INDIANAPOLIS -- In less than a week, countless dads will spend a day grilling out on patios, enjoying their families’ company and maybe playing a little catch.
Father’s Day looks different for every family, and FOX59/CBS4 wanted to highlight one father-son duo who’ve dedicated their lives to mentoring kids through sports and their jobs as IMPD officers.
Sometimes you’ll hear kids say things like, “I want to be just like dad when I grow up.” But when IMPD Officer Jonas Coleman said it, he meant it.
“I feel like it’s almost every kid’s dream to be able to work alongside with their father," Jonas Coleman said.
Not only did he follow in his father, Captain Brownie Coleman’s footsteps into the department, they also both volunteer with Indy PAL - the Police Athletic and Activities League – a program they each participated in as kids.
“I pinned his badge on him like my father pinned my badge on me," Capt. Brownie Coleman said. “Him coming over to PAL – it's just a good fit. He’s always been good with kids, he’s always been good with sports. He’s just a gentle giant.”
Like you’d expect of any proud parent, he couldn’t resist showing us a commercial that Jonas appeared in, also pointing out one of the kids from the program.
“You know those kids tackled the mayor and took him to the ground?” Brownie Coleman said with a laugh.
But the pride goes both ways.
“It is great to see the impact he’s had on guys and gals my age and being able to return the favor to their kids," Jonas Coleman said.
The purpose of Indy PAL is to keep at-risk youth off the street and in a safe place where they can learn a sport or two, plus take home some important life skills.
“How to be respectful. How to talk to people. Conflict resolution," Jonas Coleman explained. "We have the sports for them, but we try to teach them a little bit more.”
“They taught me a lot of stuff. Like I can do almost anything," 10-year-old Indy PAL athlete Ayven Phelps said.
Playing ball gets them in the door, but it's the great mentors that get kids to stay.
"When you lose a game, always keep your head up," Phelps advised. "When somebody's pouting, cheer them up and say, 'You can do it next time.'"
To the Colemans, this is just part of the job.
“What really gets me is when I come in here and I see him in the office and he’s mentoring a kid and the parents, he’s talking to the young man, 'You got to do better,'" Brownie Coleman said.
“That’s always been a dream to be able to get out there and work with my dad, put the same uniform on that he had, and be able to do the same things that he did out here in the community and try to help out the best way I can," Jonas Coleman said.
If you'd like to support the program, Indy PAL organizers said financial donations can make an impact by helping provide equipment, space, mentorship opportunities and more. For more information, you can visit Indy PAL's website.