The policing conversation continues in Youngstown as officers and community leaders gathered for a one-day retreat Thursday to bridge discussion on how to build trust and reduce crime in the city. 

"People don't trust the police, and that comes from a national narrative," Youngtown Mayor Tito Brown said. "But we want to make sure our local narrative is that you can trust Youngstown police."

As one attempt to instill trust, Police Chief Carl Davis points to focus on mental health when handling crime.

"That's become quite a problem here in the city," Davis said. 

Mayor Tito Brown tells 21 News the city made a decision Thursday morning to create a brand-new role within the police department.

"One of the things that came out today is we had a mental health professional here, and they're going to assign someone to the Youngstown Police Department," Brown said. "Because I listen to my police radio, and oftentimes the calls are about individuals with mental health issues."

By assigning a mental health professional, he said this will add a new "layer" to their foundation. 

"It's not about defunding the police," Brown said, "We're making sure that those [who need it] have funding for mental health, those that have funding for social services..."

After asking the mayor what specifically he's doing to reduce violence in the city,  he said policing efforts will look a lot different this spring.

"We're going to have our officers out of their cars," Brown said. "You'll see even more when you drive down the corridors that the officers are not tucked away in the corridors."

However, there's still work to be done. Chief Davis said body cameras are one policy he's seen some resistance to within his rankings of the department but feels they're necessary and expects the department to purchase them this summer.

"We're just connecting the dots trying to involve everybody cause we're all in this together, and our one goal is to serve the citizens of Youngstown," Davis said.