GREENVILLE, N.C. — For the past five years, the Greenville Police Department has been running a unique program designed to strengthen the relationship between the police and the community.

Demetrus Barrett opened P.I.C. Kutz three years ago and has a special tie to the community.

What You Need To Know

  • The Greenville Police Department launched Cops and Barbers in 2016

  • The initiative is modeled after a pilot program in Charlotte

  • The partnership between police and local barbers is designed to improve the department’s relationship with the community

  • The program originally had six barbers participating and now it has 15

“I grew up on the west side of Greenville, right in the heart of Greenville where a lot of crime went on,” Barrett said. “I have had people ask me, ‘What made you open up a barbershop next to a police station?’ I said, ‘Hey, they need haircuts too.’”

But the officers that come into his barbershop aren’t always looking for haircuts.

“You can go to the barbershop and talk about everything, from sports to religion to politics to who is your best football team to who is the sorriest. It's just a good dynamic as far as being able to reach the community,” Sgt. Richie Williams with Greenville Police Department said.

It’s all part of an initiative known as Cops and Barbers. Sgt. Williams started the program five years ago.

“When we first launched Cops and Barbers, we had six barbershops. Now, we are up to 15. It's really about me going where it's needed. More importantly letting our officers know that these barber shops are Cops and Barber shops. Stop in. Get out of your car. Go in and speak to them,” Sgt. Williams said.

At first, it wasn’t easy to convince people to participate.

“Going into especially a predominantly African-American barber shop and talking about working with the police, even I had to sell it over and over again,” Sgt. Williams said.

Sgt. Williams said the barbers that took a chance on the program have now become their biggest advocates.

“More importantly, they are able to relay that to their customers because even the customers are skeptical about why are the police at the barber shop. Are they snitching on us? Now, you walk into the barber shop and they say, ‘Oh that’s so and so from Cops and Barbers.’ It has changed that mindset,” he said.

They have talked about topics, including concerns about national police stories and how to handle getting pulled over.

“People come to the barbers with questions and by me being able to take those questions to the police department and then bring those people back answers I think that ties in very well,” Barrett said.

It's all about meeting people in a space that they already feel comfortable in, in order to build trust.

“It's bringing awareness to a situation. No, it's not a fix. If you look around here you have the chief, you have Officer Williams in here. And these are just a few of the men who represent the badge. You're not going to stop them all. But here with stuff like this it's a start,” Barrett said.

Sgt. Williams says he hopes the Cops and Barbers program continues to expand in the coming years.

The initiative is part of Greenville Police Department’s community policing initiatives. They also do turkey giveaways, as well as back-to-school events with free haircuts and school supplies.