APD Annual Reports - 2016 Annual Report | Page 26

22016 Spotlight- Youth Mentoring

The Arlington Police Department places a great deal of emphasis on the enrichment and development of our youth. Teens can find several opportunities within the city to partner with Arlington’ s Finest.

COACH 5-0

Through a partnership with Arlington ISD, officers are able to spend time with student athletes and serve as mentors during practices and school athletic events. The program initially started with football but now the department has mentors assigned across every sport spectrum, including female athletics. Each officer brings a customized approach to building relationships with young people.
The program started after the senseless death of Carl Wilson, a Martin High School athlete who was murdered in a neighboring city. Later that same year, the department had a use of force encounter with Christian Taylor, a college athlete. Police Chief Will Johnson challenged his executive team to come up with innovative
solutions to bridge stronger relationships with young people. Coach 5-0 was born and has taken off as a premier mentoring program between police and teens.

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Annual Report 2016