The biggest lesson Apex Police Chief Jason Armstrong learned after working in Ferguson, Missouri is that diversity is about much more than race.
"Diversity of thought and diversity of experience carries. You know, much more weight and more value to me than what the diversity of a person looks like," he said.
Efforts to recruit, retain and diversify is still top of mind for many local first responders.
Captain Stephen Shakeshaft is over training and recruitment with the Fayetteville fire department.
"The fire service in general has been a White male job," said Shakeshaft. He said the city is taking steps to increase representation in the ranks and it starts with community engagement.
"I'm at job fairs. I'm in schools. I'm in colleges. I'm at public events like Umoja Festival or Fayetteville after 5," he said.