As activists across the country question police tactics and the number of black men and boys killed by cops, a group in Detroit is hoping conversations with officers can begin to heal the mistrust some youth have toward authorities.
More than 50 teenagers, along with their parents and grandparents, came to Triumph Church on Feb. 21 for Honor the Line, an event conducted by the BALL Foundation (Bridging Athletic, Learning and Life-Skills) to “bridge the gap between young men and law enforcement.”
BALL founder and president Randy Henry came up with the local program (similar efforts exist elsewhere) and partnered with Detroit Police Chief James Craig, who spoke about how he’d met the challenge of strained community relations while working in departments from Los Angeles to Portland, Maine.
“How do we build that trust, how do we build respect? With our dialogue, with our communication,” Henry said. “That’s the main reason I put this together.”
Beyond building trust, he wanted youth to leave with real-life skills for interacting with police safely.
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Participants were given pamphlets that explained their rights, as well as what they should do if a police officer stops them when they’re walking, driving, at their home, or if they’re detained.
Adam Harris, who came to the three-hour event with “a negative vibe” about police officers, left with a more nuanced perspective.
“[They] should take their time to put themselves in a citizen’s shoes rather than hiding behind their badges,” he said, but “people should just look at it different too … just stay calm, cool and collected.”
“The best thing I brought out of it is not to look down on police officers,” he added.
Organizers and attendees of the BALL Foundation event to bridge the gap between police and youth in Detroit. Courtesy the Ball Foundation.
