♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ SPD, RECKONING AND REFORM IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT OF... >> HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT STD.

>> THERE IS NO RELATIONSHIP I FEEL LIKE ANY OF US AND THE POLICE.

>> I HAVE NO RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SYRACUSE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THERE IS NO ACTIVITY BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY.

I GREW UP ON THE SOUTH SIDE THERE.

WAS NO REAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE POLICE.

WE SAW THE POLICE COMING, YOU NEED TO GO IN THE HOUSE OR YOU KNEW TO STAY AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE OR IF YOU SEE THEM GO INTO LIKE ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS HOUSE, YOU JUST, I'M NOT GOING IN THE HOUSE.

IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD OR IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE IS NOT THAT MUCH PEACE.

>> SO MY QUESTION ANY OF YOU FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK?

THAT'S PROBABLY A FAILURE ON MY END THEN BECAUSE I'M SAYING THAT MOST OF OUR POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT STORIES, EVERYTHING HANKS WAS DOING WITH THE BASKETBALL CHALLENGE, ANYTHING THE OFFICERS WERE DOING, THAT'S ON FACEBOOK, IF I'M NOT CONNECTING YOU THAT WAY, YOU ARE NOT SEEING THE POSSIBLE THIEF THINGS THAT WE DO.

WOULD YOU EVER FOLLOW A POLICE DEPARTMENT TIKTOK OR SNAP SNAPCHAT?

>> IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE RIGHT OFFICER?

>> IF WE DO SOMETHING-- OR AT LEAST...

IF THE CHEER LEADERS SHOWED UP... (ALL TALKING AT ONCE) >> YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE HERE!

>> POLICE REFORM IS NOT A MOMENT IN TIME.

>> ... FOR JUSTICE!

>> THIS IS A NOBLE PROFESSION.

>> ONE HOMICIDE IS TOO MANY IN THIS CITY.

>> PEOPLE ARE RUNNING WHEN THEY HEAR GUNSHOTS.

>> THERE IS A IN YOU DAY THAT'S COMING IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

THERE IS A NEW DAY COMING IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

>> HELLO, MY NAME IS KHALIL ABDULKHABIR, CHAPLAIN IN NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND INTERFAITH WORKS AND PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES.

I BRING NEARLY 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE POLICE FORCE AND THE ACCUSED.

AS A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY SCHAP CONLAN HAVE I SEEN UP CLOSE THE TENUOUS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE COMMITTED TO PROTECT AND SERVE THEM.

FOLLOWING THE INITIAL AIRING OF THE WCNY SERIES SPD, RECKONING AND REFORM, THE STATION HOSTED FIVE COMMUNITY FORUMS THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT CITY NEIGHBORHOODS, ALONG WITH ANOTHER TWO FORUMS HELD DIRECTLY AT THE TELEVISION STUDIOS THEMSELVES.

THESE GATHERINGS WERE WELL ATTENDED BY CENTRAL FIGURES FROM THE PROGRAM AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

IT WAS MY PRIVILEGE TO MODERATE THESE COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS AND HEAR THE IMMEDIATE VIEWS OF CITY RESIDENTS AS WELL AS THOSE FROM WITHIN THE RANKS OF THE SYRACUSE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ATTENDEES WATCHED SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL SEGMENTS OF THE SERIES AND WERE ASKED TO INITIATE A CIVIL DIALOGUE.

WE HEARD SIMILAR AND OVERLAPPING THOUGHTS AT EACH OF THE FORUMS AND TONIGHT WE WILL SHARE SOME OF THOSE WITH YOU AS WE WORK TOWARDS THE SYRACUSE SOLUTION.

>> WE ARE NOT HERE TO COMPARE OPPRESSIONS.

OKAY?

THAT IS NOT WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR.

WE ARE HERE FOR FORWARD THINKING AND LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE BIGGER PICTURE IS AND WHAT THE BIGGER ISSUE IS IF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH, QUITE FRANKLY, IS OUR YOUTH.

