The First Step: Program seeks to forge bonds between youth & police
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The First Step
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Shootings, protests, unrest: there’s no doubt a rift exists between police and some of the communities they serve.
Over the past year, records compiled by
The Washington Post show 942 people were killed in police shootings nationwide. The records show Black people were killed at a disproportionate rate, with most of those shot being young males.
Jacksonville has seen 11 police shootings, five of them deadly, in the past year, according to Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office records. All of them are still under review by the 4th Circuit State Attorney’s Office, which oversees Duval County.
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Bridging the Gap program brings together young Black men and law enforcement
The program was created in the fall of 2020 amid nationwide protests following the murder of George Floyd. Author: First Coast News Staff Published: 9:55 AM EDT May 6, 2021 Updated: 10:29 AM EDT May 6, 2021
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. There’s a photo gaining attention on social media of Jacksonville police surrounding a young man with their hands clasped and heads bowed.
It was taken by a facilitator during a program called Bridging the Gap that brings together young black men and law enforcement, helping them to gain a better understanding of each other.
The program was created in the fall of 2020 amid nationwide protests following the murder of George Floyd. The event was hosted by Operation Save Our Sons in partnership with Ed White High School, Bethune Cookman University, Duval County Schools and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.