The Canton Police Department is partnering with the Cherokee County School District to start an officer mentorship program at Teasley Middle School and ACE Academy in Canton.

"This new initiative is geared toward giving youth that are facing challenges in their personal, social and academic lives the opportunity to build positive mentoring relationships with officers that serve in their communities," Canton police said in announcing the program on their Facebook page.

With parental consent, officers will seek to build trust with struggling students. In addition to building youth’s self-esteem and confidence, the effort seeks to reduce rates of delinquency and alcohol or drug use, create an attitude less accepting of violence, and increase positive attachments to friends or mentors.

The program is to begin in March, with officers meeting with students one day a month until the end of the school year.

Information: http://bit.ly/2mcMxsa

About the Author

Featured

Laurence Walker, a volunteer with the Cajun Navy Relief, left, takes two volunteers out on his boat on Lake Oconee to search for Gary Jones, Tuesday, February, 18, 2025, in Eatonton, Ga. The Putnam County sheriff is investigating and searching after Spelman College instructor Joycelyn Nicole Wilson and an Atlanta private school coach Gary Jones went missing on Lake Oconee over a week ago, Saturday Feb. 8th. The body of Wilson was found Sunday, Feb. 9th and Jones has not been found. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com