Looking back, Dallas Washington not only understands why his mother reached out to MPD, he is thankful for it.
Washington's mother sought mentorship from officers for her son because he could not focus in school and had anger issues.
After years of this mentorship, Washington took a big step this past August.
That's when he became a member of MPD's Cadet Corps, which is a program geared toward late teenagers and young adults in the District to become civilian employees for MPD, opening the door for them to enter the Police Officer Recruit Program and pursue a career as an officer with the department.
Once Washington graduates high school this year, he will be eligible to continue pursuing entry into the Police Officer Recruit Program through college courses paid for by the department.
As a result of this mentorship, Washington said he has been able to improve in school and figure out what he wants to do after high school. He plans on joining the military or continuing the course to remain a police officer with MPD.
Source: 7NEWS - WJLA