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Stockton Police Suprise Kids With Sports Equipment

STOCKTON (CBS) - A neighborhood dealing with violent crime is met with compassion from Stockton Police.

"Police officers don't really do that much now, so it's crazy," said 11-year-old Malique Hooker.

Malique and his friends were playing in Cotton Court on Thursday when several police officers pulled into the neighborhood.

"I thought I was in trouble," said Malique's friend Devan Dixon,"I thought I did something wrong."

" We were out there doing outreach. Going door to door," said Rosie Calderon with the Stockton Police Department.

The Stockton Police department started a community policing program about a year ago. Eight officers go to neighborhoods hit by violent crime. In the course of a year, they've deployed 75 times.

"People will start to recognize that and build, slowly build a relationship with officers," said Calderon.

On July 9, a man was shot and killed outside the Cotton Court apartments. Feet away from where Malique and his friends play.

" We gave them all stickers," said Calderon.

The officers also talked with the kids about sports.

"They said, do you got a ball? I said, No my ball popped a year ago," explained Dixon.

The officers went a step further. They left and came back with a brand-new basketball and football for the boys.

"I said thank you, yes, I got a football," said Dixon with a smile.

" Who doesn't want to play basketball, who doesn't want to play a game of football in their neighborhood," said Calderon.

Police say the small gesture can go a long way in shaping public perception.

"We need to have a relationship with those kids," said Calderon, "those kids could be future officers."

Police also hope the outreach program will open up communication. Right now, police don't have any leads or suspects in the deadly July 9 shooting.

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