BAKERSFIELD, CA. — Tuesday the Bakersfield Police Department will hold a community forum to address the 'Black Lives Matter' protests happening in the city of Bakersfield.

The forum is titled 'Conversation, Cops and Community" hosted by BPD Chief Grey Terry.

“The biggest point we want to have here is the opportunity to listen and answer questions and get the community to voice their concerns, voice want they want us to be better at, and what they want to see from us," said Nathan McCauley, Bakersfield Police Department.

For Jay McCray, this has been a long awaited conversation in his life.

“Being a black man in Bakersfield, California has been very challenging," said McCray. "It’s discouraging to go to community events and you don't see very many African-Americans participating."

BPD says they will listen to the community and their concerns as well as present answers over policies and training for police officers.

“The officers were out there and they witnessed the people and their emotion on this issue and also the groups hopefully witnessed the officers in the midst of all this maintaining their professionalism," said McCauley.

Email BPDcommunity@bakersfieldpd.us or arleanawaller@gmail.com for the Zoom invitation link.