homasville Police Department has worked to build respect and rapport with the citizens it serves and protects through its Community Policing policy. Officers with TPD continued those efforts Thursday at Doak Park by kicking off its second year participating in the Badges for Baseball program.

Founded by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Badges for Baseball pairs youths in at-risk communities with local law enforcement officers as a way to teach children lessons both on and off the field.

TPD Lt. Raymond Widener says the program is a good way for children to build relationships with officers as well as learn lessons that will help them in every aspect of life.

“Officers act as mentors and the kids learn how to interact with other children, good sportsmanship, ethics and good decision making,” Widener said. “It also helps them learn how to deal with conflict in a sportsmanlike manner.”

When fully implemented, Badges for Baseball is a multi-faceted mentoring program that brings the tenets of “The Ripken Way” to young people through a variety of programs, including Healthy Choices, Healthy Children and baseball/softball-themed activities, according to the Cal Ripkin Foundation website. Most importantly, law enforcement mentors work directly with children to enhance life lessons while providing young people with new opportunities to learn, grow and make positive choices for the future.

Last year, six TPD officers volunteered to work on baseball skills with 25 kids from the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club in Thomasville. Officer Jason Annas took on a leadership role in the program, helping to raise $1,500 through officer and community donations. In addition, Showfety’s Uniforms in Greensboro donated $1,500 worth of baseball equipment to get the program running.

In recognition of Annas and his involvement with Badges for Baseball, he was presented an autographed photo of Cal Ripkin by Scott Bannister, program director of the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Davidson County. Lt. Widener accepted the gift in Annas’ absence Thursday.

Due to the success of last year’s program, the Cal Ripken Foundation awarded the Thomasville Boys & Girls Club a $10,000 grant to continue this year.

“It’s a great program, just to get officers to come out and work with kids so they’re not afraid,” Bannister said. “I see it as a gang prevention program because it helps build healthy relationships, and teaches life lessons and skills. It means a lot of the kids.”

This year, volunteering officers will meet with children on the diamond two days a week for seven weeks, and hope to culminate the season with a game against the Lexington Boys & Girls Club. This is the first year the Lexington Police Department has been involved with the program.

“We enjoy teaching them aspects of the game,” Widener said. “The are a good bunch of kids. They learn some new skills and get to be outside and get some energy out.”

Strawn Wilson, who celebrated his 10th birthday Thursday by throwing out the first pitch, is in his second year of the Badges for Baseball program.

“It’s fun,” Wilson said. “I like being with my friends and they [officers] taught me how to catch the right way.”

To make a donation to this or any other Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs program, call Bannister at 472-7800.

Editor Lisa Wall can be reached at 888-3590 or at editor@tvilletimes.com.