Police officers and community members joined at St. Petersburg High School Wednesday to help students understand and get to know their local law enforcement.

It was part of an effort to prevent violent or deadly confrontations with police.

Eleventh-grade student Leonte' Tukes said he has mixed emotions when thinking of law enforcement in his community.

"Yes, I am afraid because there are some cops who are angry or violent, but there are some who do good," Tukes said.

Tukes said recent police shootings and confrontations across the country have been a big influence in his feelings.

"Sometimes I do feel targeted because of the color of my skin, because of some of the things we've seen over the past few years. It does kind of scare me a bit," Tukes said.

In an effort to create a better understanding and build better relationships with police, the St. Petersburg Police Department teamed up with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives for a forum where students learned about their rights and got better insight on what a police officer experiences every day.

School Resource Officer Richard Berthelot said students often bring what they see on the streets into the classroom.

"Whether it's drugs or violent crimes or what have you, it comes here and we have to deal with it," Berthelot said.

Berthelot said he wants students to know that they are there to protect and enforce the law but are also people just like everyone else.

"Understanding that the police are part of the community and that the police work for the community and the police can only be as successful as the community wants it to be,” Berthelot said.