Basketball brings White Oak police and kids together

By JIM BUSCH

For the Mon Valley Independent

A longtime White Oak police department tradition continued this week with officers and local kids taking to the basketball courts together.

White Oak police Chief Mark Sargent welcomed local families to the first of four Cops and Kids Basketball Programs. It was held Tuesday in the gymnasium at Francis McClure Intermediate School.

The Cops and Kids Basketball program was the creation of former White Oak police Chief Joe Hoffman and has been a department tradition for more than two decades. The borough’s police officers volunteer during their off-duty time to conduct the program. 

Sargent said the program accomplishes several worthwhile objectives, including providing an opportunity for local youngsters to get out and enjoy some much-needed exercise at the end of a long winter. The program doesn’t require preregistration, and kids in grades fourth through 12th are welcome to drop in and join in the fun. 

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