Things have come full circle at the New Westminster Police Soccer Camp. Those who were once students are now the teachers.
Constables Lara Dewitt and Jen Deacon attended the camp as youngsters in the '80s. Now, both have served three years with New Westminster Police and are back at the camp as coaches.
"It started in '81, and I was there shortly thereafter, and I went through until they kicked me out," Dewitt said with a laugh.
For Deacon, it was much the same. Both also came back as volunteer coaches in their teens.
The 2011 soccer school wrapped on July 22 after a week of soccer fundamentals, games and demonstrations of police fire department equipment.
Dewitt and Deacon said they decided to come back to coach for the same reason they wanted to go to the school when they were young - fun. Except instead of learning about passing and what's inside a police cruiser, Deacon and Dewitt get to teach a new generation.
"I love my job. I love going to work every day. I love catching bad guys, but this is a week that's a nice break from that. Instead of always dealing with the negative in people, you get to hang out with a bunch of kids who are here to have some fun," Dewitt said
"Just like us," Deacon added. "It's a fun week seeing the kids from start to finish and they have a blast. Just seeing the kids' faces light up, everything is so cool and so new to them."
Dewitt decided she would one day wear a badge while attending the school, and now, she said, some of the students she is coaching have said the same thing.
Dewitt said the highlight for this year's campers was the police K-9 unit demonstration, though things have changed a bit from when it was her favourite activity at the camp.
"When Jen and I were there, it was a big elaborate production. We would be on the field, and suddenly two police cars would come racing through the back lot. There would be fake gunfire. It was awesome," Dewitt said. "A bad guy would come running across the field, and the dog would chase him and tackle him down. It was a big show, and, as kids, we didn't realize that it wasn't real."
And while the K-9 demo has been scaled back for safety reasons, some things have stayed the same, Deacon said, namely Det. Mike McFarlane and Const. Bruce "Chicken Legs" Ballingall as fixtures around the playing fields.
Chief Const. Dave Jones has either been coaching or organizing at the school since he joined the force 25 years ago. Now in his first year as chief, Jones is a little bit more behind the scenes.
"We've been doing it for 31 years, and we've almost got it right," Jones said. "We're always looking at ways to enhance it."
Jones said he sees a bright future for the school, and year after year, he is always impressed with the commitment of the people who come together to put it on.
"A program doesn't last 31 years without the support of a vast variety of people. I'm talking about sponsors and members and people who coordinate. No one person has run this by themselves for 31 years," he said.
And as long as parents keep lining up at 6 a.m. to register their kids, New Westminster police will be happy to oblige, he added.
Jones said the camp is designed to do much more than teach five-to 12-year-olds how to kick a ball.
It's meant to start bringing young individuals together with the police in a positive way, just like it did for Dewitt and Deacon.
"Soccer is a part of it, but there is another part, which is that interaction with police and volunteers in a fun setting. That's what we're looking for," he said.
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