Daktronics to provide new scoreboards for youth centers, pay for new series of Bucks trading cards
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee police officers will soon be card-carrying members of another team. The Milwaukee Bucks, Daktronics and Milwaukee Police Department announced a series of community initiatives on Thursday, March 2nd. Those initiatives include new scoreboards for youth centers in Milwaukee and a new series of trading cards featuring the Bucks.
Years ago, MPD officers used to give out baseball cards to kids, but the program died out. Now, it's back with a new spin.
"This is great to have a catalyst for kids to have a dialog with law enforcement. This is win, win," said Milwaukee Bucks President Peter Feigin.
MPD officers will soon get 10,000 packages of Milwaukee Bucks and Milwaukee Police Department co-branded Bucks player cards. Each set features all 15 members of the 2016-17 team.
"This will help a lot -- a whole lot," said Patrol Officer Rob Lacy, Milwaukee Police Department.
Patrol Officer Rob Lacy is already stocking up.
"They like to play, but when they see us they get kind of fearful. But now we have something to hand out to them and talk to them," said Lacy.
New scoreboards to be added to 6 youth centers in Milwaukee
The cards, clearly a big hit with kids, are being created by Daktronics. Last week, the digital display company unveiled plans to put the biggest scoreboard of its kind in the new Bucks arena. At the COA Youth & Family Centers' Riverwest location, there is a much smaller, older model.
"1991 this building was built. And that scoreboard was one of the early Daktronics scoreboards. It stopped working a year ago," said Tom Schneider, COA Youth & Family Centers.
Daktronics is going to replace that scoreboard. They are also providing six new scoreboards for Milwaukee-area schools and youth centers -- safe places where thousands of kids visit every day.
New Milwaukee Bucks trading cards
"They love basketball and there is some real talent here," said Schneider.
A good lesson on teamwork on and off the court.
Collectors, listen up! These cards are MPD exclusive, so if you're a die-hard Bucks fan and want to get y our hands on them you'll have to ask an officer.