In Allen, Texas the police department unveiled a new youth boxing gym on the backside of Rountree Elementary School. Here, the police department will sponsor the program for kids ages 10-18 to learn boxing skills as a part of a plan to curb youth involvement in crime and increase community engagement. The classes will be completely free to any kids who want to participate.
The gym includes a large boxing ring, complete with Allen Police branding, and the bleachers were packed as community members and sponsors got their first look at the space that will officially open in the new year. According to the police department's social media, "the gym’s motto, 'Mentoring Future Leaders,' reflects the commitment to fostering a positive environment where young."
This gym is modeled after similar programs around North Texas like the Garland 9th Street Boxing Gym, which began in 1991 to deter youth from joining local gangs. After more than 25 years, that gym now welcomes 150 kids per day.
Dave Swavey, director of the Garland gym, says the alumni now include pilots, dentists, doctors and police officers, all former community youth who benefitted from police intervention and the boxing program.
One of the alumni of the Garland gym now lives in Allen, and he’s excited to see the impact that this new gym can make. Jerry Jimenez reflected on his time as a youth boxer and told NBC DFW, “I basically said if I can do this for my physical wellbeing, then what can I do for my career?”
The goal is to teach local kids self-esteem, to give them a hobby, and to intervene before they are tempted by dangerous situations outside of the gym.
Dye said, “Our community engagement is just as important as our call response and enforcement. In fact, I would argue, in some ways more important. We want to make sure we invest in our youth to make sure they don’t turn to a life of crime, right, but also to help them be successful in academics and their profession.”