>> I THINK SOMETIMES AS ADULTS WE TEND TO FORGET ABOUT THE YOUTH AND WHETHER WE INTENTIONALLY DO IT OR UNINTENTIONALLY BECAUSE WE THINK WHAT DO THEY KNOW?

THEY'RE KIDS BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALLY HEAR FROM THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE THE FUTURE.

AND WE REALLY HAVE TO SEE WHERE THEIR PERSPECTIVES ARE AT SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AT LEAST ON MY END OF THINGS, FROM NOW ON, ALWAYS MAKING SURE THAT YOUTH HAVE SOME SORT OF SEAT AT THE TABLE.

>> WE FEED TO START NOT ONLY EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO EDUCATE SOME OF THE PARENTS.

IF I'M OR DEALING WITH TRAUMA AND I'M TRYING TO STAND UP, HOW DO I THINK THAT A 15-YEAR-OLD KID, WHO PROBABLY JUST LOST THEIR MOTHER, THEIR FATHER, THEIR BROTHER, THEIR COUSIN, THE NIGHT BEFORE, IS ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL AND FOCUS WITHOUT HAVING SOME TYPE OF INTERVENTION TO BRING IN TO SEE IF THAT'S OKAY?

WE HAVE TO CHANGE OURS ABOUT OF WE CAN CHANGE ANYTHING.

>> WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, YOU ARE FUNNELED INTO THE DRUG TRADE.

THIS IS A REALITY THAT WE DON'T REALLY WANT TO ADDRESS BECAUSE IT'S EASIER FOR US TO SAY WELL I WAS POOR AND I DIDN'T CHOOSE THAT SO THEREFORE, SHAME ON THEM.

WE HAVE FORCED OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY TOWARDS THOSE DIRECTIONS.

WE HAVE NOT PROVIDED AN OFF RAMP FOR THEM.

>> THAT'S THE BILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION HOW DO YOU FIX THAT?

THAT'S THE BILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION.

>> IF YOU DON'T BRING YOUR CHILD UP THE RIGHT WAY, IF IT DOESN'T START IN THE WOMB, CHILD, IT STARTS AT HOME.

LET IT START AT HOME.

TRAIN THOSE KIDS AT HOME.

MY PARENTS BROUGHT ME UP IN SUNDAY SCHOOL, THEY BROUGHT ME UP SAYING SPEECHES IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH AS A LITTLE GIRL AND MY BROTHER AND ALL OF US.

WE GREW UP LIKE THAT.

NOW ALL THAT STUFF HAS GONE BY THE WAYSIDE, SO WHERE DOES IT START ALL THIS GANG BANGING AND GUNS AND STUFF LIKE THAT?

WE WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND THEN GO HOME AND GO TO SLEEP AND ACT LIKE YOU AIN'T DID NOTHING.

>> AMEN.

>> I THIS I A LOT OF IT ITSELF MENTORSHIP, THAT WE DON'T HAVE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS TO LEAD OUR YOUTH DOWN A CERTAIN PATH.

THERE IS NOT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES.

SO WE NEED TO HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT LEADS TO MORE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE SOUTH SIDE CAN DO TO AID OUR YOUTH WHEN OTHER AGENCIES ARE NOT CAPABLE, YOU KNOW, LIKE EITHER THE YOUTH ARE NOT BUYING INTO THE PROGRAMMING OR DON'T ATTEND OR ARE NOT INTERESTED.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN DO TO SUPPORT THOSE INDIVIDUALS?

AND TO GET THEM ENGAGED?

>> WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR DOORS OPEN AND WE HAVE TO TRY TO HAVE ACTIVITIES THAT WILL ENGAGE THE CHILDREN.

>> YOU KNOW, EVEN IF IT'S READING OR SOMETHING, WE DON'T NEED TO YOU KNOW, ANOTHER BUILDING.

WE HAVE PLENTY OF BUILDINGS.

WE NEED TO BREAK IT DOWRNTION SIT DOWN AND HAVE A READING GROUP.

>> RIGHT.

>> SIT DOWN AND JUST LISTEN, HAVE THEM TALK TO YOU.

SO THAT THEY CAN HEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, YEAH, SOMEONE WILL LISTEN TO YOU.

