Police build rapport with youth while encouraging character and success.
Photos courtesy of Stanley Glover
Woo, woo, woo.
Plant City Police Department Chief Richard Mills, Jr. and Captain Alfred Van Duyne visited the Marshall Middle Magnet IB World School’s Gentlemen’s Quest Club on Monday to engage with students and build positive relationships, offer guidance and support their development.
The club, affectionately known as “GQ,” a mentorship program led by teachers Stanley Glover and Omicron Long, helps young men develop leadership skills, build character and prepare for the future.
QG Club is made up of 40 to 50 students, meeting for activities and events several times a week. Monday’s gathering brought together many of these young leaders for a face-to-face, heart-to-heart discussion between club members and the uniformed policemen.
Chief Mills shared his personal journey with the students, reflecting on his upbringing and the many mentors who shaped his path, from high school coaches and military leaders to senior law enforcement figures. He encouraged the students to take ownership of their decisions and futures.
“These young men have the potential to shape their own future,” Captain Van Duyne said. “It starts with emulating the positive role models in your life and then the example you set for others.”
Following the message, Chief Mills and Captain Van Duyne opened the floor for a Q&A session, where students asked thoughtful questions and continued the conversation about leadership, resilience, and staying on the right path.
The visit also included a surprise that had the room erupting in laughter- a spontaneous improv skit featuring Chief Mills, Captain Van Duyne, and a few students. In the skit, student Malakii Thomas took the wheel of “Grandma’s 1997 Honda Civic” without a driver’s license (and without Grandma’s permission) while officers played along, complete with sirens and “woo woo” sound effects. The lesson? The do’s and don’ts on traffic stops.
“The skit really had those boys laughing,” said Glover. “It was hilarious- but more than that, it showed the importance of building that relationship and rapport with police.”
Glover called Malaki’s mom to tell her about her son’s terrific acting skills and she asked him to text her photos of her son “in trouble.” “She was laughing so hard,” said Glover.
The event was made possible through the support of Principal Dennis Mayo and the commitment of mentors Glover and Long. Their ongoing efforts through the GQ Club continue to make a lasting impact on the students at Marshall Middle.
The club is a flurry of activity, holding workshops and meetings that provide a framework for a life of service, wisdom and respect for self and others.
It’s a busy week for the club. On Wednesday Google brought its Online Safety Roadshow to the school, where United States Representative Laurel Lee and Google representatives talked about the local impact internet safety has on kids and why it’s important to take breaks from screens and the value of being kind online. The club also hosts the Gold Tie Ceremony, where members, well-groomed and donning a GQ suit, receive gold ties, a symbol of membership. Former club members, now grown and successful members of society in their professional and personal lives, will be there to inspire the next generation to greatness. “It’s going to be epic,” said Glover.
