2015 Summer Camp Field Day

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Children from throughout the north metro area took part in races, basketball and potato sack races on a hot June 25 day as part of the PAL Field Day at the Milton Center in Alpharetta.

The Alpharetta Police Athletic League (PAL) is a non-profit dedicated to providing an environment of "Leaders Building Leaders" for the youth of North Fulton County. Their goal is to engage police officers, firefighters and community volunteers to teach and mentor the youth, establishing a bond of mutual respect, understanding and trust with the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety.

About 200 children took part in the inaugural games alongside police officers from Alpharetta, Milton, Marietta and Dekalb County.

Part of PAL’s mission is to allow children to get to know public safety officers are there for safety rather than something to be feared.

“This showed the positive side of our police departments to all children present,” said Veronica Carew, executive director of Alpharetta PAL.

She said the event was also the first of its kind for Georgia – it was the first time multiple PAL groups participated in a collaborative sports event. Alpharetta, Marietta and DeKalb PALs took part.

For more about Alpharetta PAL, visit them online at www.alphapal.org.

—Jonathan Copsey