CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- For a few days this September, race and police and community relations was all anyone in Charlotte was talking about.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said, “We want people to reach out to us and allow us to get to know them and get to know us as a people.”
In fact, the Chief says that it's important to start the dialogue early-- as in with kids.
“Once they see us for who we are, those memories last, and as long as we stay connected we can continue to germinate and make sure they’re long lasting relationships.”
Many people don't know the Police Chief has been going into Charlotte-Mecklenburg high schools for the last year-and-a-half with a team of officers.
Garry McFadden is one of them.
“It has been phenomenal. We reach kids we never would have reached.”
He says the students can't believe the Chief actually wants to hear what they have to say.
“The first couple of minutes are, 'why are you here…talking head.'”
The Chief says he wants to do even more -- and CMPD plans to start going into middle schools early next year.
“What we're gonna do is double down on those efforts continue to assess how we can stay connected to kids.”