Visiting Law Enforcement Donate Hoop & Torch
Four Law Enforcement Officers and the Fire Chief from Pittsfield Massachusetts recently visited Bermuda on a cruise, and while they were on the island they donated a portable basketball hoop and an Olympic torch to local police officers, having invited them to take part in a new community policing initiative called the Basketball Cop Foundation.
A police spokesperson said, “On Wednesday 11th May, 4 Law Enforcement Officers and the Fire Chief from Pittsfield Massachusetts, visited Bermuda on the Norwegian Breakaway.
“Prior to the visit, Officer Darren Derby of the Pittsfield Police Department contacted the BPS, inviting us to take part in a new community policing initiative called the Basketball Cop Foundation.
“The Basketball Cop Foundation was started after Officer Bobby White of the Gainesville Florida Police Department attended a noise complaint in January 2016, and discovered kids were in the street playing basketball too loudly.
“Officer White decided to join in the game for a few minutes, capturing the moment on his cruiser dash cam. The video was posted to Youtube and went viral within 24 hours.
“Since then, The Basketball Cop Foundation has donated hoops and basketballs across the United States, and has now broken barriers, with its first international donation to Bermuda.
“Acting on behalf of the Basketball Cop Foundation, Officer Derby and 4 of his colleagues handed over the portable basketball hoop to Inspector Scott Devine of the Community Action Team, who is now tasked with finding good home for the hoop.
“At the same presentation, The Pittsfield officers donated an Olympic torch to the Bermuda Special Olympics. Officer Derby and Officer John Bassi, who are also representatives of the Law Enforcement Torch Run [LETR], handed the torch over to Superintendent James Howard, before the BPS officially handed the torch to The Bermuda Special Olympics Chairperson Ms. Alicia Zuill.
“During the presentation, Officers Derby and Bassi spoke about the programme and the significance of the LETR to the Special Olympics. Supt. Howard formally thanked the officers for their kind donation to the Bermuda Special Olympics and the BPS.
“After accepting the torch, Ms. Zuill also expressed her gratitude to the officers. “
