Football Camp

KCK youth ages 8 to 18 can attend our FREE football camp with KCKPD Chief Karl Oakman on Saturday, June 25. Join us for a day of fun, learning and fitness. Free food and soft drinks. Register at the QR code in the image, or here. If you would like to help sponsor the event, contact Officer PJ Locke at plocke@palkck.com.

Graduating Seniors

On Wednesday, June 8, we celebrated four PAL kids who graduated from high school: Ubaldo Garcia, Oriana Palma-Vasquez, Willie Vela and Edward Cardenas-Aquayo (picture at top).  We wish them all the best and know they will go on to successful futures.

Right: Willie Vela, Edward Cardenas-Aquayo and Ubaldo Garcia.

“Gun violence is a major issue in the community. Addressing this problem will take more than just gun control talk but education. Young people must understand the purpose of a gun is not to settle arguments or grievances. The KCKPD and Police Athletic League are focusing on education through gun safety and air rifle programs this month.” —KCKPD Chief Karl Oakman

Gun Safety

“We’re realists. We said, these kids are encountering guns. But what they aren't encountering is the information about how deadly they can be. They're getting the same gun safety as I got in the police academy." —PAL Executive Director Matt Tomasic, The Gun Conundrum

The PAL is now offering gun safety classes. PAL participants have a greater chance of encountering guns and gun violence than do youth in other parts of the Kansas City metro. One step to curb gun violence is teaching gun safety to these youth. PAL uses the Hunter Education curriculum of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. PAL staff are certified instructors. We teach 10 participants at a time. The class lasts eight weeks. Each student learns the dangers of firearms, how to handle them, and what to do if they encounter a firearm. Each student is expected to memorize the four rules of gun safety. These rules are repeated and read aloud by the students at each class. The students are then familiarized with the air rifle. For more information about our classes, contact Officer PJ Locke at plocke@palkck.com.

The PAL’s gun safety program was featured recently in “The Gun Conundrum” on Kansas City PBS. You can watch at the link below at timestamps 17:54-19:30.

The Need for Driver's Education

In 2022, the PAL surveyed 511 students at urban high schools in Kansas City, KS and 356 students at Piper High School, a suburban high school in Wyandotte County, about their driving status. The differences were stark, although not unexpected. 75% of urban students do not have a license. 73% of suburban students do. 72% of urban students without a license don’t know the process to obtain one and 42% have no one to teach them. Of suburban students, only 23% don’t know the process to obtain a license and only 16% have no one to teach them. The differences continue on other issues around driving.

Driver’s Education has been removed from the curriculum of most public schools for budgetary reasons. Commercial driving schools charge several hundred dollars for instruction. More than 65% of PAL attendees come from households with annual income of $50,000 or less, 45% from households with annual income below $30,000. Attending a commercial driving school is not a possibility for these kids. In 2021, officers issued over 1000 tickets in Kansas City, KS to those age 25 and younger for driving with no license (including operating without proper vehicle license). The PAL is working to change these statistics by offering free driver’s education to youth who are members of PAL.

If you would like to know more about the results of our survey, please contact Jeff Fendorf at jfendorf@palkck.com. For more information about our Driver’s Ed classes, contact Officer Joey Reyes at jreyes@palkck.com. 

Take a Tour

Come see what the PAL is all about! We are now offering free tours.

Our tour dates for June are

Tuesday, June 21 at 10:00 am

Wednesday, June 22 at noon

Thursday, June 23 at 5:00 pm

Sign up here!

All PAL programs and services are free of charge. We rely on community support through individual and business donations, grants and foundation funding for 85% of our budget. The Police Athletic League of KCKS, Inc. is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) and contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law.