CHARLOTTE, N.C -- Tesha Boyd founded the youth group “Promise Youth Connection”  nearly two years ago, right after the Keith Scott shooting and ensuing riots.

Her goal? To rebuild trust between young people in at-risk communities and the police that patrol them.

Weekly, officers from CMPD’s Independence Division hang out with 50-60 kids.

They range in age from 6 to 19 and all live in the nearby Heritage Park Apartments on Snow Lane.

Three officers in particular here have gone above and beyond that call of duty.

Officer Marty Baucom, Officer Sirlena June and Officer Steven Brannon are known as “The Trio” -- and they haven't missed a single Wednesday meeting since.

There have been some things where we have been away on travel, but it has been a constant basis every Wednesday,” said Brannon.

Most times officers come dressed in plain clothes -- whether it's a meal, a [football] catch, or a conversation.

“We got to know the kids so once you get to know the kids, you kind of get attached to them, so it's not whether you have to be there, it's you want to be there,” said Baucom.

“Questions they may have about real life things that are going on, questions about the police department, their own lives,” said Brannon.

“It definitely tells me that I've made an impact on them, that they respect me,” June.

“We can impart and inspire information and give them the tools they need to be successful so they don't fall right back into the trap,” said Boyd.

CMPD is submitting Promise Youth Connection for the Department of Justice’s 2018 National Civic Imagination award.

It recognizes groups that have transformed public safety and contributed to violent crime reduction in their community.

 

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