Bigs in Blue is a new program launched by Big Brothers Big Sisters that pairs police officers with children in an effort to bridge the current societal gap. Officers can volunteer their time to be paired with a child participant, of elementary or middle school age, to build long-lasting, one-on-one relationships. “Right now, there is an identifiable problem with poor relations between police and communities,” said Pam Iorio Big Brothers Big Sisters President. “This helps the police officer connect to the families they serve. They’re not going into a neighborhood to make an arrest; they’re going into a neighborhood to form a bond. It helps that young person see the police officers as a friend.” Cities such as St. Louis and Philadelphia have recently spoken out about their high hopes and interests in the program. “The Bigs in Blue program is another great opportunity for officers to build meaningful relationships with area children”, said Dan Isom, St. Louis Police Chief. Police officers have been seen less as mentors nowadays and hopefully this new effort from one of the country’s oldest mentoring organizations will help bring that positive persona back to the communities.