Story

While sitting on the couch eating Doritos and watching the evening news, tired of the reports and the lack of conversations addressing the issues, Tyrone Dennis, a then active-duty officer, gave thought to how he could be the change that he wanted to see in his communities and across the nation. In this introspective moment, the concept for Clippers & Cops was born. Armed with an overwhelming desire to be the catalyst for change, he set forth engaging with others in law enforcement and the media to bring together in a unique space a dialogue that was not happening anywhere else.

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Clippers & Cops was officially launched on March 1, 2018, when a group of citizens and cops came together at Stoney’s Barbershop, located at 384 Edgewood Ave., and had an uncensored dialogue. Everyone's voice needs to be heard, but some are not as vocal as others so, a box was created that allowed everyone to put in two questions. They pulled from this box and the first dialogue was opened where EVERYONE could be heard.

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The goal is to take this forum around the country to other cities and to partner with these other cities in an effort to create change. It is the duty of the police to get to know the people whom they serve. It is also the public's duty to get to know the officers who swore an oath to protect and serve them. We have to work together to make our communities and neighborhoods better. They say it takes a village, well, WE ARE The Village People!

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In May of 2018, the forum was moved from the barbershop to the ZuCot Art Gallery, located at 100 Centennial Olympic Park, for more space as the crowd had doubled again as they continued to put the information out to the public. This venue also allowed us the ability to bring in the Shoot Don’t Shoot simulator so that civilians could test out their split-second decision-making in the same way in which officers have to do every day.

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We continue to Connect, Educate, & Elevate