Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Merced recognizes Police Athletic League partners as program at city‑run ceremony
Summary
The city honored organizations that helped launch Merced’s Police Athletic League and heard from Detective Shaw about the program’s start, partnerships, and operations serving roughly 130 youth, with about 80 attending weekly.
At a Dec. 16 special meeting, the Merced City Council presented certificates to community partners that helped launch the city’s Police Athletic League (PAL) and heard program details from Merced Police Department staff who helped organize it.
Councilmember Harris introduced the recognition and noted the program’s local origins and partners. Detective Shaw, who said she helped start the PAL while serving as a school resource officer, described its development since January 2024: the program secured a building with the help of city staff and community volunteers, gathered donated equipment and labor from local businesses, and now serves about 130 young people, with roughly 80 attending weekly boxing and after‑school activities.
“Now we have … about 80 kids that come in every week to box with us through the program,” Detective Shaw said, describing partnerships with local service clubs, business donors and school after‑school programs that bring foster‑system youth to the PAL site.
William Trevino, who identified himself as PAL treasurer, and board volunteer Matt Culcogno described the collective effort of local residents and organizations to get the program running. The council presented certificates to a list of community partners cited by staff, including the Barber Club Merced, Cardoza Construction, Merced Sunrise Rotary, Sequoia High School, Golden Valley High School and the Merced Union High School District.
Council members also announced that Detective Shaw was a finalist for a national U.S. Attorney General award recognizing outstanding community partnerships for public safety. Officials said the final outcome of that award was pending.
The council adjourned following the recognitions.
