After working a 12-hour shift in a patrol car , Anaheim Police Officer Eddie Fletcher drives straight over to Brookhurst Community Park for a couple of hours of Pop Warner football .
But he ’ s not there watching his own kids play . He ’ s there helping coach the 28 9- and 10-year-olds on the Anaheim Rams to improve their offensive and defensive skills , as well as serving as a law enforcement liaison to community youth and their families .
“ The mission was to build a relationship between the cops and the kids ,” Fletcher says of the new pilot Youth Athletic Program under the Cops4Kids ( C4K ) Program . “[ The agency ] wanted officers to be more involved in the program .”
As part of that , Fletcher arrives to practice ( three days a week ) in his patrol car and during the Saturday games , he wears an APD Youth Athletic Program shirt , badge and gun . The idea is for kids and their parents to participate in a fun activity with a law enforcement officer , opening a line of communication , as well as providing some added security to the area . ( A 9-year-old girl was killed three years ago in a gang shooting across the street from the park .)
“ Me being there was more of a deterrent for anything to happen with all these kids ,” says Fletcher . “ It ’ s just us getting involved with the community more and seeing us in a different light … They see us as more human .”
At first there was a bit of a hurdle to cross . Not so much with the kids , who found Fletcher ’ s police Charger and gun of particular interest . But he was met with silence from many parents – especially moms – who might have a husband in jail and not think very highly of law enforcement .
But once family members saw the positive influence Fletcher provided and his supportive coaching style , they seemed to relax .
“ Now they interact , they say hi ,” Fletcher says . “ A lot of them just call me coach , which is great .”
Fletcher is no newbie when it comes to coaching
football . He coached Pop Warner for six years when his son ( now 18 ) was on a team .
As assistant coach for the Anaheim Rams , his specialty is the offensive and defensive line , but he tries to leave the intensity of actual coaching to the other coaches . His role is more of confidence-builder and motivator .
“ They needed a good role model ,” he says . “ I let the head coaches and the dads be out there yelling .”
Fletcher ’ s Pop Warner connections also have come in handy for the team . When he started coaching , the Anaheim Rams didn ’ t have much in the way of equipment . He made a few calls and got some tackling pads donated by Foothill High School . Servite High School donated a sled and also student volunteers for Anaheim Rams games .
“ It ’ s been a great influence for them and also for me ,” Fletcher says .
Anaheim Lt . Tim Schmidt says Fletcher is a great role model for the agency .
“ I ’ m not aware of any other police department in Orange County that is supporting a youth sports program like this … with on-duty police officers engaged with kids and families ,” he says . ■
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WINTER 2016 | California Police Chief 27