The instruction manuals proved a bit opaque at times, but a team of determined Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) cadets nevertheless managed Wednesday to piece together all the nuts and bolts necessary to assemble two new basketball hoops for AMIkids Gainesville. Several students at the school assisted their efforts.
The impetus for the court refresh began weeks ago when ACSO Sgt. Andrew Davis lunched with Jasmin Hall and Ashley Bryant, the executive director and board chair, respectively, of AMIkids Gainesville. Like its other branches, the organization’s local iteration provides guidance and support to youth who have been involved with or who are at risk of becoming involved with the justice system.
“We were just talking about needs that we have, and I said, ‘We have basketball goals that are literally dying where they stand,’” Bryant said. “And he said, ‘I know a guy.’”
Davis was referring to Bobby White, a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer who gained internet stardom a few years ago as the “Basketball Cop.” At approximately 5 p.m. on Jan. 15, 2016, GPD dispatched White to investigate a complaint about juveniles playing basketball “extremely loudly.” His dashcam rolling, White strolled toward a solitary youth holding a basketball near a basketball hoop on a quiet neighborhood street.
“Can you believe someone’s calling to complain about a group of kids playing basketball on the street?” White said in the video. “Can you believe it?”
“Yeah,” the young man said.
“I don’t know who called, but obviously, I ain’t got no problem with it,” White said. He took the ball from the youth and attempted a basket, missing his first but scoring on a second attempt. Before long, a game of pick-up commenced with children wandering out of their yards to play alongside White.
A GPD colleague later posted the dashcam video online where it attracted more than a million views in just eight hours. Accolades attracted media attention and even a visit from basketball legend Shaq. Eventually, White launched the Basketball Cop Foundation, a nonprofit established to build relationships between law enforcement and community youth.
Two days after Davis told White about AMIkids decaying hoops, the Basketball Cop Foundation secured two brand-new ones. DICK’s Sporting Goods donated 10 basketballs. On Wednesday, White, Davis and an assortment of law enforcement reps, including Alachua County Sheriff Emery Gainey, gathered at AMIkids to witness the arrival of the new equipment and to watch the cadets piece it all together.
“I love that law enforcement reached out,” Bryant said as she watched. “One thing to realize is we all have resources, we all have access to resources, and it’s just beautiful when we all collaborate together just like that.”
