Habursky shows skills in Erie neighborhood hoops game

Jon Habursky, chief deputy in the Erie County Sheriff's Office, waves and beeps the horn at the kids in his former east Erie neighborhood during his drive home from work to Harborcreek Township.

But on Wednesday, Habursky stopped his marked vehicle in the street, put on the four-way hazard lights and the rooftop light bar to alert any traffic, and talked to the kids.

He planned to take a couple of shots at the street-side basketball hoop in the 1400 block of Atkins Street, near East High School.

When one kid, about 12 or 13, challenged him to a game of one-on-one basketball, Habursky, 52, accepted before losing, 9-7, as other kids watched and neighbors stepped out of their homes. "He was way too fast," Habursky said Friday.

Almost as fast was the person who captured the impromptu game and posted images of Habursky, in his sheriff's uniform, and the boy on Facebook. That social media post can be found on GoErie.com's Facebook page, and includes reader comments in support of Habursky's action.

"I high-fived the kid and hugged him and it kind of blew up, I guess, on social media. It's a neighborhood I was born and raised in and care about," said Habursky, who doesn't know the youth's name.

"I told my wife (Bea Habursky) it wasn't done for popularity. It was just a moment in time, and maybe the perfect timing for everything that's going on," he said.

Habursky referred to deadly gunfire among teenagers this summer that's left the community reeling.

Habursky worked as a school resource officer in the Harbor Creek School District for nine years before joining the sheriff's department 15 years ago. He said the "kids mean a lot to me."

Habursky said it's important for law enforcement to talk to people on the streets in a positive way, which he said Sheriff John Loomis supports. "We go to a lot of neighborhood watch meetings and try to interact with the community as much as possible," Habursky said.

Loomis said, "It just goes to show what kind of a person Jon is. I've been encouraging my staff, especially those that work in the inner city, to interact with people in the neighborhood. If you have a moment, get out, introduce yourself, talk to the public."

Habursky said that after his game, several other kids challenged him to another matchup. But a sweaty Habursky was done for the day -- though not for good.

"I'm going to go back for round two, because I'm going to win the next time," he said.

JOHN GUERRIERO can be reached at 870-1690 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNguerriero.