Chanelle Seguin
SPORTS REPORTER

Toronto Police officers are helping young Etobicoke students learn some useful life lessons, but on the soccer pitch.

Students at Second Street Junior Middle School are getting the chance to see officers do more than just arrest people, said Det. Const. Chris Watson of 22 division.

“The other officers and I decided that soccer would be the best idea for both boys and girls to enjoy,” said Watson, who applied for a grant from the ProAction Cops and Kids charity to cover the cost of team jerseys and a soccer ball for each student.

ProAction is a foundation designed to give officers the opportunity to develop relationships and respect with kids outside the workforce.

The foundation was created by John Bitove Sr., and is the largest private funder of Toronto Police programs for at-risk youth.

Second Street student Grether Reyes, 13, said the program helped her settle into her school experience.

“I’m new here, so it gave me the chance to meet the students,” said Reyes. “It helped me form relationships with people.”

Elijah Thompson, 13, another Second Street student, said it’s given students the opportunity to have fun with police officers.

But before the fun starts, officers lecture the students on various safety topics from Internet safety to bullying, and then all the students partake in a mini soccer tournament.

Principal Cheryl Howe says the program has received such positive response from her students that they become quite upset when it doesn’t run.

“We had a PA day last Friday and the students were so disappointed that it meant no soccer,” Howe said.