We recently sat down with one of our Miramar police officers, Captain Ty Shaw-Williams, to discuss the work the service has been doing in the community, particularly with youth, to engage and facilitate open communication and honest.
Q. Captain Shaw, please introduce yourself and tell Miramar News a bit about your background?
A. Captain Shaw-Williams is from Miami, Florida. As a teenager, after witnessing the strained relationship between the police and the community, I vowed to myself to pursue a career in law enforcement to improve community relations. I started my career in 2005 with the Margate Police Department as a Victims Advocate, Domestic Violence Practitioner. After earning a Masters in Criminology in 2008, I joined the Miramar Police Department where today I happily serve my fellow officers and the community. During that time, I took every opportunity to give back to the community by volunteering for charity events and serving as a mentor for Miramar’s DREAM program for teenage girls (Determination Reveals Everlasting & Achievable Memories).
Q. What are some of the organizations you belong to?
A. I’m the executive chair of the Justice Project of South Florida and I’m a restorative justice facilitator with the Broward County Urban League. I am a committee member of the Girls Coordinating Council with Broward County Children’s Services and a board member of the Florida Restorative Justice Association. I have an active partnership with the CRF for research on policing and youth programs with the Maurice A. Ferré Institute for Civic Leadership and recently signed on as a Youth Advisor for Miramar PD’s Explorer Program .
Q. What is the inspiration for youth mentoring? What is your why?
A. Thanks to my current leader, Leonard ‘Lenny’ Burgess, I have approved time to work with the Broward County Urban League and The Justice Project of South Florida.
The Justice Project task force found that teens are preoccupied with their daily encounters with the police. These interactions shape their attitudes and behaviors. The task force decided to create a neutral atmosphere where law enforcement officers and youth could have productive conversations with the goal of building a stronger community.
My why: Today’s youth are the future. I believe in creating a legacy of love and open communication. Young people are open to new ideas, approaches and unconditional love. It is our responsibility as adults and as law enforcement officers to put them on the best possible path to success and to encourage healing and humanity for the community.
During my yoga retreats in other beautiful countries; we always stop at a school to donate school supplies, play kickball and dance with the young students. Supporting young people is truly a way of life for me.
Q. Where do you currently have mentoring programs?
A. I serve as a mentor for teenage girls at the Pace Center for Girls and as a Circle of Peace facilitator for Miramar’s Breaking Barriers event aimed at bridging the gap between law enforcement and youth. Currently, I am working with Community Resource Officer, Ryan Lyttle, along with YPI (Youth and Policing Initiative) Founder, Danny Smith (Past President of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kanas City) to bring the program to the city of Miramar.
YPI’s mission is to build trust and break down stereotypes between young people and the police.
Q. What strategies do you use to engage young people?
A. I encourage and guide underserved youth by giving them a voice to speak directly to agents and community stakeholders. My team and I focus on the importance of respect, accountability, relationship building, repairing and strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the community at large. We create an atmosphere of fun by participating in activities together such as icebreakers and games. Above all, always make sure you have food and snacks for the youngsters. They are always hungry and receptive to food. Some of them come from homes with no food in the fridge. Chick-Fil-A is a fan favorite!
Q. Discuss your role as a mentor.
A. As a mentor, my goal is to provide advice and insight to young people on law enforcement officers to show them that we are all cut from the same cloth. As a mentor, I offer encouragement and feedback on the behavior and efforts of youth and officers. Whether mentoring relationships are developed individually or are established with a group of young people, we ensure that all young people have equal time to contribute to discussions and activities.
Q. Are there any challenges you face while mentoring? If so, what are they?
A. Yes, there are challenges.
Many children come from broken homes and need daily mentorship which should come from their families and loved ones. Some of the young people’s families are unable to provide young people with a nurturing environment due to their own past traumas.
Some young people need long-term therapy and counseling to deal with their emotions and traumas that are ignored or missed by their village.
As a mentor, it’s hard to see young people struggling with emotional and self-esteem issues. However, all you want to do is relieve them of their pain; I know I can’t cure them in a day. So I absorb their pain as a mentor. I pray for their peace every morning at my altar and for my strength to carry on.
Q. How do you balance the roles of wife, mother, law enforcement officer, mentor?
A. Thank you to my leader, who is a gracious community and youth advocate; my mentoring work falls under my role as a Community Relations and Outreach Facilitator at the Miramar Police Department.
Each month, PD chaplains Kim Morrow and Chief Burgess hold a prayer meeting at work. Working in an environment filled with so much love and grace gives me the strength to love our youth.
With that, I engage in a mentorship or charity event at a time to make sure I can give my all to that event.
Q. Within Miramar, do you find that young people are receptive to mentoring programs?
A. Young people are extremely receptive to mentorship programs because it allows them to be seen and heard in a safe, non-judgmental space. In a mentoring program, young people can feel accepted, comfortable, inspired and empowered.
Q. What are your last words for the young people of the community of Miramar?
A. You are amazing.
You are so loved.
You are special.
You’re worth it.
You are the Future.
I trust you.
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