That’s one thing the officers stress to the cadets — that not a lot separates them from the kids. “We all come from diverse backgrounds. A lot of us come from broken families, tragedies, immigrant parents,” Barrios said. “We ask, ‘Why can’t you be the next chief of police? Because if I’m a police officer, man, anybody can do that.’” Officer Doug Barrow has the most tenure with the Cadet program, having worked with it for 13 years. He’ll be retiring next year and looks back on his experience with something verging on awe. “There are multiple success stories over the years but I was thinking, what if there was only one? And if there was only one, think about that positive ripple effect that that one changed life made on all of the other lives that they come in contact with. Multiply that by all those other success stories,” he said. So while societal problems, inequities and negative news stories unfortunately aren’t going away any time soon, maybe programs like these can help cops and kids discover new ways of relating. And perhaps the pipeline running from kids in the Experience program to youths in PAL to teen Cadets might be part of a bigger, lasting solution. “We’re feeding these positively reinforced young adults into the police department,” Barrow said. “That’s what we need. We need those positive attitudes and those next role models to carry on the culture we have.” Speaking of choices, a critical incident led Officer Jen Kuleff to make a personal decision to give back that has helped hundreds of girls in the community. During her first year on the job, Kuleff was shot. “During that incident, I was lying on the ground and I made a deal with God,” she said. If she lived, she vowed to do something good, which is how Hoops for Hope came to be. A former college basketball player, Kuleff uses the sport to assist at-risk girls throughout the Valley. In this year-round program, female police officers serve as mentors to help girls make it through personal challenges while guiding them on a path to success. Lt. Barbara Alexander, who oversees the youth programs, says they have helped heal historic tensions with police. “Some of these young people would run from us in the past, whereas now they’re developing rapport, so if they do have a problem, they know they can go directly to that police officer,” she said. “It doesn’t just affect the individual; it affects their families, and how they interact with police.” So much so that each spring officers are invited to graduation ceremonies and parties. “Some of these kids were going to alternative schools with an ankle bracelet on when we first started these programs, and here they are asking the officers to be there when they get their diploma,” Hosfield said. 24 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | OCTOBER 2019 “During that incident, I was lying on the ground and I made a deal with God that if he kept me alive I would do his work. That’s how Hoops for Hope came to light.” HOOPS FOR HOPE Officer Jen Kuleff

Backing the Blue The Phoenix Police Foundation supports the Phoenix PD by helping to meet capital needs, provide employee recognition and offer financial assistance in crisis situations. “Officers are out doing a fantastic job every day, and they have to do a lot with very little,” said Tim Thomas, president of the foundation. “So through private funding and the foundation, we can provide opportunities.” Whether it’s helping Cadets travel to competitions, providing meals to PAL and Hoops for Hope players during basketball tournaments or purchasing clay so kids in the Experience program can make a forensic ear, the foundation steps in to provide the funds these programs need to be successful. Beyond this, the foundation provides safety equipment such as ballistic shields and tourniquet holders to keep officers safe. And when tragedy strikes, such as when an officer was killed in the line of duty this year, the foundation provides a vetted means for people to donate to, knowing the money will go to the officer’s family. To learn more, go to phxpolicefoundation.org . Tim Thomas, president of the Phoenix Police Foundation, works to provide support for those who protect our communities. 33% of ASA Graduates pursue STEM Fields AP & Dual Enrollment Options 135+ Classes in Music, Theatre, & Dance Innovative College Preparation Informed by the Performing Arts Open to All • Lottery Enrollment • No Audition Required Non-Profit Public Charter School Small Class Sizes Students from 100+ Zip Codes Grades 5-12 goasa.org November 5, 2019: Admissions Info Night @ ASA from 5:30pm-7:00pm After School Programs Available