This month, we’re shining the spotlight on the Prince George’s County Police Department, Community Services Division--one of our Maryland Badges for Baseball partners.
Let’s meet the men in charge:
Cpl. Rodney Gause
I have spent the last 17 years of my life in law enforcement with the Prince George's County Police Department. After transferring to my current duty assignment in the Community Services Division, I became the co-coordinator for the Explorers Program and the Police Athletic League (PAL). This allowed me to continue training and mentoring young people which are some of the things I enjoyed prior to my law enforcement career.
When the Badges for Baseball program was introduced to us, I was asked to be the coordinator, which has led to the Prince George's County Police Department establishing a great relationship with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. Through our summer and now fall Badges for Baseball coordinated effort, Cpl. Kurt Schnitzenbaumer and I have been able to impact the lives of the youth of Prince George's County in a positive way.
Cpl. Kurt Schnitzenbaumer
I started my law enforcement career in 2002 with the NYC Police Department but have been a member of the Prince George’s County Police Department for the past 9 years. For the last year I have been assigned to the Community Services Division working on several programs, two of them being our Police Athletic League and the Badges for Baseball program.
I never would have thought 9 years ago when I joined the Prince George's County Police Department that I would be running programs and working with kids as my full time position. I truly feel blessed to have this opportunity to work with the youth of this county and make a difference in their lives.
About the Prince George’s County Badges for Baseball Program
This summer we were able to provide a safe environment for the youth to come together and interact with police officers in a positive atmosphere. We played recreational activities including Quickball, dodge ball, basketball, soccer and flag football to teach the “Ripken Way” to our youth. We were also able to bring the kids to several Washington Nationals baseball games over the summer.
During the school year, we are using our Police Athletic League as a recruiting tool for our upcoming Badges for Baseball program, which has expanded to now cover two locations. We have had an overwhelming interest in this program and plan to reach more than double the youth we did last year.
Thanks to Cpl. Gause, Cpl. Schnitzenbaumer, and the men and women of the Prince George’s County Police Department for everything they do for kids!