Police officer serves community.(THE GOODNESS OF AMERICA)(Paul Deppi)(Brief article)

More than 15 years ago, when Paul Deppi, then a young man of 20, approached Newtown Township, Pennsylvania, police chief Martin Duffy and told him he wanted to become a police officer, the chief recommended that he prepare for the job by becoming involved in the community. Paul did become involved. And the way he chose to do so was to become a coach with the Lower Bucks (County) Lacrosse League. Since then, Deppi has been an outstanding teacher, confidant, and role model to the 350 boys in the league. Coach Deppi has always taught his boys a hierarchy of values that he believes is essential-that family, faith, and education should take precedence over lacrosse.

"It's what my parents taught me: family, faith and school," Deppi told the Intelligencer (Bucks & Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania). "I want my players to be good, gentlemen, scholar athletes. If they leave and never play lacrosse again, that's fine. I just want them to be a better person [for having played on my team]."

Deppi, a devout ...