SPRING LAKE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Sgt. Napoleon McCormick faced the audience with a huge white board covering his badges.
As the board hid his Spring Lake police uniform, he challenged people to tell them what they saw as he alternated looks by wearing shades, reading glasses, or no eyewear.
They saw a man. Maybe a "thug" in shades, he suggested. Then there was a grandpa in those reading glasses.
For McCormick, the answers were easy.
"I'm a father," he declared. "I'm a grandfather. I'm also a police officer, and then I have my beliefs which is religion. My family and my job... and I'm going to try to go home to my family every night."
They're the basic things connecting us that Spring Lake community leaders hope they can use to bridge a perception gap between local youth and law enforcement.
McCormick was among those local leaders at the Regency Job Training Institute Monday helping to plan "Pop with a Cop."
The program was born out of a recent conversation between RJTI marketing director Dr. Paul White and his 9-year-old daughter.
White, an ex-cop, said his child had the perception that all police are bad based on social media highlighting recent officer-involved shootings and community distrust for law enforcement.
"I explained to her there are bad people everywhere," said White. "There are bad preachers and there are bad teachers and your Daddy was a teacher and a cop, but nonetheless, there are good ones out there and we can't judge them by the one or two bad ones we see."
White, said the program's name is a nostalgic ode to his childhood memories of police officers handing out Popsicles in his old Fayetteville neighborhood, Melvin Place. You'll see that at the inaugural event next week, he said.
"Something that can bridge a gap can be as simple as a Popsicle and somebody talking about and expressing how they feel," added Dr. Hugh Mackey, RJTI's Director of Operations. "I think that's one of the best things possible."
It's a necessary conversation, said McCormick. He also cautioned parents against conversations with their children that don't include some positive anecdotes about law enforcement. He wants a fair chance to dispel blanket negative images.
"You know what I really don't like?" asked McCormick. "'Here come the police. They're gonna arrest you.' Don't tell your child that. You know, we have enough bad guys as it is. Why you want to start them out early afraid of us?'"
"I'm the type, if I see a small child I'm going to get down on that child's level, give them a sticker and say 'We're here to help you,'" added McCormick.
The first "Pop with a Cop" event is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, July 18 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information about sponsorship at (910) 497-1088.