Breaking down barriers between cops and kids

Police need to develop respect for youth, and youth need to develop respect for police, said the city's top cop at his annual Chief's Youth Advisory Council luncheon.

That mutual respect is what the council is helping make happen, said Greater Sudbury Police Chief Paul Pedersen during the April 29 event. The council is made up of a cross-section of young people from across the city. They come forward to help inform Pedersen, and, in turn, the entire organization, about what matters to kids.

“We know the best way to keep kids out of jail is to keep them active and to keep them engaged,” Pedersen told the Caruso Club audience.

The luncheon raises thousands of dollars every year that allow the council to put on events for the community's youth in an effort to keep them engaged.

Gaetan Godin has been on the council for about five years. The council meets twice a week to discuss youth issues in the community, and to bring a youth perspective to the police.

“From there, we can partner with community members and businesses to create initiatives to better the community,” Godin said. “In order to make that happen, we need funds, which is the point of this luncheon. We raise money so we can afford to put on these initiatives.”

Besides helping fund initiatives like the annual fishing with cops event, some funds raised by the luncheon are in turn donated back to the community, said Pedersen, for endeavours like the YMCA Strong Kids campaign.

“We can help others who are also trying to help youth,” Pedersen said.

Both believe the relationship between police and the youth in the community is getting better.

“I think the connection is getting better,” Godin said. “The police are moving toward a more youth-friendly model. They are on Facebook and they use Twitter to tell us what's happening in our community.”

Pedersen has nothing but praise for the work of the Chief's Youth Advisory Council.

“The council, and the fund, really allow us to do fantastic, pro-active work with the kids at exactly no cost to the taxpayer,” Pedersen said.