To say that Paul Barker is a generous individual is an understatement! His commitment to the uplifting of children is impeccable. Paul would not only give the shirt off his back, but his shoes as well!

I was the original Chief Instructor of the Scotland Community Karate program back in 1997. Being an African American, I, like many of the residents of the Scotland community, did not trust the police. We had all either been victim of or witnessed the adversarial relationship between law enforcement agencies and the Black community. Paul, who at the time was a Montgomery County police officer, changed that relationship. He gave and continues to give his heart and soul to the people of Scotland, as well as those in his program at Gaithersburg’s Upper County.

I feel that through his programs, Paul has successfully bridged the gap between the races, while improving relations between the police and minorities in those communities. I feel that true crime prevention is not based on constant police presence and a high rate of arrests and incarceration. It’s about giving the youth something positive to strive for. It’s about teaching them to take care of themselves and one another. It’s about teaching them to avoid negative peer pressure that will lead them to make poor choices. Most important, it’s about showing them love. Paul Barker has done all of these things time and time again when no one else stepped up to the plate.

Communities nationwide could benefit from programs like Paul’s. He has a proven method for bringing up successful kids in challenging environments. Once other police agencies throughout the country are ready to listen to Paul, we will all witness a better future for the children and our nation.


Michael Tull

President

Champion Karate Inc.