People

Cary man finds his niche as a problem-solver

Otis Herndon and his wife moved to the Chatham Forest neighborhood in Cary, she told him she didn't feel safe, and he vowed to change that. He started by engaging with area youth, spearheading Tae Kwon Do classes and other programs for them and personally stepping in to ease conflicts. Cary police say his unprecedented involvement in their Project Phoenix crime prevention program has made a huge impact in his own neighborhood, so much so that he is now helping train citizens in other Cary communities. Here he stands on the workout mat at the White Tiger Tae Kwon Do studio in Cary as a class warms up behind him.

Otis Herndon takes on problems in the Chatham Forest community in Cary. “From my experience, there’s probably no one like Otis,” a police captain says.

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