Pittsburgh police working to bridge gap between youth, law enforcement

PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh Bureau of Police sergeant and a Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety officer are working to bridge the gap between youth and law enforcement officers.

Pittsburgh police Sgt. Eric Kroll and public safety officer John Tokarski are on a mission to change perception and bridge the gap between youth and law enforcement officers with the Pittsburgh Police Department’s Student Police Academy.

Over the course of 10 weeks, teens will learn about the department and the legal process.

"I thought it was necessary that they understood the whole process -- the legal process, the arrest process, the evidence processing and the consequences," Tokarski said.

While many of the participating teenagers have an interest in law enforcement, having a positive experience and helping them understand the role they hold in society is what the two leaders want.

"For me, it's refreshing because it's something that we can do that's positive. It's a positive connection that we make," Kroll said.

Anyone interested in signing up for the Pittsburgh Police Department's Student Police Academy can do so by visiting www.pittsburghpa.gov/police/community_policing.

Cox Media Group