Our Purpose
THE mission
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Provide free athletic opportunities to at-risk and economically disadvantaged youth
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Encourage discipline, self-esteem and positive moral values within youth participants through healthy competition
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Build positive relationships between police officers, youth participants, their families and the greater Omaha community
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Reduce crime and decrease juvenile delinquency by keeping at-risk youth off the streets and involved in constructive activities
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Bring together youth of different groups and cultures to facilitate cross cultural understanding and respect
THE vision
Police Athletics for Community Engagement (PACE) is working to take our athletic program city-wide.
The PACE program will provide athletics to kids in the Omaha metro that normally would not participate in organized sports. We will build partnerships with organizations throughout the city and help provide affordable athletics. We will also emphasize the importance of education in athletics, as well as our anti-gang message. Our goal is to build stronger relationships between neighborhoods and the officers that patrol those communities and most importantly help make Omaha a better place to be — one kid at a time.
THE DIFFERENCE
What makes us different than other programs?
We don’t wait for parents to sign up their children — most will not. We actively go out and find them. You don’t have a uniform? Doesn’t matter – come play for us. Don’t have a coach? Come play for us. Can’t afford to play? No worries, we have you covered. All we ask from our kids is to stay out of trouble and give 100%.
The history
THE Beginning
In 2005, Omaha Police Officer (Gang Unit) Tony Espejo attended a symposium that got him thinking about ideas for crime and gang reduction in Omaha. He noticed a lack of affordable sports programs for local kids, especially in a community plagued by gang violence. Many athletic programs were no longer around, or were expensive to participate in. But in South Omaha there was a strong love for soccer among the youth. PACE was created to provide kids with an alternative to gang involvement through sports.
That fall the first PACE soccer league was launched. Omaha Police Officers recruited kids from South Omaha, went door-to-door for donations, and even provided transportation for players. The league grew rapidly, starting with six teams in 2005 and expanding to over 2,000 participants by 2016, and reaching more than 5,800 kids by 2019. PACE continued to offer opportunities to children who might otherwise be drawn into gangs due to financial or family challenges.
In 2009, PACE expanded to include a baseball league, further engaging kids who weren’t interested in soccer. PACE also started a flag football program, and in recent years the sports of mountain biking, basketball, Brazilian jiu jitsu, and chess have been added to provide athletes even more opportunities to participate.
The PACE program not only provides athletic opportunities but also helps build stronger relationships between the community and law enforcement. PACE’s success is rooted in the belief that when given the chance, kids will choose positive activities, such as sports, over gang involvement.
In 2016, the league had over 2,000 kids participating, and in 2019 PACE had over 5,800 program participants.
THE IMPLEMENTATION
Police Athletics for Community Engagement (PACE) focuses on reaching kids whose families can't afford traditional sports programs. We recruit kids by neighborhood and make it easy for them to get involved, often with older kids stepping in as coaches for younger teams. This helps build community support and encourages adults to engage with the program.
PACE aims to develop leadership by teaching kids how to be responsible for their teams. They learn important skills like punctuality, organizing practices, and leading by example. Many older participants go on to help coach and mentor younger siblings or neighborhood kids, passing on their knowledge and fostering a sense of community.
In addition to partnering with local organizations like the South Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA, PACE offers scholarships to help kids participate in more advanced training with select teams. This has allowed our soccer and baseball programs to grow significantly, with soccer reaching over 1,500 participants in 2024 and baseball attracting over 200 players annually. These programs also provide a unique opportunity for kids to interact with police officers in a positive setting, building stronger relationships within the community.
