CAUGHT ON CAM: Police officer shoots hoops with kids, helping bridge gap in the community

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (WLOX) - It’s a video that’s getting a lot of buzz on social media. The basketball court was a location of a shooting back in November but, this time, it’s because of an officer doing his part to interact in the community.

“I never expected a pickup basketball game, with my body camera just activating, would gain this much attention,” said Pascagoula Police Officer J.J. Perez.

Officer Perez was caught hooping with kids at MCC Park in Pascagoula. It’s something 10-year-old Korbyn Chambers couldn’t believe at first.

“He walked up and asked, ‘Do y ’all want to play ball?’” said Chambers. “We said yeah and then we got to playing basketball. He shot a three on somebody, and I shot a three on somebody.”

It wasn’t Perez’s first time playing basketball in the community. He didn’t even know the action was being filmed. His bodycam picked up his movements and automatically started recording.

“Me and JJ and my cousin Bud were on the same team,” said Chambers. “I was amazed. I didn’t know that he could play basketball.”

“When I’m driving through the neighborhood and I see kids playing, I get out there and play with them,” Perez said.

At the same basketball court, a few weeks back, a 26-year-old man was shot and had to be rushed to the hospital. Officer Perez said interacting with the community not only deters that type activity, it also helps bridge the gap between the community and law enforcement.

“We’re not out here just to give them a hard time,” he said. “We’re out here to have a good time with them and I think that video shows it.”

As the number of views increase, so does the morale in the community.

Copyright 2022 WLOX. All rights reserved.