Tolleson school officer comes to rescue with sports balls for students

PHOENIX – A West Valley school resource officer leaped into action when he noticed students were facing a shortage of sports supplies.

Officer Chris Medaglia went above and beyond the call of duty when Porfirio H. Gonzales Elementary School was running low on sports balls, the city of Tolleson said in a press release Thursday.

As a resource officer at the school near 91st Avenue and Van Buren Street, Medaglia works to build relationships between the community and the Tolleson Police Department, the release said.

To that end, he chips in by helping check out equipment during recess.

However, he found himself turning kids away empty-handed because the school was low on basketballs and soccer balls.

After Medaglia told his department about the shortage, a commander came up with the idea for an equipment drive.

Tolleson Police Chief Wayne Booher got on board and asked his staff to donate new or gently used balls.

Within two weeks, a few dozen balls had been donated, including a contribution from the nearby Holsum Bakery, the release said.

Porfirio H. Gonzales is now fully stocked with sports balls thanks to the efforts of Medaglia and his department.

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