Card program aims to build rapport between police, youths

Courtesy of Tucson Police Dept and Golden Eagle Distributers Inc. The Tucson Police Department, Golden Eagle Distributers Inc. and the Crime Prevention League sponsor a trading card program that features UA athletes. Tucson police officers carry the cards and distribute them to Tucson youths in an attempt to improve relations between young people and police.

The CATS, COPS and KIDS program enables police to talk with kids and share something cops and kids both like - UA athlete trading cards.

The program is a partnership among the University of Arizona athletic department, Tucson Police Department and Golden Eagle Distributors Inc. CATS, COPS and KIDS was established in 1982 by the late Bill Clements, former CEO and president of Golden Eagle D istributors; Cedric Dempsey, former University of Arizona athletic director; and Peter Ronstadt, former Tucson Police Chief.

The program celebrated its 15th anniversary Friday by introducing the newest cards featuring members of the 14th-ranked Wildcat men's basketball team. The trading cards also feature members of UA football and baseball teams.

"It is an avenue to establish a rapport with students," said TPD Sgt. Robert Garcia.

"It helps encourage them to speak with us."

Tucson Police Chief Doug Smith said informal interaction with students is most common and the cards are another way to increase communication.

Garcia said he believes a number of kids collect and trade the cards. Officers are often flagged down in malls, while responding to calls, by youths who want the cards.

Lt. Brian Seastone, spokesman for the University of Arizona Police Department, said kids usually ask for the cards when they are on campus for basketball games. He said UAPD has been giving out cards since the program started.

"A lot of kids are apprehensive about approaching police," Seastone said. He said this has been one way to combat that apprehension.

Athletic Director Jim Livengood said the Athletic Department also receives requests from youths for the cards.

"It's a big thing for us and a big thing for the student athletes," Livengood said.

Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson said the UA players do more in the community than people hear.

"We're very pleased with the young people in this program. They are, or have been, community oriented," Olson said.

He said the card program is worthwhile because it is a new way to deal with community problems.

Livengood said he hopes the university can keep providing student athletes as role models.

The Crime Prevention League co-sponsors the program with Golden Eagle Distributors, said Mike Jacob, executive director of corporate affairs for Golden Eagle.

Other groups that support the program are the Police Athletic League, Gang Resistance Education and Training, School Resource Officers and Drug Awareness Resistance Education.

Jacob said Golden Eagle Distributors has spent more than $90,000 on the program in the past 12 years. He said 3,000 cards of each player are produced.

The cards are also distributed through the police departments in Oro Valley, South Tucson and Marana, as well as through the Pima County Sheriff's Department.