As part of our ongoing expansion of community outreach efforts, the Tampa Police Department is proud to announce the launch of our new initiative revolving around sports themes. The approach, titled “Sharing Possibilities with Our Residents Through Sports” (SPORTS), seeks to create a positive relationship between the police and the community, particularly with kids.
"We are excited to launch our new SPORTS initiative approach as another way to build relationships between our police officers and the community we serve," said Calvin Johnson, the Deputy Chief of Community Outreach and Professional Standards who will lead this initiative. "We believe that sports can be a great way to get out in the community and bring people together to foster positive connections."
The program will launch Friday, September 8, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at Springhill Park, located at 1000 E. Eskimo Ave. Deputy Chief Johnson will join other Tampa Police officers on bicycles and ride through the neighborhood, encouraging members of the community to join them for an afternoon ride.
Future aspects of this initiative will also involve various activities such as recruitment at local high school sports events, highlighting Police Athletic League (PAL) programs, and other activities. The goal is to create an environment where people feel comfortable interacting with police officers.
"We want to create an atmosphere where people feel safe and comfortable talking to our officers," added Deputy Chief Johnson. “By using sports-themed environments to create opportunities for interaction, we hope this initiative will help us continue building trust and relationships within our community, especially with the local kids."