Dallas (WBAP/KLIF News) – Hundreds of kids met with Dallas police officers Thursday at AT&T Performing Arts Center. The kids broke into small groups to talk with officers and heard from Interim Chief David Pughes.
“It’s about us being able to reach out and really establish a connection with them on a personal level,” Pughes says.
Pughes says “Let’s Talk” gave kids a chance to get to know officers outside of an emergency call. He says officers could talk with kids about issues important to them, like bullying or drug use.
“It’s not all about crime or what’s happening in the community,” he says. “It’s about what’s going on in school.”
Kids between the ages of ten and 15 say they learned about the department and say the conference takes away fear they might have when they see police.
“People can be more comfortable about seeing police around instead of when a police car passes by and we think, ‘Oh, shoot. What am I doing wrong?'” one student said.
Dallas police have held the conference each of the past three summers.
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