Program aims to bridge gap between youths, public safety

IOWA CITY - A new multiagency program aims to build relationships between youths and their local public safety officials and encourage more diversity in area departments.

Being announced today and set to launch later this month by non-profit organization Diversity Focus, the Public Safety Leadership Academy stems from racially charged events in Ferguson, Mo., and New York City and the national discussion over building stronger bonds between first responders and the public, particularly youths of color, said Chad Simmons, executive director of Diversity Focus.

'This to me is in direct response to how the community is feeling about the services and support it's getting with the police. We've expanded it to really focus on all first responders,” Simmons said. 'The overall goal is you want to build relationships during the best of times. Those relationship that are built will help you solve problems during the worst of times.”

The program coincides with the Iowa City Council's February approval of plans to address racial and ethnic disproportionalities in city programs, services and operations.

Officials with Diversity Focus, a Corridor-based organization devoted to enhancing diversity, began working six months ago with representatives of local police, fire and ambulance departments as well as the Boy Scouts of America and Iowa City's Dream Center.

The initiative falls in the realm of the Boy Scouts' subsidiary Learning for Life programs, which guide youths through career interests.

The academy's introductory meeting will be March 25 at Iowa City City Hall. Ultimately 20 young people will be selected to participate in the program, which will include learning sessions in April and May, service projects in June and July and a one-week academy in mid-July.

Participants will spend time with officials in the police, fire and ambulance departments to not only build relationships but learn about the departments and foster an interest in those career fields, said Brandon Stascak, district director with the Boy Scouts' Hawkeye Area Council.

'By building a better relationship and building that interest, you change the conversation,” he said.

Simmons said the annual program will target more youths in the future, aiming for high school freshmen to participate through all four years of high school.

Steve Spenler, director of the Johnson County Ambulance Service, said the program could increase interest in first responder careers.

'I think it has a lot of potential to reach different segments of our community that traditionally wouldn't be interested in a career in public safety and hopefully get them interested,” Spenler said. 'I think it's going to be a great thing for our staff.”

Iowa City Police Chief Sam Hargadine said the program will help educate area youth on what qualities and skills are necessary to be a cop, a firefighter or a paramedic.

'We're all looking for quality applicants and if we can grow them locally, we're all better off,” he said.

Simmons said the long-term goal is an increased diversity in public safety.

'The hope is that we really redefine the way that law enforcement engages with the community and we want it to be perceived that we have the best first responder community relationships in the country,” Simmons said. 'So that this is the reason why people move here, versus the reason that people might leave.”