Why is basketball an effective way to make a difference in kids’ lives?
A. I think it’s a sport that involves a lot of people. You do have to communicate with each other and all you really need is a ball. It’s a cheap sport, but it brings a lot of people together. You have kids that play basketball year-round, and when my center is locked, they’re playing outside in the schoolyard. If they don’t have a rim, they’re playing with crates with the bottom cut out. Q. How did you become interested in law enforcement? A. I used to work for SEPTA as a [bus] driver. I came in contact with a lot of different people in a lot of different situations. My fiancée brought an ad to my attention. I’m a very versatile person, so he said, ‘This sounds like something that wouldn’t bore you.’ I took the test, they interviewed me and I’ve been here for 13 years. Q. What’s kept you at Penn that long? A. The versatility in the department. I came in as a regular officer on the street, then I went to the bike, I did rape defense, I did defensive tactics instruction. Now, I’m part o
