JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville's chapter of the Police Athletic League is the largest this side of Philadelphia. Since it's birth in 1914 PAL has been working to bridge the gap between police officers and kids, but ultimately, its goal is to keep youth out of violence.
For years they've taken a different route to promote peace, using activities like basketball, cheerleading and karate - all led by law enforcement.
Saturday's event was focused on the relationship between officers and teens.
Officers and kids from PAL chapters all over Florida listened closely to one another after a day's worth of activities and exercises.
They each took turns sharing their perspective, giving advice and collaborating on what really leads to stereotypes and violence today.
One teen even suggested that officers should show themselves more in "regular clothes" to blend in more often when they're off duty.
L.B. Scott returned as the executive director of the league after a brief retirement. His success stories are proof that violence does not end violence, but that PAL's approach has time and time again kept kids on the right path.
"He just approached me and said, 'Look I've been wanting to tell you something, thank you,'" said Scott. "He said, 'You used to talk to us and tell us how to live a better life, how we should set goals and change the way we live so we wouldn't end up locked up, so you changed my life, because I listened to you.'"
PAL is not only about sports and seminars: it's focused education too. They bought one young man a camera and he went on to win a film contest last year.
They'll soon be rewarding hours of community service with a trip to Disney World.
All of this - to help stop the violence.
