This year the Tampa Bay region has seen a disheartening number of shootings in our area – mainly involving teenagers in places like Lakeland and Ybor City. So, when Clearwater cops took the field Friday night for a flag football match with some of the area's young people, there was a lot more going on than just a game. “I think for us it's an opportunity to interact in a whole different environment,” Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy said. “It's actually better being around people that you know are going to keep you safe,” 12-year-old player Ahmad Rashad Jackson, Jr. said. Students like Jackson say the Cops and Kids program in Clearwater has made a difference – not only in himself but the way he thinks about law enforcement. “They're not bad people. They're actually helpers,” Jackson said. “They're not going to do anything bad to you. They actually want to help you.” MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/clearwater-police-flag-football-kids/67-5915d1cf-087d-4af5-83b7-187c7fe56659 ►Subscribe: https://on.wtsp.com/youtube ►Website: https://www.wtsp.com/ ►Facebook: https://facebook.com/10TampaBay ►Twitter: https://twitter.com/10TampaBay