SOMEONE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU OR YOUR PARENTS A RESOURCE.

WE NEED TO TAKE THE TIME TO HEAR FROM THEM NOT JUST ASSUME THINGS ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED.

>> I LOVE THE CONCEPT OF THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE, AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD WAY FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT THAT ICE BREAKER, YOU KNOW, PLAYING SPORTS.

AND THEN YOU GET TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE UNIFORMS ON THAT DAY SO THEY SAW ME OUT OF UNIFORM ON MY OWN TIME COMING TO VOLUNTEER.

SO THAT IMPACT, I CAN'T SAY IT WORKS FOR EVERYONE, BUT I CAN SEE THE VALUE IN IT, ESPECIALLY IF, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ABLE TO STAY WITH THEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

>> ATHLETIC LEAGUE, GREAT IDEA, BUT THROWING A BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL IS NOT GOING TO FIX IT.

IT'S NOT.

OUR SYSTEM, WE GOT THAT.

WHAT IS THIS GOING TO DO?

WHAT IS THIS GOING TO DO TO CHANGE HOW CHILDREN ARE LIVING IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE ECONOMICALLY AND DO SOMETHING TO ADDRESS WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE HOME BEFORE THEY GET OUT THERE AND GET CAUGHT UP IN THE SYSTEM THAT ONCE THEY GET CAUGHT UP, MANY OF THEM NEVER GET OUT.

>> WHAT CAN OUR YOUTH DO TO GAIN SOME ALTERNATIVES TO OR GAIN GUIDANCE FROM BEING ENGAGED IN GANG AFFILIATION OR GETTING THROUGH THE VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFE?

>> HONESTLY, I DON'T REALLY LIKE THE TERM GANG.

I FEEL LIKE WE USE IT VERY FREELY IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT YOUNG BLACK AND BROWN BOYS.

A LOT OF TIMES THESE KIDS GREW UP IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE SAME APARTMENT COMPLEXES, THEY SHARE THE SAME STRUGGLES AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE BLOOD RELATIVES, LIKE THEY'RE FIRST COUSINS.

AND THEN YOU GET THE GUILT BY ASSOCIATION OF THIS PERSON DOES SOMETHING BAD AND YOU SEE THEM ALL TOGETHER, NOW THEY'RE A GANG.

THERE ARE KIDS ON THE OUTSKIRTS WHO DO THE SAME THING AND THEY LABEL IT A BROTHERHOOD OR FRIENDSHIP BUT KIDS IN THE CITY, IT'S A GANG.

FROM THE BEGINNING, I THINK WE HAVE TO START GIVING OUR YOUTH THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

LIKE IT'S NOT ALWAYS A GANG SITUATION, BUT THERE IS VIOLENCE AND THERE IS CRIME IN THE CITY.

SO I THINK ALTERNATIVES TO THAT IS EXPOSE THEM TO POSITIVE THINGS LIKE THE MORE EXPOSURE THEY GET, WE CAN EXPAND THEIR MIND.

>> I TRULY BELIEVE WE WANT TO SEE CHANGE OVERTYPE, WE HAVE TO SAVE THE YOUTH BEFORE THEY GET TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE INVOLVED IN THESE THINGS.

AND A LOT OF THE SITUATION, THESE KIDS FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE.

YOU KNOW, I OF EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT THINGS.

I'VE HAD MENTORS, PEOPLE THAT REALLY WOULD PUSH ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO DO, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE, LIKE AND THINK ABOUT CONSEQUENCES FOR MY ACTIONS SO I BELIEVE THAT, POURING OWL OF ALL OF OUR RESOURCES INTO FOCUSING IN ON GETTING THE YOUTH THE OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPOSURE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES THE KIDS HAVE IN THE SUBURBAN AREAS AS WELL, YOU KNOW, COULD SAVE A LOT OF ISSUES BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET-- YOU DON'T GET TO THAT KID BEFORE THEY GET TO THE POINT WHERE THEY DON'T CARE AND THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT CONSEQUENCES, IF WE CAN'T GET TO THEM EARLY ON, WE WON'T SEE A LOT OF CHANGE OVER TYPE.

