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'Unity Games' brings police, community together in name of fun

CENTER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The 1st Annual Unity Games were held at Gradisek Field at the Community College of Beaver County on Saturday.

The Beaver County Community-Law Enforcement Coalition organized the event that was held to build trust and relationships between the community and law enforcement.

Dozens of kids turned out to play festival-style games, like tossing water balloons, with and against police from throughout the county.

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"I feel like they were like regular people; you really didn't look at them as officers and see the badges," said Seairra Barrett. "Everyone in the community coming together just having fun. I didn't expect that. I really enjoyed my time here."

The Beaver County Community-Law Enforcement Coalition was formed two years ago to help build the kinds of bonds found at the Unity Games.

"What we are attempting to do is to ease the tension within our community between law enforcement and community members, that is really our focus," said organizer Shon Owens.

Some of the kids who attended were on juvenile probation.

"We have probably seven or eight kids that we brought out here today," said Debbie Landsbaugh of the county probation program. "We pick them up and come out because we think it's really important for them to be here getting involved, putting back into the community, working with other people."

Organizers were thrilled with the turnout and hope the event becomes an annual tradition.

"We had the state police helicopter here, we had the state police horses and all kinds of local law enforcement here interacting with the kids," said Sheriff Tony Guy.