The Gainesville Police Department has kicked off a new initiative to enhance relationships between officers and the city's youth.
Pupils and Police started this week with a visit to Lakeview Academy. Sgt. Kevin Holbrook said the visit happened to fall on a tough week for students across the country, the Florida school shooting that claimed 17 lives.
"You know, the sad tragedy in Florida is a reminder that we law enforcement need to be more connected with our youth. It just happens to be that this program kicked off the same week of this very tragic, devastating news," Holbrook said in an interview with AccessWDUN.
He said the initiative in Gainesville gives students an opportunity they might not otherwise have to ask officers questions.
"And it allows the officers to kind of let their guard down and have some of those difficult and very honest discussions that we really need to make, in order to make change in our community," Holbrook said.
The move is part of Chief Carol Martin's ongoing community based policing focus.
"The police department must take proactive steps to breakdown any barriers between police and youth," Martin stated in a media release. "Trust is an important aspect of any relationship and we want the community, most importantly the youth, to know that they can trust us and we value them and their opinions."
Officials envision the department becoming a leader in improving police and community relations with hopes of expanding the Pupils and Police program, according to the release.
