TROTWOOD -- Police Officers and folks just like us come together to talk frankly about race relations Friday (January 16th, 2015) night.
A heated debate surrounding recent police shootings on the Dayton Police Department's Facebook page led two officers to take the conversation a step further.
"When people are killed or murdered it's a tragedy and it creates tension in the community no matter how it happens," Dayton Mediation Center's Tom Wahlrab said Friday.
That tension found an outlet in Trotwood Friday.
Officers from Dayton, Trotwood, and Cincinnati sat down with the folks they serve and protect.
DPD Officer Zachary Williams is one of the organizers who says folks have really opened up about their fears.
"The community point us out to people who've committed offenses. I we don't have a good relationship with the community it makes our job almost impossible," Officer Williams explained. "Being scared of police and not knowing when they can and can't do certain things, just opening their eyes to how to react toward police officers."
And folks have ideas about how both side have to take ownership for the growing distrust.
"Diversity training and awareness that they have some biased that needs to be addressed and also believe the community needs to do more to connect with police," Dayton's Tracy Sibbing added.
Through small groups and passionate discussions these folks say a more trusting and safer future began right here.
"There's a lot of blame going around and there's a lot of demonstration and I feel that tension and it hurts me. I want to be able to find out how we can step up and make a difference," Wahlrab said.
Friday's open forum was the second of many that will take place throughout the area this year.
A heated debate surrounding recent police shootings on the Dayton Police Department's Facebook page led two officers to take the conversation a step further.
"When people are killed or murdered it's a tragedy and it creates tension in the community no matter how it happens," Dayton Mediation Center's Tom Wahlrab said Friday.
That tension found an outlet in Trotwood Friday.
Officers from Dayton, Trotwood, and Cincinnati sat down with the folks they serve and protect.
DPD Officer Zachary Williams is one of the organizers who says folks have really opened up about their fears.
"The community point us out to people who've committed offenses. I we don't have a good relationship with the community it makes our job almost impossible," Officer Williams explained. "Being scared of police and not knowing when they can and can't do certain things, just opening their eyes to how to react toward police officers."
And folks have ideas about how both side have to take ownership for the growing distrust.
"Diversity training and awareness that they have some biased that needs to be addressed and also believe the community needs to do more to connect with police," Dayton's Tracy Sibbing added.
Through small groups and passionate discussions these folks say a more trusting and safer future began right here.
"There's a lot of blame going around and there's a lot of demonstration and I feel that tension and it hurts me. I want to be able to find out how we can step up and make a difference," Wahlrab said.
Friday's open forum was the second of many that will take place throughout the area this year.