance, providing it is during the course of a PAL activity or sponsored event. PAL has worked tirelessly to recruit positive role models, mentors, and community-based leaders for their volunteer programs and needs. At times, volunteers are the foundation of many activities and events, when funding and staffing are limited.
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If you are in any way interested in supporting PAL or volunteering, please feel free to contact Deputy Brady directly.