Tensions have increased between law enforcement and some members of the community in recent years.
We've seen calls to defund the police and to rethink how police interact with the public.
One local high school student witnessed the tension firsthand. That's when he stood behind the microphone to do something about it.
Jasul Talipov started the Trust The Badge podcast two years ago as a way to build trust.
He recorded about 20 programs with all current officials, politicians, and citizens. He understands there have been legitimate incidents that cast police in a negative light, but he feels the positives far outweigh the negatives.
“I think these conversations need to happen. They're not difficult to achieve, but it's important to reach a middle ground between the two sides. Once both sides reach a compromise, some solutions may emerge. You’ll start to see it.”
On this day, he sits at a desk in the corner of his bedroom.
“Headphones are here,” he says. “I wear it during interviews and I keep my microphone here.”
Talipov wanted to capitalize on the growing interest in technology and audio formats.
“When I started podcasting in 2020, podcasts were very popular. During the lockdown, the audience for podcasts increased significantly,” Talipov said. “With podcasts, you can really hear what people have to say. It's like a great platform for interviews.”
To understand Talipov's motivations, we need to go back to his days as a volunteer at the Altamonte Mall Branch of the Altamonte Springs Police Department.
“I just answered the phone and helped the officers with whatever they needed,” Talipov said. “I sat at the front desk and watched people walk through the mall through the glass windows.”
That's when he noticed something that bothered him. “Some people were scared just to be seen by law enforcement from within their offices. So that was really touching to me and I felt like there was a lot of distrust, and there was a lot of distrust.” I didn’t feel like there should be one.”
Tripov says this is an issue that needs to be addressed. He cited police retirement rates, defunding of police efforts and increased crime statistics in some communities.
“This is an issue that needs to be addressed before it's too late,” he said.
Deanna DiPaola, COPS coordinator and public information officer for the Altamonte Police Department, said Talipov's new project came as no surprise to her, as he has always been a dedicated volunteer.
“He humanizes the badge and shows what we do and who we are the people behind this badge,” DiPaola said. “If he can touch one person, I think he's touched a lot more than one person, but yes, he's getting results.”
The Trust The Badge Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
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