The Cops, Kids, and Community program is a Breakaway Outreach initiative seeking to empower communities by bringing police officers and kids together through mentoring relationships, serve projects, and various community partnerships. This program is perpetuated by two ongoing goals:

• To help at-risk children develop personal relationships with the men and women who wear uniforms in our community; fostering trust, respect for authority, and honor for those who serve and protect the lives of others.
• To implement community partnerships in which law enforcement officers can champion the cause of minority children and underserved youth in their community by volunteering to serve holistic needs.

Breakaway also promotes Badges for Baseball (the signature program of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation), which was created in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice as a juvenile crime prevention initiative. It’s a simple concept: pair cops and kids together to play and learn. The program works to enhance the relationship between law enforcement and kids in underserved communities across the country using baseball as the hook.

If you are interested in partnering with us, or learning more about this initiative, we would like to hear from…

• Law enforcement officers
• Community organizers
• School administrators and teachers
• Counselors and social workers
• Juvenile justice workers
• Pastors and ministry leaders
• Civic leaders
• Youth mentors
• And anyone interested in making a difference!