IT'S JUST GOING TO BE KEEP TRYING TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM WE ALWAYS HAVE.

>> WE HAVE TO SOMEHOW GET TO THESE ADULTS IN THOSE HOMES AND WORK WITH THEM, ALSO.

IT'S NOT A BADGE OF HONOR TO BE GOING TO JUVENILE JUSTICE AND GOING TO CORRECTIONS AND WHATEVER.

SOME OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY GET THAT AT A YOUNG AGE.

SO IT'S SOMETHING I STILL SAY WE HAVE TO WORK MORE WITH THE HOMES, HOMES AND THE SCHOOL.

THOSE ARE THE TWO COMMON THINGS THAT EVERYBODY GOES THROUGH AT SOME LEAF.

>> IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT YOU SAID FOR EACH CHILD YOU NEED TO HAVE-- YOU NEED TO WORK WITH THE PARENT ALSO.

>> YOU CAN'T WORK WITH KIDS WITHOUT WORKING WITH THEIR PARENTS.

THERE HAS TO BE SOME-- YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH THE PARENTS.

>> YEAH.

>> HAVE YOU TO BE CREATIVE ABOUT HOW WE GET THESE KIDS, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE KIDS THAT MAY NECESSARILY NOT WANT TO ATTEND THE YOUTH CENTERS.

THEY'RE NOT THE ONES GOING TO SCHOOL.

THEY MAY BE THE ONES STRUGGLING WITH ABSENTEE ITCH.

AND WE HAVE TO GO OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE DEEMED UNSAFE AND PHYSICALLY REACH OUT AND TOUCH THE KIDS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT COMING TO US.

>> THE PROBLEM IS BIGGER THAN THE POLICE.

WE CAN DISMANTLE AA GANG AND TAKE THEM TO JAIL BUT THAT'S LIKE A TREE, WHEN WE DEAL WITH THE FRUIT IN LIFE, IF THE PROBLEM IS WAY DOWN TO THE ROOTS, THEN THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE FAMILY STRUCTURE AND ECONOMICS AND SCHOOLING AND EDUCATION.

WE CAN'T SOLVE ALL THAT.

THAT'S WHERE OUR ELECTED LEADERS HAVE TO STEP UP AND AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO SOLVE OF THE PROBLEMS DOWNS HERE AND NOT AT THE END.

WE TRY TO DO OUR PART WITH THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE BUT AGAIN THAT'S SUCH A BIGGER PROBLEM THAT, AS A COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY, WE HAVE TO TRY TO HELP THOSE STRUGGLING FAMILIES AND HOW THAT CHILD IS BROUGHT UP.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FAMILY AND INFLUENCES AND RAISING A CHILD, THAT'S SO BEYOND WHAT WE COULD EVER ASK FOR POLICE OFFICERS TO DO.

WE DO, WE GO ON THOSE CALLS.

WE TAKE A LOT OF DOMESTICS.

WE DO TAKE THE KIDS THAT WON'T LISTEN AND NEED HELP.

AND WE ARE KIND OF AN INTERMEDIARY AT THAT POINT BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO CONNECT THEM WITH SOME SORT OF SERVICES, WHETHER THAT CHILD NEEDS SUPERVISION OR SOME SORT OF PROGRAM, YOU GO ON SOME OF THESE CALLS AND YOU GO INTO SOME HOMES AND YOU CAN JUST SEE THAT THE CHILD, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE UPBRINGING OR THEIR CURRENT SITUATION, IT'S LIKE THEY HAVE NO CHANCE, YOU KNOW, AND IT IS FRUSTRATING.

SO WE DO NEED AT LEAST, AS A SOCIETY, TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT THOSE CHALLENGED YOUTH THE BEST WE CAN >> SO IT'S NOT JUST THE HOME, RIGHT?

IT'S THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

THAT COMMUNITY PARENTING COMMUNITY POLICING, COMMUNITY PARENTING IS POWERFUL, LEAST WHEN I WAS A KID.

