Students connect with law enforcement during ‘State of the Teen Union’

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Dozens of students kicked off their spring break by connecting with Richmond Police at their "State of the Teen Union" on Monday.

On Monday, March 31, the Richmond Police Department's Community Youth Intervention Services (CYIS) Unit held the event at Virginia Union University's Living and Learning Center to create a space for students to engage in candid conversations about critical issues.

Students spent the day listening, learning, and sharing their perspectives with community leaders. The free one-day event is the first of its kind for the department.

"We want to get kind of a ground level viewpoint from our youth and see how we can present that to our leaders to give them more access to conflict resolution methods, [and] different programs that will help them as they mature," said Martin Harrison IV, Vice President of Public Safety with the Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority.

Students were given a chance to speak about some of the issues that are impacting them including mental health, youth violence and drug use, while also learning about available resources.

"With programs like these, it definitely sheds some light on the kind of issues that we face, and it gives people insight," said Hezekiah Harris, an 18-year-old senior at John Marshall High School.

Part of the event also featured an interactive presentation from the Drug Enforcement Administration's “One Pill Can Kill” initiative. The administration's Diversion Investigator, DeAndra Lee, spoke about the risks of fentanyl-laced fake prescription drugs, which are often produced to target teens. 

'"When the drug dealers are making this highly addictive drug fentanyl, you don't know what you're getting," Lee said to the students. "Just know that all it takes is literally one pill that can kill you."

DEA Diversion Investigator, DeAndra Lee speaks to students about the risks of fentanyl-laced fake prescription drugs.

For students the event wasn't just about making the right choices, these resources are also helping shape their future.

"Teens are our future when everyone else, like ahead of us is all said and done... we will be the next ones to take the step and if we don't have the right mindset at an early stage, what kind of a world are we looking at," Harris said.