Newark students play state troopers in basketball in Building Bridges program
NEWARK, N.J. -- An event at a New Jersey school is bridging the gap between police and the community.
Students at St. Benedict's Prep in Newark played state troopers on Thursday in the inaugural Building Bridges basketball game.
While the state police won 39-34, it would be an understatement to say that's not what the day was about.
For more than two years, the Building Bridges program has been working to build bonds in a city, and country, where so many are fractured.
Jayden Forniel, a junior at St. Benedict's, helped organize the game.
"It was me and a couple students having a friendly talk with the troopers. And it just turned into something more competitive. We were like 'Oh, all right, we'll set it up them.' That's the kind of power we have at Benedict's. That's what I love here about it," said Forniel.
"There's a lot of history, especially within our inner cities between some bad encounters with law enforcement, up until, you know, recently. We just all have to watch what happened in Memphis. But if law enforcement across America took this program and we replicated it, I think you'd just see a phenomenal, phenomenal return on that investment of time," said New Jersey State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan.
"All I know is, it makes a difference. It's like when you were a kid, seeing your teacher in the supermarket. You're kind of like 'what is he or she doing in the supermarket?' You just don't think that way right? So for the kids to meet the troopers and to know that they've got families, the troopers to know what the kids struggles are, it's gotta help," said Headmaster Father Ed Leahy.
Right after the game, Leahy handed the mic to Callahan, who told the kids they could have the second half of the day off.
The school and state police have held eight events together in the past. The latest was organized and run by the students and police.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
