Resident praises ACCESS Project and officers for youth engagement in Mountlake Terrace
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Summary
Wally Webster, a resident of Lynnwood, told the Mountlake Terrace council about the ACCESS Project and praised Officer Luther Russell and Officer Matt Porter for youth outreach, citing cops-versus-youth basketball as a trust-building program.
During the public comment period, Wally Webster spoke to the council about the ACCESS Project, which he identified as the Association for Collective Community Engagement on Safety and Security. Webster described the program as a community-led effort formed after several youth homicides and other violent incidents and said it brings together city and community leaders from South Duwamish County to support youth safety and prevention.
Webster singled out Officer Luther Russell and Officer Matt Porter for their roles in outreach. He described the cops-versus-youth basketball games as "bridges to trust, to dialogue, to hope," and said Russell connects authentically with youth by sharing his life experiences and encouraging direct contact. "He reminds everyone in the room that there is a real person behind the badge," Webster said.
Webster asked the council to recognize the officers' work and expressed appreciation for the Access Project's focus on prevention and relationship-building.
