EAGAN, Minn. – Golden hour at TCO Stadium was made even brighter by laughter and smiles on the football field.

The Vikings last week hosted the St. Paul Police Activities League (P.A.L.) and several St. Paul Parks and Rec co-ed flag football teams for a tournament coached by police officers and Vikings players.

September's warm sunlight spread across the grass as Joshua Metellus and Ivan Pace, Jr., watched one of the matchups and cheered on the youngsters.

"I think this opportunity is really cool," Metellus said. "I've got siblings this age, I've got a son soon to be this age, so it's just good to see kids running around playing football, loving the sport – and it's good to see the police department out here, as well, coaching them up. It's just really fun to be in this atmosphere."

Metellus and Pace were joined by teammates Harrison Phillips, Shaq Griffin, Ty Chandler, Brian Asamoah II, Brandon Powell, Bo Richter, Lucky Jackson and Walter Rouse, who also took the time to converse with St. Paul police officers and cadets who took part in the event.

Officer Annie Baumgart and Sgt. Amy Rahlf are officers in the Community Engagement Unit and P.A.L. leaders. They each are passionate about the program's mission.

P.A.L. seeks to utilize educational, athletic and recreational activities to create trust and understanding between police officers and youth. It is based on the idea that young people can develop strong positive attitudes towards police officers in their journey through life toward the goal of maturity and good citizenship. PAL gives kids a safe place to play, positive role models and creative activities to engage in, all for free.

"We always tell our cadets at these events, they're meeting these kids at 8, 10 years old, but when they go on to become police officers, they might see those kids on the street at a call, and when they see each other they're gonna say, 'Hey – I know you from the rec center' – and you already have that foundation of a relationship," Rahlf said.

In addition to playing football, the youth at Tuesday's event had the opportunity for a close-up look at a police car and armored vehicle, even crawling into the latter to do a SKOL Clap with Phillips.

"I guess we better not turn on the siren," one young Vikings fan said, "but that would be pretty cool."

Metellus emphasized the value of collaborating with law enforcement for a recreational event.

"The kids are the future. We want to make things as safe as possible, as nurturing as possible," Metellus said. "We want [law enforcement] to be able to protect and also teach, guide [these youth] in the community. I think being out here in this atmosphere where everybody here wants to uplift the community is going to do nothing but that."

Baumgart reiterated Metellus' thoughts, noting the importance for young people to see athletes and law enforcement alike as "normal people" who want the best for them.

"Kids look up to athletes, [and something like this] allows them to see their heroes in action," Baumgart said. "And it's the same with us, too – that's what it's so important for the kids to see us as real people. Kids can deal with bad situations at home or elsewhere and might see us in a different light. But if they see, 'Oh, they want to play football with me.' Or, 'They can take us to a field trip or to the Junior Police Academy. They love and care for us like anybody else' – that's what is so important and amazing."

"Sometimes kids and families are scared of the police or don't trust the police, which we can understand – because a lot of situations, it can be scary for them, or what they've seen on TV or what they've learned," Baumgart continued. "But my motto is, if they can trust one officer, the next time they have an interaction with one they hopefully can say, 'Well, that officer was cool; maybe this officer can be cool, too.' Or, 'I can trust them. They're here to help me.' … That's one thing that's very inspiring about our job. It just takes one officer and one situation to [restore trust]."

Minnesota's 4-0 start this season has demonstrated the team's commitment to on-field success. But as Metellus pointed out, it doesn't deter from an equal desire to have a positive influence on the Twin Cities community.

"I'm out here to impact lives and show kids that at the end of the day, we're just normal guys who have playing football," he said. "I'm here to inspire, and I hope I'm doing so. I just like being around the kids – they make me smile, and I hope my energy is also infectious for them."

"This is exactly what the Vikings are about," Metellus added. "At the end of the day, it's bigger than football. We've got a lot of guys who love football but also love the community and love to build up the youth. That's what this is all about, and I'm just happy to reinforce that and be out here on Tuesdays."