Some officers volunteer time to the community to read to children at schools, teach classes, provide services for needy families and mentor the youth of the community.   One such program is the Madera Police Activities League that promotes the bond between police officers and the young people of Madera.   The Madera P.A.L. program sponsors Jr. Giants Baseball which has enrolled hundreds of kids from Madera over the past 15 years not only providing the enjoyment of participating in America’s favorite past-time, but also promoting camaraderie and sportsmanship to kids in Madera.  At the conclusion of the P.A.L. Jr. Giants Season, participants are bused to San Francisco to view a live San Francisco Giants professional baseball game and attend a free barbecue. 

Madera's Alyssa Martinez with San Francisco Giant's first-baseman J.T. Snow at SBC Park where Martinez was awarded with the Junior Giants Achiever Award (photo by Madera Tribune).

Madera P.A.L. also offers a Martial Arts Program for kids in the community between the ages of 12 and 18.  The Madera Police Activities League Martial Arts Program was founded in 1997 as an alternative after school activity for the youth of our city.   Since its inception, the P.A.L. Martial Arts program has allowed hundreds of young men and women to learn the art of Northern Shaolin Kung Fu and to compete at various tournaments throughout the state.    The program was founded to give teenagers a chance to learn martial arts while interacting with Police officers and to promote self-discipline, honor, and respect among the youth of our community.

                                      P.A.L. Martial Arts Youth at Anaheim Tournament

Madera police officers participate in these activities during their off time and consider it another way of contributing to the improvement of the community they serve.