Who said police work can’t be fun? Not the City of Clarksville (Tennessee) Police Department’s (CPD) Juvenile Engagement Team Officer MarShun Cox, who joined Hea'vn Sanders on the trampoline at the department’s Hop-With-A-Cop event in November 2023.

According to Cox, he and other officers from the CPD’s Community Relations Unit (CRU), which includes the Juvenile Engagement Team (J.E.T.), had a wonderful time jumping, playing dodgeball, and just hanging out with local teenagers at Clarksville’s DEFY Trampoline Park.

But though the theme of the event was fun and games, his focus was on getting to know and gaining the trust of these young people.

“The kids love this,” he said, “and it builds good relationships with them and their families. They ask a lot of questions while we’re playing, and it leads to some good conversations.”

Added CRU Sergeant Johnny Ransdell, “J.E.T. events are a great way to get to know local young people, especially those who might be at an elevated risk for negative behavior.”

Fun Focused on Building Trust

The CRU started J.E.T. in 2021 with support from a grant awarded to the City of Clarksville by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). This funding allowed the CPD to hire additional officers to proactively engage the community’s youth, especially those young people most vulnerable to involvement in crime. Seeing positive results over the following two years, the CPD expanded J.E.T. to include a wide range of activities, events, and programs.

Among these programs is the Teen Citizen Police Academy (TCPA), which is designed to give them the opportunity to learn about CPD and its operations. Any young person between the ages of 13 and 17 who is interested in police work, wants to be a first responder, or just wants to learn about public safety issues can attend free of charge during the last week in June.

In addition to learning about law enforcement and first responder careers, the teens get hands-on experience in areas such as Traffic Stops, Crime Scene Investigation, and Use of Force Protocol. They also tour the local jail and court, take classes in civil rights, and meet with EMS staff.

Officers and Kids Learn from Each Other

The five-day TCPA program allows the department to get feedback and ideas from young members of the community. Conversations about a wide range of topics can be eye-opening to officers and students alike. One which generated some surprise was about dangerous drugs. Teens were shocked at the lethal power of fentanyl and that some drugs look like candy.

The department also sponsors a J.E.T. Basketball camp and an After School Program. Available free of charge at two local recreation centers, these programs offer a safe place to play games, participate in sports, study, and get homework assistance. Nicotine/vape prevention classes are also available as part of a series of classes taught by J.E.T. officers at the courthouse.

Springfest, a free event for families held in partnership with the Clarksville Housing Authority, opens up lines of communication with parents as well as children. CPD officers grill hot dogs and hamburgers and a DJ plays music, while the kids tumble in a bounce house or play basketball and residents chat with officers.

According to CPD Chief David Crockarell, the overarching goal of all these events is to help young people make better decisions before they reach a point of no return, by breaking down barriers to communication through personal engagement with officers who can guide and mentor them.

But J.E.T. and other youth programs are only part of the CPD’s comprehensive law enforcement efforts, all of which focus on crime prevention as well as response. The CPD’s staff of 417, which includes 339 sworn personnel, provides a wide array of police services to more than 176,000 people in this city 45 miles north of Nashville.

Staying Informed of Citizen Concerns through Open Communication

Though community-oriented policing and crime prevention are a fundamental responsibility of every CPD employee, the CRU acts as a focal point for these efforts. Its mission is to create and maintain a climate of cooperation and trust, to stay informed of citizens' concerns by keeping channels of communication open, and to assure that developing or potential problems are addressed quickly and constructively.

To this end, the CRU works to engage with people of all ages, attending local events, neighborhood association meetings and other events, often collaborating with nonprofits, local businesses, and other agencies to support community programs.

It also holds departmental programs for adults, such as the Citizens Police Academy, through which citizens gain a better understanding of how law enforcement and the CPD in particular work to keep the city safe.

But, recognizing that young people are the future of Clarksville, J.E.T. Supervisor Lieutenant Arthur Bing said “We’re committed to engaging with teenagers, mentoring them, and providing support. This is critical not only to preventing crime and maintaining the safety of our city but to help our young people become productive members of our community.

“There’s a better way to fight juvenile crime than just arresting kids. We want to engage with them and help them make better choices. We also want them to know that cops aren’t here for them only when there’s a problem, that they can reach out to us any time for any reason.”

Photo Courtesy of the Clarksville (Tennessee) Police Department.

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