CHAPEL HILL, N.C.– “There is a general distrust of the police, especially within the minority community. And also that is like part of my invective as a mom and a Black woman,” said Ada Umenwaliri, a Chapel Hill community member about her wanting to do the Chapel Hill Police Department Academy classes.
The Chapel Hill Police Department held its second day of class, focusing on the police officer training and doing a day in the life of a police officer. The community members were offered to try out the demonstrations that a police officer trainee has to go through to become an officer in Chapel Hill.
It is the first academy to be held since 2019. Captain Danny Lloyd believes that the academy can help bridge the gaps between the community members and the town police force.
“So, I think it really does help to improve the community’s trust in the police department. And then we are also able to learn from them and hear about things we may be able to do better,” said Lloyd.
Chapel Hill’s mayor, Pam Hemminger, thinks the initiatives the department is taking allows for open communication and mutual respect.”To build community relations and to let folks really understand what was going on, so that we would have more opportunities for dialogue,” said Hemminger.
In turn, this academy will create a safer and more inclusive community in the years to come.