Comments on: Bronx Mom: Why should high school students be treated like criminals? http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/21/bronx-mom-why-should-high-school-students-be-treated-like-criminals/ Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:57:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Roberta http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/21/bronx-mom-why-should-high-school-students-be-treated-like-criminals/#comment-9659 Roberta Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:56:57 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/21/bronx-mom-why-should-high-school-students-be-treated-like-criminals/#comment-9659 I recently had an experience with the police: I was passing a precinct house and saw a sergeant dumping garbage (coffee cups, paper plates, newspapers) onto the street from the inside of a police van. The precinct was in a low-income area surrounded by housing projects, and I am sure the officers there spend plenty of time complaining about how the residents have no respect for their neighborhood, and it was very upsetting. After googling around, I realized I couldn't find an easy way to complain directly to a superior officer, so I sent a complaint to the civilian complaint review board. I got a very nice call from an executive officer apologizing for his men and stating that he told my story to his men on report every day, every shift for a week, and he hoped I never saw anything like that again. I recently had an experience with the police: I was passing a precinct house and saw a sergeant dumping garbage (coffee cups, paper plates, newspapers) onto the street from the inside of a police van. The precinct was in a low-income area surrounded by housing projects, and I am sure the officers there spend plenty of time complaining about how the residents have no respect for their neighborhood, and it was very upsetting.

After googling around, I realized I couldn’t find an easy way to complain directly to a superior officer, so I sent a complaint to the civilian complaint review board. I got a very nice call from an executive officer apologizing for his men and stating that he told my story to his men on report every day, every shift for a week, and he hoped I never saw anything like that again.

]]> By: linda http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/21/bronx-mom-why-should-high-school-students-be-treated-like-criminals/#comment-9652 linda Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:39:44 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/21/bronx-mom-why-should-high-school-students-be-treated-like-criminals/#comment-9652 I do live in a so called white neighborhood. My son is white & so are his friends. He was at the park with 2 of his friends at 8:50 p.m on a Saturday night. Two police officers asked them why they were there & smacked my son in the head to answer quickly. I too am very upset that my son was given a summons & hit. He is not a disrespesctful 17 year old & neither were his friends. They would have quickly left the park. How will they learn to respect police officers? P.O.'s need to be better trained on sensitivity. I need to take a day off from work & my son needs to take a day off from school to go to court. Unbelievable!!! Oh, I went to the precinct & spoke to the p.o.'S Sgt.& told him to tell his officers to keep their hands to themselves!!! The Sgt.assured me he would. I work for the N.Y.P.D.& I too. Believe that something needs to be done!!! I do live in a so called white neighborhood. My son is white & so are his friends. He was at the park with 2 of his friends at 8:50 p.m on a Saturday night. Two police officers asked them why they were there & smacked my son in the head to answer quickly. I too am very upset that my son was given a summons & hit. He is not a disrespesctful 17 year old & neither were his friends. They would have quickly left the park. How will they learn to respect police officers? P.O.’s need to be better trained on sensitivity. I need to take a day off from work & my son needs to take a day off from school to go to court. Unbelievable!!! Oh, I went to the precinct & spoke to the p.o.’S Sgt.& told him to tell his officers to keep their hands to themselves!!! The Sgt.assured me he would. I work for the N.Y.P.D.& I too. Believe that something needs to be done!!!

]]> By: manman http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/21/bronx-mom-why-should-high-school-students-be-treated-like-criminals/#comment-9594 manman Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:31:30 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/21/bronx-mom-why-should-high-school-students-be-treated-like-criminals/#comment-9594 It’s a pity that cops don’t understand that hassling kids for minor stuff only makes them disrespect the police and ultimately makes their job tougher. A police hassle or court appearance for texting your friend or waiting for someone at the subway? Please. There are more good kids than not, but security/police paint with a broad brush because they cant distinguish one from the other. Then they end up not getting any cooperation form the ones who could help. The next time “Jamal” sees something really awful go down, do you think he’s going to call the police It’s a pity that cops don’t understand that hassling kids for minor stuff only makes them disrespect the police and ultimately makes their job tougher. A police hassle or court appearance for texting your friend or waiting for someone at the subway? Please. There are more good kids than not, but security/police paint with a broad brush because they cant distinguish one from the other. Then they end up not getting any cooperation form the ones who could help. The next time “Jamal” sees something really awful go down, do you think he’s going to call the police

