Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Outreach Section provides programs for youth

Outreach Section provides mentoring, tutoring and sports programs to keep Bibb County youth safe this summer

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – As summer rolls on in Middle Georgia, the focus is on ensuring the safety of our youth and steering them away from summer crime.

Lieutenant Reginald Thomas with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Outreach Section says the sheriff’s office is committed to nurturing the county’s youth.

“If we promote the greatness of Bibb County, then the greatness of Bibb County will show,” he said. “We’ve got some great kids here.”

Thomas pointed out various factors contributing to the rapid crime among young people, citing communication at home, self-awareness, love and social media.

“We’re going to show them the greatness in them,” he said.

The Outreach Section continues its efforts to provide mentoring, tutoring and other programs for the youth during the summer months. One of the most well-received initiatives is the Police Athletic/Activities League, known as P.A.L.

“We have our annual P.A.L. camp, a co-ed basketball camp which ran for two weeks,” William Square, the Youth Crime Prevention Coordinator at Bibb County Sheriff’s Outreach Section, said. “We’ve also just launched the P.A.L. basketball league in coordination with the Parks and Rec department.”

The Outreach Section also offers an intervention team to support parents with children in need of additional assistance. Corporal Tamekia Nelson with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Outreach Section says the programs and services make a big impact.

“They know that there are consequences behind their actions, knowing that they have people that they can come and talk to and share their ideas with,” she said. “If they don’t have anyone to talk to at home, we are here.”

For a comprehensive list of resources offered by the Outreach Center, visit their website.