Youth Members of the Westport Youth Commission and the Teen Awareness Group (TAG) at Staples High School have announced that the Westport Police-Youth Collaborative (WPYC) will host the 5th Annual Dodgeball Tournament at the Staples High School Field House on Tuesday, Nov. 24 from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The proceeds from the event will support the family of late Student Outreach Counselor, Chris Lemone, LPC.

Chris Lemone, the Staples High School Student Outreach Counselor who worked with kids in Westport through the town’s Human Services Department for 18 years was a trusted confidant, mentor, counselor and friend who died unexpectedly in October. Prior to that, he guided TAG through one of its most successful fall seasons. In addition to providing trusted counseling services and advisory roles with many other clubs and programs, Lemone led TAG, a peer prevention and education club. Recently established as a 501c3 organization, TAG’s goal is to increase awareness of the dangers of risky behaviors.

Since the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year, TAG has provided the Staples High School community with over ten invaluable programs whose focus is to keep kids safe. Under Chris’ guidance, this year’s programs have included the Freshman Health Class presentations, the “Save a Life Tour,” “DIRT,” the “Remember the Game” campaign before homecoming, and the very successful “Distracted Driving Event,” which was a joint effort of TAG, WYC and the Westport Police Youth Collaborative. TAG’s success is due largely to Chris’ passion and understanding of kids’ needs. His leadership and legacy has become the cornerstone of Westport’s substance use and abuse prevention and safe decision making programs.

“Featuring mixed teams of officers and kids, Dodge A Cop is open to high school students,” said Kyle Ratner, co-chairman of the Westport Youth Commission, the founding organization of the Westport Police Youth Collaborative. “Kids can form their own teams of 5, and we will assign police officers to play on their team, or kids can register as an individual and be placed on a mixed team of officers and kids.”

TAG’s co-presidents, Emily Eldh and Gracyn Levenson, thought the idea of honoring Chris’ contributions to the Staples High School community through Dodge-A-Cop would be a very fitting tribute. “Chris was such an incredible guy,” said Eldh. “He had a way of making kids feel good about their accomplishments and he was always there for us.”

“I think that the kids and staff at Staples have lost a true hero. He was kind, compassionate and a straight-shooter,” adds Levenson, “We really miss him and wanted to do something for his family so they know how much he meant to us.”

Youth Detective Sereniti Dobson and DARE Officer Ned Batlin have been instrumental in establishing the Westport Police-Youth Collaborative (WPYC) through their work with the Westport Youth Commission and TAG. “Each year officers volunteer their time to the WPYC,” said Dobson. “In addition to our Annual Dodge A Cop event, we work with the kids to provide other ways for officers to get to know our community outside of our usual enforcement capacity. We want to build a stronger sense of community among officers and kids in Town.”

“Westport cops really enjoy this event and others, like our Distracted Driving Event that provides kids with a tangible experience in the dangers of distracted and impaired driving, or the Cop Shops, where kids share a meal with an officer while engaging in casual conversations,” adds Batlin. “The WPYC is a progressive way for us to get know kids we may not otherwise get to meet and an opportunity for young people to see us as regular people out of uniform.”

A joint program of the Westport Youth Commission and the Teen Awareness Group, the Westport Police/Youth Collaborative (WPYC) goal is to provide youth with an opportunity to collaborate with local law enforcement on projects that interest young people, while increasing positive interactions between youth and police officers.

Anyone wishing to volunteer to help at this event or support future youth-driven events is encouraged to contact Elaine Daignault at 203-341-1285 or email elained@westportct.gov.

 
Contributions to the Lemone Family fund may be made through TAG or directly to the following scholarship fund set up for the Chris’ children: Morgan Stanley c/o George Viebrock, 90 Grove Street 2nd floor, Ridgefield, CT 06877.

More information on Chris Lemone may be found at http://tinyurl.com/orfmhb5