Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tyrone (Ty) Dennis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Tyrone (Ty), really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I find my purpose from being raised in a single parent home. My mother raised four children including myself by herself with help from my grandmother. Growing up in the Fountain Park neighborhood portion of St. Louis made me ready for anything. Although we weren’t rich my mom made me understand that we never wanted for anything. After being raised like that it gave me purpose to help those who come from struggling environments, struggling homes, and those that some may be deemed lost. To help someone who can give you nothing in return but a thank you is priceless.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Well I’m Tyrone Dennis, a retired 16-year veteran of the Atlanta Police Department and is currently the Director of School Safety for Rockwood School District which is in suburban St. Louis. I worked as a Criminal Investigator/Detective for the City of Atlanta Police Department with the Criminal Intelligence Unit, Gang Unit, ATF, Safe Streets, and Special Enforcement Section. I’m certified as a Gang Expert in state, federal, and civil court. My career in law enforcement has also afforded me opportunities to work Executive Protection details for the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Royce O’Neal, Maurice Taylor, Joe Johnson, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell. My desire to see an increase in community engagement and experience as a collegiate student-athlete inspired the creation of the community-based program, Clippers & Cops. I have received recognition, commendation, and numerous awards for my community work and gang outreach.
Clippers and Cops is an organization created and founded by now retired detective Tyrone Dennis. The program started in March of 2018 where Atlanta Police officers actually go into our own communities to speak to civilians about our own experiences; good and bad. Also listening to the community in an effort to create empathy between law enforcement and the community.
Meeting at local barber shops, Rec centers, schools, to local restaurants and churches, “Clippers and Cops” is a relaxed round table discussion that gives every day people a neutral and safe platform for their voices to be heard without judgement, and a place to have an open dialogue about the adversity and hot button issues that have caused such disparity between these two conflicting worlds.
Today young people are told that the police are to be feared, avoided, or ignored … but when we share our own humanity, we break down the barriers that prevent us from getting our messages heard.
Through Clippers and Cops forums, we learn from each other. People let down their guards, open up, and become less intimidated.
From a cop’s point of view, we give our own feedback on the challenges we face having to do our jobs in the hostile climate we live in today where the media paints cops in a negative light; which has compelled people to fear the police.
We encourage everyone to express their fears and feelings about the police and to open up about their own personal encounters that have all contributed to their prejudices. This will help the officers see what their actions can do to someone or their families that they may have never thought about. Especially for the newer officers. Policing in 2019 is much different from the 80’s & 90’s.
If they are ever in a tense situation, we teach practical and hands on advice on how to better communicate with each other and advise them on how to conduct themselves to avoid potentially dangerous situations.
By lifting the curtain and putting our shields of authority aside, “Clippers and Cops” shows every day people that all cops arent bad people and that at the end of the day we are just trying to do our jobs the best way we know how. The saying is that it takes a village! Well we all are apart of that village and most of us want a positive change. This is a start!
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Our Vision
It is our hope to implement the community oriented program for not only Atlanta for every metropolitan city in America. Every third Thursday of the month in a barbershop in every city citizen and police are sitting, talking, and debating with the hopes of hearing each other out. We can agree to disagree, but like in Atlanta leave feeling like I tried and that I may have learned something I didn’t know.
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As we embark on our journey we discovered that the age demographic that need to hear our conversations were not showing up so we started going to them. We started going into local high schools, and colleges to continue these conversations in what we now call “Clippers & Cops Campus Invasion.” In our presentations we talk about decision making, goal setting, Do’s and Donts on traffic stops, youth and gang violence, rap music, drug addiction, prison, social media, and so much more. We actually simulate a traffic stop with the students in an effort to educate them. Topics like sexting, and getting to know your local police officers and SRO’s, and Online Predators are things many young adults are faced with today. We touch on these things because it doesn’t matter what socio-economic status you live you as a young person are faced with or could be faced with these topics.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Set Goals- goals is your road map to success. As you embark on the journey called life things will happen. With goals you can get back up and on track of what you were working for.
Empathy- empathize with people from other walks of life as you do not know what some people live like or go through. Treat people how you would want to be treated. When my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ returns he appears everyday with the human race. How we treat other humans is a reflection of what is inside of us.
Be Relentless- not all storms are meant to harm some are sent by God to clear you a path to where he wants you to be and where he wants you to go. You need a new roof and don’t know how to pay for it. God sends a tornado to tear down your entire house and then you got the roof and a new house. Everything happens for a reason! In time you will understand why!
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
My hopes and dreams is to make Clippers & Coos something that is in every city in America. We cannot continue to police and do the same things that we have always done expecting a different result. We are looking for corporate sponsorship to take our program to different schools, colleges, and cities.
ClippersandCops.org
You can find clippers and cops on all social media platforms.
I also can be reached at Tyronejdennis.com
Contact Info:
- Website: Clippersandcops.org
- Instagram: Clippers & Cops
- Facebook: Tyronejdennis
- Linkedin: Tyronejdennis
- Twitter: Tyronejdennis
- Youtube: Clippers and Cops / Tyronejdennis
