Gary one of 6 cities hosting police relations pilot program

GARY, Ind. (WLS) -- On the heels of the unrest in Ferguson, Mo., Attorney General Eric Holder announced Thursday that Gary, Ind. is one of six cities that will introduce a pilot program aimed at reducing racial bias and improving police relations within the community they serve.

While Gary police has not experienced a national incident similar to Ferguson, citizens here admit their relationship with cops can always improve.

"There's always a confrontation between police and citizens and that needs to change," said Taurean Miller.

To help build that trust, Gary was chosen by the Department of Justice as a pilot site for the government's National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice. The program will offer Gary officers training, mentoring and new techniques in dealing with citizens.

"By helping to develop programs that serve their own diverse experiences, these cities will stand on the leading edge of our effort to confront pressing issues in communities across the country," Holder said.

Gary's mayor and police chief call the pilot program a huge opportunity for Gary, one they hope may lead to a reduction in crime, especially if citizens begin to feel more comfortable reporting crimes.

"There is an issue of them not wanting to report crimes for fear of retaliation and mistrust of police," said Gary Police Chief Larry McKinley.

Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson says the key is creating an atmosphere of trust over a period of time, not on the heels of an incident. She says the success of the pilot program will depend on the level of positive contact officers have with Gary citizens.

"It's important for an officer to approach a citizen, not that they are investigating or giving ticket, but just asking how is your day going," Freeman-Wilson said.

The Department of Justice says if the program works in Gary and the other cities, they hope to replicate it in cities around the country. The department said they hope to create a new era of public safety. The other cities chosen besides Gary were Birmingham, Ala., Fort Worth, Texas, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh and Stockton, Calif.