Cops overcome distancing hurdles, connect with teens through online gaming

DeKalb County

DeKalb County Police Department challenged teenagers to a virtual video game tournament Monday, February 15.

02/15/2021 —Chamblee, Georgia — DeKalb County Police Officer Ralph Coquemar (right) jokes with teenager Tyler Ricketts as they practice playing a video game at GOMA Production Studios in Chamblee, Monday, February 15, 2021. Tyler and his father, DeKalb County Police detective K. Ricketts, were both part of the esports gaming virtual tournament. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

02/15/2021 —Chamblee, Georgia — DeKalb County Police Detective K. Ricketts (left) speaks to a virtual audience with commentator Katorious Johnson (right) during a virtual esport gaming tournament hosted by the DeKalb County Police Department at GOMA Production Studios in Chamblee, Monday, February 15, 2021. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

02/15/2021 —Chamblee, Georgia — DeKalb County Policeman Christen Munroe coordinates with teenagers and their parents by phone as the virtual esport gaming tournament gets underway at GOMA Production Studios in Chamblee, Monday, February 15, 2021. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

02/15/2021 —Chamblee, Georgia — The virtual esport gaming tournament hosted by the DeKalb County Police Department is live streamed at GOMA Production Studios in Chamblee, Monday, February 15, 2021. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

02/15/2021 —Chamblee, Georgia — A bottle of hand sanitizer is displayed next to a video game during a virtual esport gaming tournament hosted by the DeKalb County Police Department at GOMA Production Studios in Chamblee, Monday, February 15, 2021. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

02/15/2021 —Chamblee, Georgia — GOMA Production Studio creative director and owner Dosa Kim works behind-the-scenes to keep the audience engaged during a virtual esport gaming tournament hosted by the DeKalb County Police Department at GOMA Production Studios in Chamblee, Monday, February 15, 2021. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

02/15/2021 —Chamblee, Georgia — DeKalb County Master Police Officer A.F. Gutierrez plays a video game against pre-teens and teenagers during a virtual esport gaming tournament hosted by the DeKalb County Police Department at GOMA Production Studios in Chamblee, Monday, February 15, 2021. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

02/15/2021 —Chamblee, Georgia — DeKalb County Police Officer Ralph Coquemar (right) speaks to a virtual audience with commentator Malik Andrews (left) after losing to teenagers in a video game during a virtual esport gaming tournament hosted by the DeKalb County Police Department at GOMA Production Studios in Chamblee, Monday, February 15, 2021. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

02/15/2021 —Chamblee, Georgia — DeKalb County Police Officer Ralph Coquemar plays a video game against pre-teens and teenagers during a virtual esport gaming tournament hosted by the DeKalb County Police Department at GOMA Production Studios in Chamblee, Monday, February 15, 2021. The first place winner of the tournament receives $200 and second place receives $100. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

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Credit: Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com

02/15/2021 —Chamblee, Georgia — DeKalb County Police Officer Ralph Coquemar (right) jokes with teenager Tyler Ricketts as they practice playing a video game at GOMA Production Studios in Chamblee, Monday, February 15, 2021. Tyler and his father, DeKalb County Police detective K. Ricketts, were both part of the esports gaming virtual tournament. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

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