OXNARD : Officers, Kids Trade Shots on the Courts

A squad of Oxnard police officers traded in their uniforms Thursday for T-shirts and coaches’ whistles as they kicked off a three-day basketball camp for kids.

The camp, held in the Santa Clara High School gym, drew more than 60 youngsters, ages 8 to 14. After half an hour of nose-to-the-floor stretches, the players divided into five teams to practice the fundamentals of the game.

Wearing various-colored jerseys, the players passed, rebounded, shot and dribbled the ball.

Waiting in line for his turn to rebound, Mario Perez, 13, said he did not mind giving up an afternoon in front of the TV.

“This gets us off the couch and helps us get better at basketball,” said Mario, who plans to try out for Santa Clara’s freshman team this year.

Besides sharpening the kids’ basketball skills, officers are hoping to have an impact on their lives off the court.

“We’re trying to let them know police officers are not all bad,” said Detective Lee Wilcox, one of the organizers. “We need to open strong lines of communication with this age group, especially.”

Next year, he said, police hope to expand to other sports such as baseball and soccer.

The Cops, Kids & Coaches camp continues today and Saturday, when several UCLA basketball players are scheduled to appear. A barbecue will be held for participants.

The camp is being sponsored by the Oxnard Peace Officers’ Assn. and the Peace Officers’ Assn. of Ventura County.