The Warsaw town board, and most particularly police Chief Michael Webster and citizen Robert O. Moore, deserve a hearty thank you for work they are doing to provide young people in the small Duplin County town something productive to do with their time.

And they should be applauded for putting finances behind their words and actions behind their beliefs, with the end result likely being a program that willl forge better relationships between young people and law enforcement officers, offering positive activities that will keep youth off the streets.

That program, PAL, or Police Athletic/Activities League, is a national youth crime prevention program that utilizes educational, athletic and recreational activities to create trust and understanding between police officers and young people.

It was the brain child of former Warsaw resident Moore, with the backing of the police chief. Both are staunch supporters of the program and both have shared their belief that such an initiative can make great differences in the lives of young people in Warsaw.

To the town’s credit, officials have been working long and hard to find ways to make a positive impact on their youth, searching for avenues that will bring positive results, offer children mentors and good role models and open avenues for activities that will take young people’s interests away from wrongdoing and focus them on wholeseome activities.

Since a teenager was shot and killed in the town a few years back, and with the growing reports of teen crime, city leaders have sought ways to bring needed change to their town.

Much of what PAL offers is athletic activities, all designed to lure young people away from the streets and into activities with police officers that can, and likely will, change perspectives and force lasting relationships.

At its core, the benefit will be for young people, but beyond that, the program can also be a great thing for Warsaw and its residents.

Doing things to lift young people, rechannel their energies and make them productive citizens can only improve the quality of life for the entire community.

Warsaw’s mayor and town board understand that, and it’s likely the reason they gave a thumbs-up to the idea and opened the town’s coffers to pay for its registration fee.

It’s a proactive approach to a recognizable problem. Town residents should be pleased that there is such compassion among its leaders, and they should be grateful that work is being done for the town’s young people.

We can only hope the PAL program comes to fruition. Its benefits will impact Warsaw and its people for years to come.