MPD honors young students who are part of department's "STOP" program

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee Police Department celebrated students on Thursday, May 21st.

The inaugural "STOP" awards show was held at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

"STOP" stands for Students Talking it Over with Police. It's a seven-week program that involves police officers talking with students about who they are and what they do on a daily basis on the streets of Milwaukee.

It's an effort to help students feel more comfortable around officers.

"These are young leaders in the kids. These are kids that stepped up in the schools and they wanted to be in the program and now we're doing our best to reward them with what they've accomplished," MPD "STOP" Coordinator William Singleton said.

More than 70 kids took part in the program.

FOX6's Mary Stoker Smith and Brian Kramp hosted the event.