In the heart of South 9th Street in Garland, Texas, a former grocery store has transformed into more than just a boxing gym; it’s become a sanctuary for countless young kids seeking refuge from life’s challenges.
The Garland Police Boxing Gym, founded by retired Police Lieutenant David Swavey 30 years ago, has evolved from a small intervention program to the fourth-largest boxing program in the nation, catering to over 150 kids from low-income families.
Swavey, who once led a controversial gang unit at the Garland Police Department, initiated the program with a simple goal: to divert at-risk youth away from the clutches of gang violence.
“When I first started, I would have gang members bring siblings in here and say, ‘Hey I don’t want my brother to grow up like I did,’” Swavey recalls. “I looked around the city and the only thing I could find was a tough love through a local church, so I went back to my police department and said ‘Hey, me and another guy in the gang unit who boxed as kids, what we’d like to start a boxing gym.”
What began as a modest 13×13 ring in a shared office space with a school and the City of Garland has blossomed into a fully remodeled facility offering more than just boxing.
The gym not only trains young athletes in the art of discipline and hard work, but also fosters healthy habits around education, food and exercise.
Alex Espinosa, who started boxing at the age of 8, attests to the gym’s impact on his life: “No matter how good of a fighter they are, [the students] come here and when they leave, they go do something useful with the world.”
Swavey spoke about the power of boxing for honing discipline.
“You want to teach a kid not to bully, teach a kid how to box,” Swavey said. “It’s the most disciplined sport in the world, bar none,” he told CBS Texas.
The program has been involved in other community projects as well. Last year, it entered into a partnership with ICON Meals, a Dallas-based food delivery service, to provide nutritious meals to program participants.
The city-funded program not only encourages athletic prowess, but also focuses on academic achievement as well.
With a tutor on hand, access to lab spaces with computers and regular report card checks, the gym ensures that its students are both disciplined athletes and dedicated students.
The gym also boasts numerous success stories among its former students, with several excelling in fields such as aviation, the CIA, the Air Force and law enforcement.
Espinosa, now 18, is an example of one of the gym’s brightest stars.
Training for national-level competitions and aspiring to compete in the Olympics, Espinosa acknowledged the gym’s role in shaping his character.
“I’m closer to people here than people at school sometimes. Sometimes closer than my own actual family,” Espinosa said.
As the Garland Police Boxing Gym continues to be a sanctuary for youth, Swavey’s vision of redirecting lives away from the pitfalls of street life remains steadfast, one jab at a time.
