Inspiring the Next Generation: Men in the Making |
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Inspiring the next generation takes time, effort, and passion. For a handful of members of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) they’re committed to being role models for the next generation of young men in the county.
Started in 2015 by Reverend Kenny Irby, Men in the Making was created to help guide youth to become productive members of the community through a holistic role model approach and mentoring. “The need in our community was very obvious to me. The black and brown male youth population was disproportionately drowning socially, academically, and mentally, because of the lack of support, resources, and male relationships in their lives,” said Reverend Irby. “Because of that, I started Men in the Making, to help inspire and guide the next generation.”
Helping encourage mentees to make the right choices and see their potential, the mentors and mentees meet once a month. With no topic off limits and a focus on academic excellence, social responsibility, emotional stability, and exposing mentees to new environments, Men in the Making is helping foster “accountability partners,” as described by Corporal Will Lawson, a mentor for the program and agency member.
Being a mentor requires a significant commitment. In order to be successful, a mentor must be open and honest with their mentee and share some of their experiences as well. “We’re all a work in progress. Sharing our mistakes helps the mentee see their potential,” said Reverend Irby.
For Lieutenant Freddie Hayes, being a mentor to the youth is a job that he takes very seriously. “I’ve made many missteps throughout my life and have been able to rebound. Sharing my past and my mistakes with the mentees, while offering some wisdom, is something that hopefully prevents them from making decisions that could negatively impact them for the rest of their lives.”
Being a mentee takes an equal amount of commitment. In addition to being vulnerable, mentees are also encouraged to open up to their mentor, which for some, is easier said than done.
“The biggest challenge of being a mentor is making sure you’re actually reaching the kids before it’s too late,” shared Major Adrian Arnold, who has served as a mentor for the program for seven years. “As they grow and mature, you see them transform into successful young men. Seeing that growth first hand and knowing that you’re a part of that change, is the greatest reward of being a mentor.”
Men in the Making also fosters the opportunity to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community they serve. “Through the program, the mentees are able to see law enforcement officers as regular people. “They get to hear our stories and we get to share experiences we’ve had, which are similar to their experiences,” said Corporal Lawson.
“Reminding the young men about all the ways they can be successful in life starts with the desire to work hard and do the right things,” said Major Arnold.
The proof of the mentor’s success is in the mentees that have been able to continue onto a path of making the right choices. Thanks to the guidance and inspiration by those involved in the program, some mentees have gone on to have successful college careers (academically and athletically), join the military, and one even earned a music scholarship. “The greatest reward is seeing these young men reach their potential and overcome obstacles that they faced,” said Reverend Irby.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor or know someone who would benefit from being involved with Men in the Making visit https://meninthemaking.org/ for more information.
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Becoming Top Dog: The Pursuit of Optimal Learning |
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For the six soon-to-be K-9 handlers, knowing how their partner learns best is part of the journey to becoming a handler. “No one signed up to be animal behavior experts, but in order to be an effective and successful handler you have to know how animals learn in order to have them achieve what you want,” said Deputy LoRusso. Before the handlers in training began their practical exercises alongside their four-legged partners, week five of K-9 school involved time in the classroom.
Deputy LoRusso covered several topics including rewards systems, timing and voice inflictions in commands, a dog’s genetic behavior, and more. “There are instincts that are genetically engrained in your dogs. They will have behaviors that you can never eliminate completely, but we’re just going to control and shape those behaviors,” said Deputy LoRusso. “When you’re tracking, you can correct the behaviors, but then on the way back from the track, you can let them take a break and allow them to sniff every smell and mark every tree.”
Similar to teenagers, dogs can purposely test their handler, especially when they’re not given the opportunity to instinctually explore. “Keeping the K-9s from behaviors that are genetically engrained in them is like telling my daughter, don’t date that guy. That’s just going to make her want to date that guy even more,” said Deputy LoRusso.
Following the classroom portion, the up and coming handlers got the opportunity to sit in on one of the current K-9 Unit’s weekly meetings to hear discussions on recent calls that other handlers responded to, updates pertaining to the unit, and more. After starting the night in the classroom, it was time to practice some of the lessons in a relatively new environment, a vacant office building.
This particular evening, apprehension exercises moved from leashed apprehensions to off leash, while also incorporating searches. Having run a similar exercise in the same building just a few nights before, many of the K-9s reverted to the last location they remembered successfully apprehending the decoy, which was another handler. With a new room established for the apprehension, but in the same space, the concept of not reverting to “what worked last time,” was definitely a challenge for the K-9s, but eventually each dog successfully completed the exercise.
The goal for every K-9 each night is to show a level of proficiency in a particular exercise. Once a basic level of proficiency is shown, Deputy LoRusso increases the exercise’s level of difficulty. As the K-9 teams continue to learn and gain more confidence, the environments they know now will soon be changing as exercises progressively become more difficult and the equipment used to prompt particular behaviors change as well.
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Protecting What You Love: Your Home |
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For many their home is their safe space, but no matter how much you love your safe space, criminals are always looking for easy targets. When it comes to protecting what you love, keeping your home safe starts with the basics of getting to know those around you, like your neighbors.
Aside from doorbell cameras, your neighbors are the eyes and ears of the neighborhood. Subconsciously, your neighbors learn your habits. By familiarizing yourselves with one another, you will find a a sense of security. There’s also safety in numbers, which is why getting to know your neighbors is so important.
An aware neighborhood, is a safe neighborhood. Whether you form a neighborhood watch group or you have your neighborhood join the Nextdoor app, sharing information related to community concerns or general updates can help keep everyone safe.
In addition to in-home security systems, you can improve your home’s safety by ensuring that it follows the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) survey. Limiting the number of obstructions that could become a criminal’s dream hiding spot or law enforcement’s worst nightmare, can save you in the long run. To learn more about CPTED surveys, watch this video featuring Deputy Deg as she provides an overview of what deputies are looking for while conducting CPTED surveys.
If you see something, say something. Being diligent in your neighborhood and speaking up when you see something out of place helps everyone in the community. Improving the safety of the neighborhood is a team effort, but it starts with you.
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Are you aware of a local initiative that serves youth in our county? The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Citizens Association is now accepting applications for their 2022 Community Grant Program. Individual programs can be awarded up to $1,000! You can download an application here – the application deadline is March 31st, 2022.
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Job Feature: Criminal Justice Specialist
Maintaining the security of our campuses is a highly-important task. Criminal Justice Specialists work closely with deputies to uphold the safety of our facilities by communicating and monitoring live camera and audio feeds. If this sounds like a role for you, our jail and courthouse facilities are searching for dependable individuals. This position is the perfect opportunity to start with our agency. For more information or to apply, click here.
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