Gang busts, drug arrests and shootings are all-too-common sights for kids in East Harlem — and the experience can ignite a lifelong fear and distrust of the police.
The NYPD is increasing its efforts to shift that negative view this summer, recruiting a record number of boys and girls to its educational Explorer Program in the area.
“Sometimes you’d hear shots outside my building or hear a siren, or you go downstairs to the lobby and see cops arresting somebody,” said Gabriel, 12, a one-year member of the program, which teaches kids ages 12 to 20 about law enforcement.
“Around where I live, people don’t like the cops a lot.”
NYPD Explorers learn in a classroom setting. They also participate in recreational activities and help with community service, all under the supervision of on-duty cops.
“Once they are introduced into what we do, they have a different perspective of police officers,” Capt. Erik Hernandez said at a July 28 open house event at the Boys Club of New York. “We want to influence them in the positive.”
Hernandez commands Police Service Area 5, the precinct that patrols East Harlem’s housing projects.
PSA 5 and the 23rd Precinct, which patrols the area, hosted a series of recruiting events in late July aimed at local teens.
PSA 5 attracted about 25 new members to its program. As of late July, it had more than 120, well above the city average of 30 per precinct but short of its goal of 300.
“We are trying to focus on the housing developments,” said Officer Pedro Perez, 35, Explorer coordinator of the 23rd Precinct. “We want to deter these youngster from becoming gang members.”
The two precincts have the highest concentration of housing developments in the city.
Gabriel, the one-year Explorer, said many of his neighbors at his building on 105th Street don’t get along with cops. But not him.
“It’s not like what people say, that, oh, they’re bad people. They’re actually pretty social,” he said. “If you look like you’re having a bad day, they ask you what’s wrong.”