SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Police Department and Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas announced on Tuesday a partnership aimed at recruiting police officers to serve as mentors for young people.
Bigs in Blue is a national one-to-one mentoring initiative that connects youth with police to build strong, trusting and lasting relationships that officials said can help build stronger bonds between law enforcement officers and the community.
"We are people that they can turn to as a mentor or big brother during any time of need," said Eddie Ramirez, a San Antonio police helicopter pilot.
The program enables children to get an early understanding that police are a positive presence in the community. Mentors will spend a few hours a month with a child, which officials said can make a huge impact on the life of a Little Brother or Little Sister.
"Early on, the children can build a trusting relationship with the police. They may be seeing the police in the future in the community or in their own homes, and they will know they are there to help," Big Brothers Big Sisters president and CEO Denise Barkhurst said.
The nonprofit organization also plans to pair children with Bexar County Sheriff's Office deputies.
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