Bridging the gap between police and the communities they serve.
That was the goal of the second annual F.B.I Youth and Law Enforcement Forum, where 500 inner city kids got a chance to see a different side of police. It was an opportunity for area kids to learn what police do, while also getting a rare look at some cool police equipment.
"If they just think a little bit different about law enforcement. About who we are and what we do and how our goal is protect them, that makes all the difference in the world,” said Steve Anthony, an F.B.I agent with the Cleveland division. "It's a great opportunity for all of us and shame on us if we don’t take it.
When you're from the inner city like Trevon Johnson, sometimes police are more like strangers than friends.
"It's multiple levels to the police thing that I didn't know about before," Johnson said.
A perception where he even once believed police created more problems than they solved.
“Not all police are bad,” Johnson said. “You might have a few bad police you have encounters with that may come off wrong, but not all police are bad. “
It was one of many lessons learned Wednesday during the second annual event held at Camp Forbes.
"It shows that they actually care about the community and giving back,” Johnson said.
From getting an inside look of a swat armored vehicle to even trying on a bulletproof vest, police wanted the event to bridge the gap between them and the communities they serve.
A symbolic gesture by police, hoping to connect with young people before it's too late.
"Law enforcement is there friends,” Cuyahoga County Sheriff Clifford Pinkney said. “We are not the enemy. We are not on the other side of aisle. We are all in this together. It's a community."
But, they know building and improving trust won't come easy or happen overnight.
“We have to keep rolling up our sleeves and making it better,” said Special Agent Anthony. “Because if just a handful of kids, young adults have a negative perception of law enforcement, that makes us unsafe."
The kids, who attended the event also got the chance to see the different levels of law enforcement. From the FBI and DEA all the way down to the local level. Police hope it inspired one of the kids to explore a future in policing.
As far as improving community relations, police say as long as they continue to develop strong, meaningful relationships, then good things will happen.