Our History 

 

The Police Athletic/Activities League (PAL) is a nationally recognized youth-oriented crime prevention program that places police officers, community members, and kids together in a controlled and supportive environment. Originally, PAL was created in 1917 by New York City Police Lt. Ed Flynn, who recognized that the youth hanging out on the street corners were craving structure and guidance. He realized that structure would be much better coming from the local beat cop than from the rapidly forming neighborhood gangs. In the 1990’s, it was the recognition that our suburban youth needed the same structure and guidance that led to the formation of Alpharetta PAL. In 1996, National PAL awarded the Alpharetta Police Department $5,000 as start-up money for the newly created Alpharetta PAL. Two young men, ages twelve and thirteen, were the first to walk into our humble facility, a bay in the city’s Public Works Department garage. At that time, the big attraction…in fact the only attraction… was a regulation-sized boxing ring.