The City of Knoxville’s Save Our Sons (SOS) initiative is again partnering with the Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Attorney General’s Office and the City’s Police Advisory & Review Committee to host a Positive Engagement with Law Enforcement Workshop on Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at KPD’s Training Center, 6838 Cement Plant Road. 

“Adolescence is a critical time during which young people come to understand and respect or resent the law and legal institutions,” says PARC Executive Director Clarence Vaughn.
 
“Negative attitudes about the police acquired during childhood and adolescence can have a lasting effect. The long history of aggressive and biased interactions with the police – perceived or real – has socialized a generation of black boys to avoid contact with the police whenever possible and, if not, to be hostile. I want to equip the young men with the knowledge and tools to make encounters less confrontational.” 

Positive feedback from the young men and KPD officers who participated in last year’s workshop led to this weekend’s opportunity to engage additional young men. 

“Part of creating strong, safe, healthy neighborhoods is building trust and open communication between law enforcement and the community,” says Save Our Sons Outreach Manager Kevin Perry. “This workshop gives our young men and KPD officers the opportunity to connect, express their points of view, and learn from one another. And facilitate genuine, positive interactions.” 

Click here to learn more about the event.

To RSVP for the workshop, contact Kevin Perry at 865.215.2589, [email protected], or Tatia Harris at 865.215.2831, [email protected]. For more information about Save Our Sons, go to www.knoxvilletn.gov/SaveOurSons.