Police Activities League (PAL)
San Carlos PAL The San Carlos Police Activities League (PAL) program was started in 1997. San Carlos PAL has grown from just 50 members in 1997, to over 400, in 2003. With the support of Police Chief Greg Rothaus, San Carlos Police Officers and community members, the San Carlos PAL program is reaching out to kids before they get into trouble, and more importantly, before it is too late. Why Do We Need PAL? Each day, America’s 50 million youths will decide how to spend at least five hours of their time when they are not in school. These hours harbor both risk and opportunity. For some, particularly those supervised by adults, the out-of-school hours offer opportunity to be with friends, play sports, pursue interests, and engage in challenging activities. For others who may be home alone, the out of school hours present serious risks for substance abuse, crime, and violence. However, it’s not the time spent unsupervised that is crucial, but how that time is spent, and with whom, that leads to positive or negative consequences. Juvenile delinquency, crime, and violence are problems in California.
In the San Carlos area, the story is no different. Police officers recognize their dual responsibility to prevent crime as well as enforce the law. But even the most dedicated officer can’t single-handedly overcome the negative psychological impact of peer pressure, a broken home, prejudice, boredom, apathy, loneliness...and all other ailments that turn a kid to crime.
This is where PAL comes into play. PAL offers meaningful programs to youths, while developing bonds between the youth, police officers, and citizens. Volunteers are police officers, key leaders in the community, and other responsible adults. Police Officers Are Commited There is no doubt that Police Officers are committed to the often thankless task of enforcing the laws which protect and maintain our quality of life. But they are also frustrated because crime continues to resurface. Even more frustrating, is the fact that many crimes are committed by juveniles. Take this into consideration and you learn that much of law enforcement’s time is spent chasing after kids, most of them probably good kids, who are easily influenced by the wrong people. We need to start focusing our efforts on reaching these kids before they get into trouble. Membership Information Annual Membership for San Carlos PAL is $20.00 per child each year, and includes all activities. Most activities do not require any additional fees. Contact San Carlos PAL coordinator, Heidi Morrison, at 650-802-4448 to register. City Calendar Join PAL
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