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New York, NY - NYPD Recruits Get Lesson In Diversity, Community Relations |
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With graduation just two weeks away, more than 250 of New York's soon-to-be Finest headed to the Apollo Theater for training on cross-cultural understanding.
"Just before they hit the streets, they have this immersion training as we call it," said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.
The NYPD is more diverse today than it has ever been. But then again, so is the city.
"We're gonna work with different people with different backgrounds. So it's important to understand, it's gonna be easier when you're prepared," said NYPD recruit Tatyana Ananyava.
Recruits heard from representatives of various racial and ethnic groups, including NY1's Dominic Carter and the Reverend Al Sharpton.
The NYPD added mandatory sessions to its diversity training after Sean Bell was shot and killed by plainclothes police officers in 2006. The latest round of diversity training comes just weeks after black off-duty police officer Omar Edwards was shot dead by a white officer. Edwards had his gun out as he chased a suspect in East Harlem.
"When we see these shootings of police to police, and they almost always end up with the black or Latino police shot, how do we deal with the fact that training seems to work in some cases but not others," said Sharpton.
"There's a deep-seated problem that needs to be discussed at forums like this."
Sharpton added that New Yorkers can't always blame police. He said people in his community are made to feel unsafe by its own members.
"In most of our communities there's a tremendous fear of the cops and the robbers and the robbers seems to be winning," said Sharpton.
Many of the recruits said sessions like this are important, and pointed to their own experiences dealing with police.
"You get stopped. And the officers are a little less than courteous and that happens a lot in the neighborhoods. I'm gonna try to be a little more courteous and show more respect than what was shown to me at times," said NYPD recruit Alexander Bobo.
The display of more respect is something officials at the NYPD seem to hope will go a long way.
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Read Comments (5) — Post Yours »
1
Jun 18, 2009 at 10:51 PM Boruch Says:
Is it “Thousands of new police recruits” (line 1)
or “more than 250 of New York's soon-to-be Finest” (line 3)
2
Jun 19, 2009 at 06:10 AM Crown Heights Says:
Just check out the firestorm in our community of Crown Heights. These "lessons" don't work. The diversity they are taught is how to respond to a Jew when he is attacked. And diversity there is... Was he attacked with a wrench or a bat, a gun or a knife... but the bottom line the police are taught to sympathize with the blach aggressor and harass the Jewish victim.
Our community is reeling and seething over the arrest of a Frum Jew while he was in the hospital due to his assault. He suffered severe injuries to his face from the racially motivated crime against, yet the black thug was released and he was arrested. Kind of like when Eliezer was sentenced in sedom for being assaulted with a rock in his face.
3
Jun 19, 2009 at 05:21 AM Crown Heights Resident Says:
Where were JEWISH leaders? Answer: WE DON'T HAVE ANY!
Just take a look at what's going on in Crown Heights once again. When are WE going to have our own Al Sharpton? What about sensitivity training in dealing with frum Yidden? Now bring them into CH or WB & let them hear from Jewish men AND WOMEN on how to treat us & our customs.
If the police weren't so arrogant and IGNORANT, relations between "us and them" would be much better & productive.
4
Jun 19, 2009 at 12:13 AM bernie madoff Says:
it will be nearly impossible to educate officers on each culture in the 5 bourghs. just think u have the African Americans in harlem, Asians in the lower east side/china town. The soviets in Briton beach. The chassidim in willemsberg, Litvish in Flatbush, Yehkes in washington heights, lubavichers in crown heights. NY is just too multi cultured, it is like the whole world in itself.
5
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:23 AM BB Says:
I guess Sharpton was there to provide an example of a Racist.