Syracuse police officers celebrated Earth Day early on Saturday.

The Central New York Association for Minority Police and volunteers worked on Syracuse's South Side. The organization is trying to build better relationships between the Syracuse Police Department and the community.

Officers believe having events like this and showing people they care will help them do that.

"I also encourage any member of the community, if you see someone out here cleaning on Earth Day, please join them. It's our community, we live [in] it, we share it, and we are the keepers of the world," said Syracuse Police Department and Creative Research Society President, Sergeant Marcellus Roundtree. 

The group also wants to encourage more minorities to enlist in the Syracuse Police Department.