Aurora police Detective Tom Sobieski (right), who works in the homicide/major crime unit, helps Simone Oates (left), a sixth grader at Mrachek Middle School, Wednesday afternoon, May 2 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course in Denver. Aurora police, Aurora public schools and the First Tee of Denver partnered up to teach inner-city kids core values along with golf. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Aurora police Detective Tom Sobieski (left), who works in the homicide/major crime unit, watches Simone Oates (right), a sixth grader at Mrachek Middle School, chip out of a sand trap Wednesday afternoon, May 2 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course in Denver. Aurora police, Aurora public schools and the First Tee of Denver partnered up to teach inner-city kids core values along with golf. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Aurora police Detective Tom Sobieski (left), who works in the homicide/major crime unit, Simone Oates (center) and Bradley Acer (right), sixth graders at Mrachek Middle School, check over their score card Wednesday afternoon, May 2 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course in Denver. Aurora police, Aurora public schools and the First Tee of Denver partnered up to teach inner-city kids core values along with golf. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Bradley Acer (right), a sixth grader at Mrachek Middle School, tees off Wednesday afternoon, May 2 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course in Denver. Aurora police, Aurora public schools and the First Tee of Denver partnered up to teach inner-city kids core values along with golf. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Aurora police Detective Tom Sobieski (right) who works in the homicide/major crime unit, gives golfing advice to Simone Oates (left) a sixth grader at Mrachek Middle School, Wednesday afternoon, May 2 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course in Denver. Aurora police, Aurora public schools and the First Tee of Denver partnered up to teach inner-city kids core values along with golf. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Aurora police Detective Tom Sobieski (left), who works in the homicide/major crime unit, helps Simone Oates (right), a sixth grader at Mrachek Middle School, Wednesday afternoon, May 2 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course in Denver. Aurora police, Aurora public schools and the First Tee of Denver partnered up to teach inner-city kids core values along with golf. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Emily Blakely (left), a sixth grader at Mrachek Middle School tees off as her partner Emily Blakely (center) and coach Aurora police officer Doug Rystrom (right) watch Wednesday afternoon, May 2 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course in Denver. Aurora police, Aurora public schools and the First Tee of Denver partnered up to teach inner-city kids core values along with golf. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Isabella Arntson (left), a sixth grader at Mrachek Middle School, urges her putt along Wednesday afternoon, May 2 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course in Denver. Aurora police, Aurora public schools and the First Tee of Denver partnered up to teach inner-city kids core values along with golf. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Isabella Arntson, a sixth grader at Mrachek Middle School, celebrates making a putt Wednesday afternoon, May 2 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course in Denver. Aurora police, Aurora public schools and the First Tee of Denver partnered up to teach inner-city kids core values along with golf. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Emily Blakely, a sixth grader at Mrachek Middle School eagerly anticipates her putt Wednesday afternoon, May 2 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course in Denver. Aurora police, Aurora public schools and the First Tee of Denver partnered up to teach inner-city kids core values along with golf. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Emily Blakely, a sixth grader at Mrachek Middle School celebrates her putt with Aurora police officer Doug Rystrom Wednesday afternoon, May 2 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course in Denver. Aurora police, Aurora public schools and the First Tee of Denver partnered up to teach inner-city kids core values along with golf. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Aurora police Detective Tom Sobieski (center) who works in the homicide/major crime unit, introduces himself to Simone Oates (right) and Bradley Acer (left), sixth graders at Mrachek Middle School, check over their score card Wednesday afternoon, May 2 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course in Denver. Aurora police, Aurora public schools and the First Tee of Denver partnered up to teach inner-city kids core values along with golf. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)

When middle school students meet a police officer, they often fall into two groups: the fascinated and the intimidated.

Aurora police Officer C.J. Renaud, who worked as a school resource officer before becoming a recruiter for the department, said she saw those two groups often.

If kids are going to trust police officers and feel comfortable around them, they have to get past those feelings, Renaud said.

“At this age it’s crucial, it’s crucial that we break down any barriers,” she said.

Breaking down those barriers is one of the goals of a new program that teams Aurora police with local middle school students in the classroom and on the golf course.

Police officers spent six weeks this school year teaching golf to students at Columbia Middle School and Mrachek Middle School.

Last week, the instruction culminated with a golf tournament at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course in Denver.

“This is the big reward of the whole thing,” Renaud said as students piled off a bus and hustled toward the tee box.

The effort is a partnership between Aurora police, Aurora Public Schools and the First Tee of Denver, a nonprofit that teaches inner-city kids golf.

Renaud said the program mixes some core values with golf instruction. For example, one lesson would teach students about the appropriate golf stance and way to hold a club, but also have a section about honesty and integrity.

Dan Reeves, director of operations for First Tee of Denver, said the golf aspect of the program is important, but those core values are at the heart of the program.

“It’s a lot more than just golf,” he said. “We’re trying to use golf to reinforce social skills and academics and athletics in general. Golf is just the vehicle we use.”

Reeves said golf is the ideal vehicle to teach those lessons because of the game’s individual nature. If players get mad, they only have themselves to be mad at, he said.

“When you play golf you are your own referee,” he said. “It’s all up to you, you only hurt yourself if you don’t play by the rules.”

The program at the two Aurora middle schools marks the first time First Tee has teamed with area police, Reeves said, but the program has been in area schools for years, particularly inner city schools.

Renaud said the program is a good fit because it allows officers to build relationships with young people and gives them something to stay busy.

“A lot of the crime and things that happen in the city — they begin, unfortunately, when kids are idle,” she said.

Reach reporter Brandon Johansson at 720-449-9040 or bjohansson@aurorasentinel.com