NO ONE ON THE STREET IS FEELING COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FEELING COMFORTABLE LOOKING AT FOR YOU >> THIS IS A RALLY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MOBILE CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING ON DIFFERENT FRONTS OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

WHILE WE ARE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE REST OF THE NATION AS WE PROTEST THE DEATHS OF GEORGE FLOYD AND BREONNA TAYLOR, WE ARE AWARE THAT THE SYRACUSE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE A FAIR SHARE OF POLICE INJUSTICES AGAINST THE RESIDENTS OF SYRACUSE.

[ CHEERING ] >> BLACK MEN OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, IT IS NOT EASY TO DRIVE DOWN YOUR STREET BECAUSE YOUR MUSIC MAY BE A LITTLE BIT TOO LOUD!

IT IS NOT EASY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE YOU AND I TO BE ABLE TO WALK THE STREETS AT A CERTAIN TIME OF THE NIGHT.

THIS IS NOT OKAY!

>> I AM NO STRANGER TO THE POLICE.

I GREW UP TO RESPECT THE POLICE.

NOW I DON'T ALWAYS SEE THAT EVERY TIME I DON'T FEEL THAT THEY RESPECT US IN OUR COMMUNITY AND US AS A PEOPLE.

I HAVE HAD SITUATIONS WITH THE POLICE WHERE WOULD CALL THEM AND THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED AND WHEN THEY DID RESPOND THE CONVERSATION WAS SARCASM, DISRESPECT AND PUT DOWNS.

I FEEL RESPECT FOR THE POLICE BECAUSE THAT'S HOW I WAS RAISED.

EVEN THOUGH I FEEL, AS A PERSON OF COLOR, A WOMAN, HOMEOWNER IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE WITHOUT VALUE NOR RESPECT.

THE OFFICERS ARE GOING TO GET TRAINING OF THE SENSITIVITY AND PEOPLE YOU ARE SERVING IN THE COMMUNITY.

PROTECT AND SERVE AND WE WANT TO BE RESPECTED AS CITIZENS.

IN OUR FORUMS THAT WE DID, RESPECT WAS A TOPIC THAT CAME UP IN A NUMBER OF THEM, THE LACK OF RESPECT, ACTUALLY BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY AND SOME OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS FELT THERE WAS A LACK OF RESPECT BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS MATTER?

>> THIS HAPPENS OFTEN.

YOU CALL THE POLICE.

THEY DON'T COME RIGHT AWAY.

THEY'LL COME AN HOUR LATER.

THERE WAS A FIGHT ON MY STREET AND I CALLED THE POLICE.

I WILL CALL THE POLICE.

THE POLICE OFFICER CAME AN HOUR LATER.

BY THEN, WE HAD BROKE UP THE FIGHT, YOU KNOW, THEY WENT ON ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS AND NO ONE GOT HURT, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

POLICE OFFICER COMES IN, HE IS LAUGHING LIKE IT'S A PARTY HE ASKED ME WHAT HAPPENED I SAID FIRST OF ALL WERE YOU AN HOUR LATE AND HAD YOU BEEN HERE, YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT HAPPENED AND YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INTERVENE.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE DON'T NEED YOU RIGHT NOW.

>> WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ACTUALLY IS THAT THEIR ATTITUDE BRINGS ABOUT A NEGATIVE RESPONSE.

>> UH-HUH.

>> YEAH, AND REALLY DOESN'T BRING ABOUT THAT RESPECT THAT WE LIKE TO HAVE.

>> RIGHT.

IT DICTATES THE OUTCOME.

>> IT DOESN'T WORK IN THEIR FAVOR.

>> NO.

IT DOESN'T.

YOU KNOW, HOW YOU APPROACH PEOPLE IS HOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO RESPOND TO YOU.

>> THEY NEED TO EDUCATE, THEY NEED TO KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE HIRED TO PROTECT AND SERVE.

THEY NEED TO KNOW HOW WE LIVE AND WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT.

DON'T JUDGE ME MUCH YOU DON'T KNOW ME.

