The Boise Police Department is lacing up their gloves with Treasure Valley kids. The Police Activities League Boxing Program teaches kids to not only stay off the ropes but skills they can use outside the ring.
Inside the Vista PAL Boxing Gym on Franklin Road, over twenty kids aren't just learning the basic of boxing, but some are training to compete in tournaments all over the Northwest.
"I've been bullied a lot at my school. They tease me around and stuff and my mom put me I here so I could defend myself," said Geno a young boxer in the competitive program.
Students start out by perfecting their form by shadow boxing. Practicing their hooks and jabs, one of Boise Finest watches over them.
Detective Brian Holland of The Boise Police Department is also the president of the Boise Police Activities League. He's not only teaching the skills it takes to step into the ring, but life lessons. Dedication, self-reliance and mental toughness, these are some of the skills that make a good boxer.
"We're here to nurture that and to understand that we all have it," said Detective Brian Holland of The Boise Police Department. "It's just a matter of unleashing it and controlling it. You've got to be able to control your emotions, control the discipline."
For Detective Holland, the program also allows him to give back to the community without wearing his badge.
"We have a job that we do and part of that job is reaching out to the community and being part of it," said Detective Holland.
The competitive team is gearing up for a tournament in California this September. To learn more about the problem visit palBoise.com
