A couple hundred kids got the chance to get an up-close and hands-on interaction with federal agents and local police officers on Wednesday.
The second annual FBI Youth and Law Enforcement Forum brought around 300 children to Camp Forbes to allow kids to meet with police for one-on-one interactions.
"It's pretty cool. I got to meet a lot of law enforcement officers," 9-year-old Olivah Hall said.
"It's fun. A lot of people are here," James Kidd said.
The kids tried on police gear, got behind the wheel of a parked cruiser and put real police equipment in their hands. Law enforcement officials hoped the forum made a positive impact on the children.
"It's one small step, I think, along the way to building the sustained trust," said Steve Anthony, FBI Special Agent in Charge in Cleveland.
FBI, US Marshals, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were among the federal agents that took part in the forum. The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department, the Cleveland Division of Police and the Highland Hills Police Department were the local departments represented.