IF YOU ARE APPROACHING PEOPLE IN A COCKY NASTY ATTITUDE WITH YOUR CHEST STUCK OUT AND YOUR HAND ON YOUR GUN, THAT'S NOT GOING TO GO OVER WELL WITH ANYONE BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO FEEL THREATENED AND OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE ALREADY FEELING THREATENED BECAUSE YOU ARE COMING INTO THE SITUATION WITH THAT STABS, LIKE YOU ARE ABOUT READY TO DO BATTLE OVER A SITUATION WHERE WE JUST WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

>> IS THAT POSSIBLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT HE DOESN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE PEOPLE THEY'RE ENGAGING WITH?

>> POLICE COME WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ENCOUNTER PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, SO THEY CONSULTANT WITH A TOUGHNESS AND A JUDGMENT.

THEY COME WITH A JUDGMENT.

IT JUST SETS THE STANDARD FOR US TO CONTINUE OR TO KEEP IN OUR MIND, NOT TO LIKE THE POLICE.

WE SHOULD LIKE THE POLICE.

I LIKE THE POLICE.

>> I THINK FOR BOTH SIDES, HAVE YOU TO GIVE THE PERSON A CLANS.

THEY SHOULDN'T LUMP ALL OPINIONS OF POLICE FROM ONE.

>> ACTION AND THE SAME THING FOR US AS POLICE.

WE SHOULD NOT LIMP ALL COMMUNITY MENTION BECAUSE WE HAD A NEGATIVE INTERACTION AS WELL.

I THINK BOTH SIDES WANT THE CONNECTION.

THAT'S ALL WE HEARD ABOUT IN THE FORUMS BUT WHO IS GOING TO MAKE THE FIRST MOVE, EXTEND THEIR HAND OUT AND GO AND APPROACH THAT PERSON.

>> IT IS NOT ENTIRELY ALL ON THE COMMUNITY AND NOT ENTIRELY ALL ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE THE SYRACUSE COMMUNITY, STRIPPED OF OUR TITLES WE ARE ALL HUMANS AND WE ALL HAVE TO WALK THE SAME STREETS AND WE ALL HAVE THE EXPECTATION OF WANTING TO HAVE A SAFE COMMUNITY.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> HAVE YOU TO GIVE RESPECT TO GET RESPECT.

THAT'S WHERE EVERYBODY HAS TO BEND A LITTLE BIT.

WE HAVE TO ENFORCE LAWS.

THAT'S THE JOB.

AND THE HISTORY OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND BLACK AND BROWN SYSTEM IS NOT GOOD, IF WE WANT TO BE IN A BETTER PLACE, EVERYBODY HAS TO BEND A LITTLE BIT AND BE WILLING TO LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND AND NOT JUST RESPOND AND 2: TO MEET EACH OTHER HALFWAY.

IF WE CAN'T, LIKE WE-- THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.

>> RECENTLY THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT WENT THROUGH A CULTURAL COMPETENCY STRAINING WHERE-- TRAINING WHERE A DOCTORATE IN THE FIELD WHO RESEARCHES THIS, A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EXPERT CAME IN AND TALKED TO THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT AND OF ALL THE TRAINING I'VE DONE, IT WAS PRETTY EYE OPENING.

I LEARNED A LOT.

JUST REALIZING HOW MANY CULTURES ACTUALLY EXIST IN THE CITY.

WHAT MIGHT WORK IN A MORE PREDOMINANTLY WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD MAY NOT WORK IN THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, THE WAY WE POLICE THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE RELATIONSHIPS, HOW WE BUILD THEM, IT MATTERS AND HAVE YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE TAILORING THAT MESSAGE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE CULTURE THAT EXISTS THERE.

>> I CAN CHANGE MY LANGUAGE AND IF I THINK THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CHILDREN ARE AT RISK, IT AFFECTS THE OPPORTUNITY IF YOU GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY, THEY WILL BE BETTER.

I'M NOT JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE THE COMMUNITIES HERE, BUT DO YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE NO PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO IDEA GOING UP J STREET.

ALL THEY KNOW IS LINCOLN.

