P.A.L. History

The Nassau County Police Activity League started out as the Nassau County Police Boys Club (P.B.C.).   Statistics showed that teenage vandalism was increasing and so, the Police Boys Club was formed in 1940 in response to a need to establish programs for juveniles.  The Commissioner of Police at the time, Abram Skidmore, took the positive action of instituting programs to involve youths with patrol officers in worthwhile activities and thereby preventing the delinquency.  Initially, there were five patrolmen and one sergeant assigned.

The programs became very popular and expanded rapidly. Due to the growth in both participants and volunteers, the Police Boys Club administration was centralized, incorporated and achieved 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) tax exempt status in 1945 -  classifications that remains in effect today.

As the years progressed, more and more units were formed throughout Nassau County and we found more and more girls were participating in P.B.C. activities.   In 1987, the organization's name was officially changed to the Police Activity League (P.A.L.) to more accurately reflect that we are an open organization for all youth regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, etc.  

The primary goal of our programs is to deter juvenile delinquency and to foster positive relations between youth and the police. This is accomplished by providing structured and well supervised activities, which serve as an alternative to "hanging out" on the street corners.  Competition is monitored to assure fairness and participation by all regardless of skill level. Just as important, P.A.L. programs have incorporated into these activities an emphasis on the qualities that promote good citizenship and having fun!   P.A.L. programs have have operated continuously since their inception in 1945. 

The Nassau County Police Activity League now oversees the operations of 30 local P.A.L. Units.  Each of these units has a Police Officer / Director and an Executive Board who are responsible for all activities within their respective local units. 

Our Massapequa Unit was formed in 1962 and occupied various small offices throughout the Massapequa area until 1991 when former Massapequa P.A.L. Police Officer / Director Lou Anthony succeeded in acquiring a parcel of land formerly known as Bowling Green - a name that reflected the lawn bowling activities that were conducted here in the 1920's and 1930's.   In 1992, Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta dedicated this field and renamed it "Anthony Field", in recognition of the efforts put forth by Officer Lou Anthony in obtaining and building the fantastic baseball field and P.A.L. offices that reside here.  Anthony Field now serves as the home field to Massapequa PAL's Baseball and Softball Programs and the home office for all of Massapequa P.A.L.'s activities.  Retired since 1995, Lou Anthony continues to serve the Massapequa Unit as the coordinator of our Bowling program.  Police Officer Maureen Roach serves as our current Police Officer / Director - a position she has held since the year 2000.

On a countywide basis, P.A.L. is administered on a day-to-day basis by a Commanding Officer (Sergeant) and a Deputy Commanding Officer (Sergeant). They directly supervise the 9 police officers that run the local P.A.L. units and handle all daily operations of the Corporation. The Lieutenant and Sergeant are guided and advised by an Executive Board which is elected from volunteers within the organization. Nassau County P.A.L. operates a website with countywide P.A.L.  information available 24/7. You can visit their website at www.NassauCountyPAL.com

The Nassau County P.A.L. is comprised of average citizens from various communities throughout the County. Their commitment to the organization is their common bond. It is a dynamic organization that constantly seeks other like-minded volunteers to assure that local youth have a safe, structured environment in which to release their energies and "show their stuff."

The organization has been recognized nationally as a leader in our field and has been named as a Merit Award Winner in both 1991 and 1993 by the National Association of Counties, and was also named as the 491st Point of Light by former President of the United States, George Bush.  Nassau County P.A.L. is a member of the National Association of Police Athletic Leagues, 618 North U.S. Hwy 1, Suite 201, North Palm Beach, FL 33408