]]> By: Coach http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/21/bronx-mom-why-should-high-school-students-be-treated-like-criminals/#comment-9592 Coach Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:17:39 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/21/bronx-mom-why-should-high-school-students-be-treated-like-criminals/#comment-9592 Here's a story for you: A similar police harassment happened to a fresh-scrubbed 10 year old boy headed to camp by himself. He is a big boy, but if you'd see his face, you'd know he's not a usual suspect. Instead, the driving officer called him over to the car. Witness shouldve said, "oh no, thats not him" but the 88 didn't. they asked him to empty his pockets, and found zilch. They held him so long, that he missed us leaving for a rainy day movie at 9am. His mother was still home and picked him up at the scene, because some passing older ladies yelled at the officers, and told the cops to have him call his mother. The ladies took names of the officers and "moved along" as they were instructed. (But, they merely circled the block until his mother arrived) His single mom was too intimidated to act further. Three or more teen boys are considered a gang by the police. But, you got to be able to determine who's who. Maybe they should walk a beat than ride in cruisers (and helicopters. Here’s a story for you:

A similar police harassment happened to a fresh-scrubbed 10 year old boy headed to camp by himself. He is a big boy, but if you’d see his face, you’d know he’s not a usual suspect. Instead, the driving officer called him over to the car. Witness shouldve said, “oh no, thats not him” but the 88 didn’t. they asked him to empty his pockets, and found zilch. They held him so long, that he missed us leaving for a rainy day movie at 9am.

His mother was still home and picked him up at the scene, because some passing older ladies yelled at the officers, and told the cops to have him call his mother. The ladies took names of the officers and “moved along” as they were instructed. (But, they merely circled the block until his mother arrived)

His single mom was too intimidated to act further.

Three or more teen boys are considered a gang by the police. But, you got to be able to determine who’s who. Maybe they should walk a beat than ride in cruisers (and helicopters.

]]> By: Roberta http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/21/bronx-mom-why-should-high-school-students-be-treated-like-criminals/#comment-9591 Roberta Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:24:34 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/21/bronx-mom-why-should-high-school-students-be-treated-like-criminals/#comment-9591 I think that anyone who lives or works or often frequents a neighborhood with a lot of high-school-age boys of color can tell stories like these. It's different in white neighborhoods, and it's not right. Hardly the best way to encourage boys to respect the law. I think that anyone who lives or works or often frequents a neighborhood with a lot of high-school-age boys of color can tell stories like these. It’s different in white neighborhoods, and it’s not right. Hardly the best way to encourage boys to respect the law.

]]> By: parent http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/21/bronx-mom-why-should-high-school-students-be-treated-like-criminals/#comment-9589 parent Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:51:44 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/21/bronx-mom-why-should-high-school-students-be-treated-like-criminals/#comment-9589 I can understand the police telling the young men to move along. Loitering used to be a crime and breaking up groups of kids is an effective way not only to prevent crime but prevent the young men from being victims of crime. As a white woman growing up in the suburbs my friends and I were frequently told to move on when we gathered in the park or playground after hours by the local police. The difference now seems to be the police ticketing. We were never in trouble and the cops were polite. But they were insistent we move and we always did. As stated in the article sensitivity training is needed, as is common sense which the police don't seem to have. A move along message can be delivered without the need to disrespect anyone or involve the court system. I can understand the police telling the young men to move along. Loitering used to be a crime and breaking up groups of kids is an effective way not only to prevent crime but prevent the young men from being victims of crime. As a white woman growing up in the suburbs my friends and I were frequently told to move on when we gathered in the park or playground after hours by the local police. The difference now seems to be the police ticketing. We were never in trouble and the cops were polite. But they were insistent we move and we always did. As stated in the article sensitivity training is needed, as is common sense which the police don’t seem to have. A move along message can be delivered without the need to disrespect anyone or involve the court system.

]]> By: Sheila http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/21/bronx-mom-why-should-high-school-students-be-treated-like-criminals/#comment-9586 Sheila Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:30:15 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/10/21/bronx-mom-why-should-high-school-students-be-treated-like-criminals/#comment-9586 Stories like these need to continue being published. Thanks Bronx Mom. Otherwise, how will anything change. Our children are not "potential" criminals. Stories like these need to continue being published. Thanks Bronx Mom. Otherwise, how will anything change. Our children are not “potential” criminals.

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