Boston police, school safety officers square off in dodgeball competition [Video]

Boston police officers and Boston Public School safety officers participate in a dodgeball game to strengthen their relationship and promote mental health.In a friendly dodgeball competition held in Hyde Park, police officers and school safety officers traded their uniforms for athletic gear.”Today? Oh, I’m running this,” said Jay Greene, a BPS safety officer.The dodgeball game was more than just a fun activity. “As a kid, you always play dodgeball, right? It’s something that is exciting, everyone can play,” said Sgt. Juana Hernandez, of the Boston Police School Engagement Unit.These two groups work closely together during the school year, and the game was a chance to strengthen their relationship in a lighthearted setting. “We’re really kind of fostering that community policing model, that partnership and collaboration,” said Neva Coakley, the executive director of school safety at BPS.The Boston Police School Engagement Unit has become an increasingly critical partner in recent years. …