THEY HAVE NO IDEA THAT THERE IS A WHOLE WORLD OVER THERE; THAT THERE IS A WHOLE COMMUNITY.

ALL THEY KNOW IS GO UP AND COME BACK DOWN.

AND IT JUST-- IF YOU JUST LET THEM SEE THAT THERE IS MORE THAN WHAT YOU ARE SEEING.

>> KIDS HAVE BEEN IN THE HOUSE FOR TWO YEARS.

ANYTHING THAT CAN GET THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE AND GET THEM MOVING AROUND AND NOT JUST TEXTING AND TIKTOK, I THIS THINK IT'S POSITIVE.

EVEN JUST SEEING HIM AS A PERSON AND DOING A TIKTOK WITH THEM.

THEY WERE SAYING BEFORE YOU WOULDN'T SPEAK TO A COP BUT NOW IF YOU SEE HIM, WOULD YOU SPEAK TO HIM.

SO THEY'RE STARTING TO IDENTIFY HIM AS AN INDIVIDUAL VERSUS HE IS IN UNIFORM, A COP AND WE ARE NOT TALKING TO HIM.

HE COULD BE A POLICE OFFICER IN UNIFORM BUT NOW THEY'RE GOING TO SPEAK TO HIM AND I THINK WE ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WORK THAT PRETTY MUCH ONE OFFICER AT A TIME AND EVENTUALLY WHEN THEY START MEETING MORE COPS NOT OUT TO HARM THEM, LIKE I THINK THAT THEY MIGHT START GIVING POLICE OFFICERS THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT MORE OFTEN.

LIKE YOU MIGHT BUILD THAT TRUST RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT IS MISSING RIGHT NOW.

>> I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON SMALL WINS DEFINITELY.

LIKE CULTURALLY, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE INNER CITY YOUTH, LIKE MINORITY, WE CELEBRATE EVERYTHING, RIGHT?

LIKE BIRTHDAYS ARE A BIG DEAL.

OUR YOUNG MEN TURN 16, 1, 18, RIGHTS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE IT'S NOT NORMAL BECAUSE OUR KIDS ARE BEING MURDERED, RIGHT?

SO A LOT OF OTHER CULTURES CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY EVERYTHING IS SUCH A BIG DEAL.

WHY WE CELEBRATE SO HARD.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE IT NORMAL FOR OUR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO GROW UP.

AND ALSO SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THEM ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND LET THEM KNOW, HEY, WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION.

IF WE KEEP CELEBRATING OUR KIDS AND UPLIFTING THEM AND FOCUS ON THE THINGS THEY'RE DOING POSITIVE, MAYBE THEY CAN FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE THINGS VERSUS GET INNING TROUBLE.

AND IF YOU FOCUS ON NEGATIVITY, YOU ARE GOING TO GET NEGATIVE RESULTS.

>> CELEBRATE THE POSITIVE.

>> CELEBRATE THE POSITIVE.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE HIGHLIGHTED SO YOU GET A KID THAT'S ALWAYS IN TROUBLE, ONCE HE DOES THE RIGHT THING, YOU MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT, HE IS GOING TO WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THIS IS NOT AN EASY DISCUSSION TO HAVE.

BUT A NECESSARY ONE.

IF WE ARE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH POLICE AS WELL AS COMMUNITY REFORMS TO GIVE OUR YOUTH A MORE PROSPEROUS AND PEACEFUL FUTURE.

AND ALTHOUGH WE MAY NOT SEE EYE TO EYE IN THE ARENA OF POLICE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS, IF WE MAINTAIN AN OPEN MINDED ABILITY TO HEAR EACH OTHER, TO LISTEN WITH AN EAR OF UNDERSTANDING INSTEAD OF AN EAR TO RESPOND OR RETALIATE, THEN WE HAVE MADE STRIDES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I INVITE TO YOU WATCH OR REWATCH SPD, RECKONING AND REFORM AND THEN SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO FOSTER GREATER KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY AND WITHIN YOUR LIFE.

ON BEHALF OF WCNY AND THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, I'M KHALIL ABDULKHABIR.

TAKE CARE AND BE GOOD TO EACH OTHER.