BELLE GLADE — In 2018 Jeffrey Jean was looking for something positive to do after school when he discovered the Police Athletic League boxing gym in Belle Glade run by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. He exceled in the sport of boxing as well as several other Haitian American youths who joined the program with him. The program gave Jeffrey opportunities to travel to several cities to compete and have fun with his teammates and so much more.

About a year before the COVID-19 outbreak, the program coordinator and coach Deputy Michael LeStrange discovered that Jeffrey was having difficulty reading school books and holding the books very close to his face to see the words on the pages. Deputy LeStrange asked his student if he was having difficulty seeing. Jean replied yes and told him that the impaired vision was also affecting his school work. He told LeStrange his family could not afford to buy him glasses. As a result, LeStrange took Jean to an eye doctor for an eye examination, and subsequently purchased the needed glasses through the Cops Helping Kids Inc. charitable relief organization. For the first time in his teenaged life Jeffrey Jean now had clear vision. Learning in school became easier.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 the Police Athletic League was forced to shut down the youth boxing program. LeStrange had to find other activities for some of the kids. In March 2021 he told Jean about ham radio also known as Amateur Radio. He told him it was a great hobby to contact people around the world, in addition to helping with communications during emergencies, natural disasters or public service events in the community. LeStrange showed Jeffrey a video documenting how vital ham radio was during the rescue efforts when the earthquake struck in Haiti several years ago. Jean said he was interested and wanted pursue being a ham radio operator.

Every ham radio operator must be licensed through the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC), and must pass a test consisting of electrical components, circuit diagrams, component functions, antenna installation, atmosphere propagation, etc. After studying the necessary material, Jean took the test and passed it, making him the very first Haitian American licensed Ham Radio Technician from the Glades. The FCC issued a license and call sign NO4ONN to him. Jean was presented with his first VHF/UHF radio purchased by Cops Helping Kids Inc. He is interested in using Ham Radio as a tool to help people, as well as pass the time with a positive hobby.

Both Captain Ed Luty (PBSO Glades District Commander) and Deputy Mike LeStrange (Police Athletic League Boxing Coordinator/Coach) are ham radio operators. Captain Luty is a proponent in helping Glades children reach their full potential. Jean said he is thankful to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for helping him be successful in many different ways.

LeStrange said “being proactive with the community and youth intervention programs now will help develop good citizens in the future. Jeffrey Jean is a wonderful example of that. We congratulate him for a job well done.”

To view Jason getting glasses go to https://youtu.be/D7fNpTC0-6I.