On a kick against crime

On a recent balmy evening inside the Abington High School gym, music blared from speakers as a man in a blue T-shirt and orange cap led about 30 perspiring adults and teens in the vigorous block, kick, and punch movements of kickboxing.

The workout at first glance may not have seemed like an effort at crime prevention. Ditto for the youth yoga and tai chi classes held earlier that evening.

But that's the idea behind an initiative the Abington Police Department is sponsoring this summer.

The cardio-kickboxing instructor is, in fact, a police officer, one of several instructors who can be found each week night leading various sorts of fitness classes for any resident who wants to join in. So far, about 200 have.

Police Chief David Majenski sees teaching fitness as part of a broad strategy of crime prevention, and he's putting that philosophy into action.

''Fitness is one of those things that can give children a good, strong foundation to stay with their entire lives," he says, and it can ''bring the community together with the police department," which he said is the goal of community policing.

''The essence of community policing . . . at least in my mind, is police officers interacting with the public in all aspects," he said.

With that in mind, and with the support of other town officials, Majenski arranged to have the program operate out of the high school gym. Free classes -- offered every weeknight from 5 to 8 -- are taught by either police officers with experience in the field or other fitness instructors. The school's weight and fitness rooms are also open during those hours, supervised by police officers.

How unusual is Abington's approach to crime prevention? Jack Levin, director of the Brudnick Center on Violence at Northeastern University, says he is not aware of any police-sponsored program specifically like it, although other police agencies sponsor activities to build connections with local residents. In Dayton, Ohio, he said, police run an annual fishing tournament, while in Winter Haven, Fla., the Police Athletic League offers computer tutoring and sports activities for young people.

''Around the country, police departments have recognized the need to improve their image with the public," Levin said. ''Community policing in its broadest sense is an effort on the part of police departments in major cities to form partnerships with community members and be seen as allies of the residents."

''It's a little more unusual for a small town police department," he said, ''but it's an effective idea."

Residents seem to like the idea. ''I think it's a great way to get the whole town in shape," said Matthew Mitchell, 16, who was among the participants at a recent evening workout session.

Majenski said eight of the department's 28 officers take part in the program. Included are five patrolmen, who do it as part of their normal shifts, but in civilian clothes. The others are Majenski and two other executive officers -- the chief volunteers his time, the other two more often than not participate as volunteers as well.

The Abington Police Department pays the entire cost of the fitness program with federal grant money; participants pay nothing.

''I like it because it gets me in with the community," said Patrolman Michael Carini, the instructor in the kickboxing class, who has taught martial arts at area karate schools. ''I get to see people on a different side, not uniform. I get to talk with them, intermingle with people . . . I think it's an excellent thing for the department. People are really enjoying it."

Tracy Becker, who is enrolled in the kickboxing class, is one of them. ''It gives residents much more access to the police department," she says. ''And it allows the police to interact a lot more with the community." Becker, 37, the mother of two toddlers, said she enrolled in the kickboxing class because ''I needed to get in shape" and ''it's better than exercising on my own."

Participants come in all ages, including many teens, which fits with the chief's original vision for the program. ''Many times, in a small community like Abington, you hear the common theme that they don't have anything to do," Majenski said, referring to teenagers. ''And that there is a need to provide them with an alternative to 'nothing to do.' This seemed to fit."

Majenski said that in developing a fitness program for children, however, it only made sense to open it up to other segments of the community as well. The overall program is open to any Abington resident 12 and up, though some classes are age-specific.

Michelle Carter, 15, says she is taking the class because ''I always wanted to be able to defend myself. And it's really intense, this class. You don't stop. I really like to be fit and I need to be in shape for soccer," said Carter, who plans to play the sport at Abington High School this fall.

Lauren Prall, 16, also hopes the kickboxing will help her get in shape for soccer, which she plans to play as a junior at Notre Dame Academy in Hingham this year. Plus, she wanted to ''try something new."

Prall said it was her mother, Joan, who was ''kind of my motivation" to enroll in the program. They are taking the class together.

Kevin Wilkinson, 46, who enrolled in the kickboxing class with his son, Nick, 15 -- the two also work out together in the weight room -- calls the police initiative ''awesome."

''It's going the extra mile," he said. ''I think more towns should do it."