NATCHEZ — Juan Cloy’s message to local juniors and seniors was clear — Stop making bad stuff happen.

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten and the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce Education Committee invited the former Canton assistant police chief and undercover FBI agent to talk with students Monday at the Natchez Convention Center about police, crime and violence.

With tough talk, personal anecdotes and crime statistics, Cloy walked through the audience interacting with the crowd.

“I have put so many teenagers in jail I am ashamed of it,” the father of two biological children and six adopted children said.

Students from Natchez High School, Cathedral, Adams County Christian School and Trinity Episcopal Day School listened to Cloy’s message.

He told the students about how quickly the lives of many of the teenagers he dealt with as a police officer changed in the matter of seconds. Many times because the teens had not considered the consequences.

“What’s next?” Cloy asked the group of teenagers.

Cloy demonstrated to students how social norms in music and popular culture have contributed to their attitudes about the police and violence. He described how a culture that only cares about “the mighty dollar” fails to take into consideration about what happens after the violence.

Cloy said he and other adults allowed such a culture to thrive and dominate.

He said students do not have to listen to the message put out in television, radio and social media. In a world where bad things happens in our lives, Cloy told the students they do not need to add to the problem.

“Don’t worry, bad stuff is going to happen. It happens in all of our lives,” Cloy said. “So stop making bad stuff happen.”

When Cloy stepped down as assisyt police chief in Canton he started the Institute for Criminal Justice Education and Training. The group provides instruction and training to law enforcement, social workers, mental health practitioners and educators.

Cloy recently provided training for ACSO deputies when Patten decided Cloy’s message was one local teens needed to hear.

“It left such an impression on our office, we thought it would be great to have him come down and talk to the youth of our community,” Patten said. “These last couple of years we have seen people under the age of 22 murdering people. Somewhere along the line we missed it as adults.”

Chamber President Debbie Hudson said the education committee and ACSO recognized the importance of communicating to area youth.

Patten said hopefully what Cloy presented gave the students something to think about.

“We wanted to try to plant something in these young people’s head so that they will choose something different on down the road,” Patten said.