Banning Police Recognized for Youth Outreach Efforts

Banning police were honored this week for their work with local youth and efforts at keeping them from getting into a life of crime.

The Banning Police Activities League, or BPAL, meets every Saturday throughout the school year and is headed up by Chief Leonard Purvis, who himself volunteers his time each week the group meets.

The Riverside County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission, run out of Juvenile Hall, presented Chief Purvis and BPAL with the the Community Delinquency Prevention Award on Tuesday for "outstanding contributions to the youth of Riverside County."

“We are very proud of the BPAL Program and appreciate that the Riverside County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission felt we were deserving of this award," Purvis told Patch.  "We will continue to strive to make BPAL fun and enjoyable for the youth of the Pass Area and a safe place for them to be on Saturdays.”  

Each week the group meets, Banning police officers run sports and other activities with the youth.  There are usually 40-50 kids each meeting, Purvis said.

"The BPAL program provides a safe place for children to play on Saturdays," Purvis told the commission handling the awards.  "It’s also an opportunity for kids to interact with and build relationships with police officers and safety personnel, who act as positive role models while keeping kids away from dangerous activities."

There are normally two officers from the police department at each meeting, Chief Purvis and another officer.  Purvis volunteers his time, but the second officer is paid via the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant.  

Often times, you can find Purvis' wife and daughter helping out, too.

The award BPAL received is only given once a year, to one organization in all of Riverside County.

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission was established in 1967.