Babcock, who is married and has three grown children, plans to be involved in helping the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office set up a PAL in Lealman, an unincorporated area just north of St. Petersburg. As in many cities, the St. Petersburg PAL began as a boxing program for boys. It expanded to other sports, and is now a many-faceted program for both boys and girls. It runs a summer day camp, for example. And during the school year, attracting about 100 youngsters a day, the PAL has an after-school program with as much emphasis on education as athletics.
Teachers volunteer to help with homework.
Computer instruction and tutoring are big elements. Honor roll report cards get posted on the bulletin board. Babcock spent his early years on the police force as a street cop, but even then he was making friends with youngsters. He got to know people. Sometimes he'd help them out.