URBANA, Ill.—Cortez Gardner, patrol sergeant at Urbana Police Department, almost quit when public resentment against police soared after the police custody death of George Floyd. He became an officer in 2012 to help people go about lives without fear of violence, which he observed daily growing up on the South Side of Chicago. After repeatedly reminding himself of why he had become an officer, Gardner stayed and resolved to do his part to make things better. One way he does that is by learning Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art focused on hand-to-hand techniques to subdue a combative opponent on the ground. CU Jiu Jitsu, the local gym that Gardner frequents, saw more police officer members join in the past year and a half, according to owner Mike Stoller. “I think a lot of police feel misjudged by the community, they feel there is a lot of mistrust in them, and they …