"Memphis has changed over the years. It used to be that people couldn’t even go to a park without somebody arguing and shooting, but the police have started having more presence in the neighborhood and I think that’s having a positive effect on the young teenage kids. A lot of them are trying to get to know the police officers. It’s surprising. I think the police are realizing that the younger generation responds a lot better when you take the time to really talk to them. If anything happens, like it does sometimes, officers are quick to respond. They greet people, talk to them, ask what happened. A couple of years ago, everybody was afraid of the police department, but it seems much better now. There’s beginning to be more trust, but I think there’s still a ways to go. What some people don’t understand is that the officers can’t do their job if you don’t talk to them. The best way for the police to get to know people is to get out in the community: go to parks, go to events, take bike rides. They do that here. There are a number of officers living right in this neighborhood, so people are getting to know them that way too. Last year the police held a cookout in the park and that was a good thing for building relationships. Things are different than they used to be. Better and quieter. It’s a lot more peaceful around here now."
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