Cops, Youth Meet at (Basketball) Court

Rudy Lopez Jr. knows his life could have gone a dramatically different direction.

The 27-year-old Watsonville cop has a college degree in business, is trained as an EMT and played a year of professional basketball in Mexico.

But had it not been for sports—specifically, basketball—Lopez said he doesn't know where he would have ended up.

So starting next month, Lopez will dedicate his Saturdays to coaching a new youth basketball program in Watsonville. The eight-week program, part of the  is open to boys and girls ages 11-17 interested in working on fundamentals of the sport.

"It's a game that a lot of kids love to play," Lopez said. "It's a good opportunity to give kids the same opportunity I had growing up."

Lopez was raised in Watsonville. Members of his family had gang ties, so his father sent Lopez to private school to protect him. He was a standout basketball player at , something that Lopez says kept him off the streets and out of trouble. It also got him to college: first Hartnell College in Gilroy, then a scholarship to Fresno Pacific University.

"Basketball's always been a passion of mine," Lopez said.

After college, he was recruited to play ball in Mexico's professional league. He competed there for a year, but decided to come home to start a career. Lopez thought he would be a firefighter, like his father. One ride-along with a Watsonville police officer changed his perspective and his career path. Lopez now has been a Watsonville officer for more than three years.

"We go into so many people's homes. you see all these kids. A lot of them don't have fathers," Lopez said, explaining why he feels moved to start the new basketball program. "I can see why—I don't agree with it—but I can see why they join gangs."

Lopez said he can feel handcuffed as a police officer because arresting people is sometimes the only option.

"We want to help. I think this is a way," he said.

PAL, a police officer-backed program, provides athletic and recreational activities to Watsonville youth. It serves about 400 kids a year in programs like martial arts, softball, soccer and the Police Cadets. But until Lopez took initiative this month, it hasn't had a basketball program

The eight-week program meets on Saturday mornings in the gym at the , at Union Street and Maple Avenue. The program starts April 7 and costs $15, though scholarships are available to those who can't pay.

Lopez said seven kids were signed up as of Wednesday; he hopes to draw about 20 players. Eventually, they may play game against the PAL program from Salinas.

"I know this basketball program isn't going to save the city," Lopez acknowledged, adding that he thinks it will be successful if even one kid is reached. "I've seen it save other people."

For registration or information, contact PAL at 763-4146 or by email at watsonvillepal@calpal.org.

Editor's Note: Watsoville Patch Editor Jennifer Squires is a member of the Police Activities League Board of Directors.