APD Chief discusses reaching out to young adults amid pandemic

(ALBANY, GA) – The COVID-19 pandemic has left an impact in one way for the Albany Police Department.

Programs as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods had to be put on hold, such as the Junior Police Academy, the Juvenile Intervention and Gang Deterrent Program.

Police Chief, Michael Persley says they have to find new ways to reach out.

“We’re kind of regulated to these encounters of meeting them on service calls or in courts of investigation. Any contact we can have with them, and discussions we can have, we’ll do those,” says Persley.

The Albany Police have reported multiple crimes this year that have involved young adults and teenagers.

Chief Persley believes that their new method of meeting with troubled teens one-on-one could make a better impact with nothing lost in translation.

He tells us, “There are a lot of them who we’re going to meet out in their environment, and sometimes that’s the best way. If you go to where they are, to have these deep conversations, you help and gain some understanding.”

Despite the cancellation of programs through Project Safe Neighborhoods because of the pandemic, Chief Persley says the original end date in June wouldn’t happen.

Now though, Chief Persley is seeing much more than a chance to reach out.

Persley says, “This is new opportunities. So this is just a way for us to forge ahead, and become a more resilient society. We have a lot of challenges, but this is where everyone can play a role.”

The Project Safe Neighborhood programs will continue to be funded into 2021.