THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 29, 1994 TAG: 9407280215
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 106 lines
STARTING A POLICE Athletic League boxing program was a dream for Virginia Beach Police Officer Kenneth T. Jackson.
But sometimes dreams only come with hard work.
Getting his superiors to back the program, filling out all the necessary forms, certificates and registration applications consumed a year of Jackson's time.
``We did research on safety. It showed boxing is less dangerous than many other contact sports. We received a United States Amateur Boxing Association sanction. I've got letters from doctors (Karl Hammonds and Joseph Estwanick) who work with USABA. I started working on this in April '93,'' said Jackson, who works out of the 4th Precinct.
The time and effort was worth it - he qualified for ``dream-come-true'' status.
``I boxed PAL in Newark'' (New Jersey), Jackson said. ``My older brother started that program and I saw how much it helped kids.''
Jackson's older brother, Robert, a Newark police officer for more than 20 years, has been an inspiration in the lives of numerous inner-city youths in Newark. He was one of several subjects interviewed by Bill Moyers in the 1980s for a televised news documentary called ``The Vanishing Black Family.''
During a recent viewing of a videotape of his brother, Jackson talked about his hopes for local kids.
``These kids need something positive, something to help them deal with the world of the streets,'' he said.
Jackson had that something positive at home. He feels lucky.
``My father was a minister,'' he said. ``My brother and I would be playing ball and he would call us and tell us it was time to go to church. We got embarrassed then, but I appreciate the home I was raised in now.''
The PAL slogan is ``Creating a Bond Between Cops and Kids.''
Jackson often wears his uniform when he works with the kids in the boxing program.
``They see that a police officer can be their friend. We're not someone who just shows up when there's trouble. We can be positive role models,'' said Jackson.
If his size (250 pounds) is intimidating, his manner is not. He is soft-spoken and easy-going.
``Boxing promotes sportsmanship, a good work ethic and attitude, team work and individual competitiveness,'' said Jackson, who fought All-Navy from 1979 to 1981 with renowned coaches John Hunter and Dick Pettigrew at the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base.
``I boxed light-heavy and heavyweight in the Navy. In high school, I even wrestled at 123 pounds,'' he said.
Jackson talked about the support he has received.
``The people who manage Twin Canal and Bridle Creek (apartment complexes) have been real good to us. We set up boxing gyms in a couple of the apartments and that's where we train,'' said Jackson.
The home gyms look like the real thing. The rooms are filled with heavy bags, speed bags and a double-end bag tethered by ropes at each end to spring back when it's hit. Community Action Response and Empowerment, a non-profit organization, outfitted the gyms. They provide all the equipment, such as gloves, hand wraps and mouthpieces for the young boxers.
``I can't say enough about the support I received from the command at work,'' Jackson said. ``From Captains (Clyde) Hathaway and (M.) Beane (both of the 4th Precinct) to Police Chief (Charles) Wall. From the time I did my first research on boxing safety to the present, they've helped me,'' he said.
``We found out that boxing is less dangerous than other contact sports, by the way. That helped me convince the bosses.''
Jawuan Wheaton, Reggie Creekmore, Anthony Johnson and William Lebeck spend summer afternoons training in the air-conditioned apartment at Twin Canal. Jackson and fellow officer Reggie Meyers put them through a workout of pushups, situps and sparring.
Lebeck, 8, weighs 82 pounds. He puts his mouthpiece in, slips on the red boxing gloves, the headgear and steps up to spar against Johnson, a 100-pounder three years older than Lebeck.
They wade into each other, with Johnson getting the better of the exchange. Lebeck doesn't back off. He throws jabs and looping right hands.
After two minutes of sparring, the boys take a seat in the kitchen of the apartment.
Jackson tells Lebeck, ``See the jab coming, move your head enough to make him miss. Keep your hands up.''
Lebeck nods and stands up. His opponent now is officer Meyers. A short, compact man, Meyers moves around exhorting Lebeck to throw body punches. Lebeck does, connecting with the policeman's stomach.
``Good body shot,'' says Meyers. ``Keep those hands up. Don't move in with your head, you'll get hit.''
Finally, Jackson steps in to spar with Johnson. The youngster moves in and fires lefts and rights, as if his sparring partner didn't weigh 250. Jackson moves, blocks, instructs and praises.
The afternoon of sparring ends and Jackson leads the four young fighters back to the van.
This was a typical afternoon in the PAL summer program that began July 5. Jackson and his colleagues take the boys swimming, help them make rocket models and mostly show them attention - offer good role models for the youngsters to emulate.
``The only thing left to hit now is the swimming pool, fellas,'' he tells them.
Cheers fill the heavy summer air. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
Virginia Beach police officers Reggie Meyers, left, and Kenneth
Jackson, demonstrate to William Lebeck, 8, the fine art of the upper
cut. The young boxers work out in an apartment, rather than a gym.
by CNB