For the past nine years, the Erie Police Athletic League has worked to foster positive relationships between officers and students in the area.

The Police Athletic League brought holiday cheer to Jefferson Elementary, surprising students in the program with festive Christmas gift bags.

Mayor Joe Schember shared that this program started two years before he became mayor, beginning with a handful of students and five officers. "Now there are over 100 policemen involved in this program and over 1,700 kids. It's really exciting to see. I see it as something transformational," Schember said.

PAL not only visited elementary schools in Erie, but also Dick's Sporting Goods, where they selected ten children to go shopping with an officer.

Lieutenant Tom Lennox shared that while receiving gifts is fun for the kids, the message behind it is even greater.  "The only thing we expect in return is to make sure you remember this, so that when you have the opportunity someday to pay it forward or give back, that is what we expect," Lennox said.