Work with kids makes cop a hero
Published: July 2, 2007
Paul Deppi started helping kids with an eye toward becoming a cop.
More than 15 years ago, when Deppi told Newtown Township police Chief Martin Duffy he wanted to become a police officer, he was advised to get involved with the community first.
In the 14 years since he declared his career choice, Deppi’s community has been some 350-plus kids in the Lower Bucks Lacrosse League. And the Newtown Township resident is a cop in his hometown, on the beat since 1998.
For his “extraordinary work and influence in the lives” of his players, Deppi, 35, was one of 13 hailed as “Real Heroes” by the Lower Bucks chapter of the American Red Cross at a breakfast last week.
Deppi, a coach and former president of the lacrosse league, said he took Duffy’s advice and combined it with something he knew — lacrosse. But, according to Deppi, the sport shouldn’t be at the top of the players’ list.
“I tell them there’s three things that come before lacrosse: family, faith and education,” Deppi said.
And it’s not just talk. Deppi tells his kids to pick attending family birthdays and funerals over practice or games if there’s a conflict. And Deppi, a Lutheran, encourages his players to attend CCD, Bible or Hebrew classes, depending upon their faith. He said he’s been to several of his players’ bar mitzvahs, including an Orthodox celebration that featured a lacrosse theme.
And if one of his kids is having trouble in school, the player might find himself doing homework during practice. Deppi said he’s even sat down on the tailgate of his pickup after practice to talk to the kids about school or family problems.
“It’s what my parents taught me: family, faith and school,” Deppi said. “I want my players to be good, gentlemen, scholar athletes. If they leave and never play lacrosse again, that’s fine. I just want them to be a better person [for having participated].”
He said when his parents learned he planned to coach, they advised him to take the best of the coaches he liked and avoid the worst of the coaches he didn’t like.
Deppi said all his players participate in games and he uses lacrosse to provide them with life lessons, about self respect, self discipline and self motivation.
His first contact with a majority of the kids is with lacrosse, he said. But it’s not always the case.
About six summers ago, Deppi said, he got involved in the case of a sixth-grader who’d sent a derogatory e-mail to a classmate. The boy had just moved into the area, didn’t have a father figure, had no friends and Deppi said he needed guidance more than punishment. The boy went before the local Youth Aid Panel and was given community service work. But Deppi also directed him to meet up with some of his other lacrosse players and make friends when school started. Deppi also helped the Youth Aid Panel buy the kid lacrosse equipment and sign up for the Lower Bucks league.
In a few months that kid will be headed to college, Deppi said.
He said he just loves working with kids, teaching a game he loves. On a permanent midnight cop shift, Deppi said sometimes he gets home from work in the morning and can’t wait to get on the cleats, grab a clipboard and coach.
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