A Hudson Valley police department has a new idea to break down barriers, build trust in the community and recruit more Black and Hispanic officers.

Barbershop owner Perry Williams is a pillar in Midtown Kingston.

"I've been here since 2006 and mostly everybody knows me," said Williams, owner of Perry’s House of Style.

He cuts hair for many police officers, too. He said the friendships gave him a greater respect for police. And he hopes the city’s new outreach to Black and Hispanic candidates can do the same for others.

“You have a lot of minorities living in Kingston," Williams said. "I think it (more minority officers) will be good because they can communicate more with minorities.”

The Kingston Police Department just announced it's launching a free, biweekly officer-preparation academy in May. Members hope it draws more diverse candidates.

According to the U.S. Census, more than 30% of Kingston's population is Black or Hispanic. Out of 69 officers in the Kingston Police Department, about 7% are Black or Hispanic.

“We really want to be able to have local candidates,” Mayor Steve Noble said.

He and Deputy Police Chief Michael Bonse said the classes will help people get in mental and physical shape for the police exam. But it’s about more than that.

“I'm hoping we get to talk to people who, even if they themselves aren’t interested in becoming police officers, we get to have a conversation about policing, we get to have a conversation about community and we get to know one another and learn from each other,” Bonse said.

Common Council Majority Leader Rita Worthington said her meetings with city police leaders about recruitment and community relations were sometimes difficult, but she said the police have turned a corner on some of the most uncomfortable issues in their field.

“They’ve come a long way in acknowledging there are problems," Worthington said. "Part of the issue was not acknowledging that there were problems. Once you start acknowledging that there are problems, then you can move forward, and they are committed to doing that.”

Police are teaming up with council members and community groups to announce the academy info around the city.

Noble said he’s considering similar campaigns for other Civil Service organizations like the fire department.