A Runner Is Born...

Getting to the scene of an accident on time is one of a reporter’s biggest challenges. If we get there before the police or the paramedics, we're lucky – or unfortunate enough – to snap photos of a victim on the ground suffering from their injuries. Harsh, I know, but it’s part of the job!

Earlier this year, there was a car accident on Avenue L and East 99th Street. It came over the scanner as a car accident with injuries. I knew I had to bolt out of the Canarsie Courier office. I heard the FDNY ambulance siren wailing as I raced from the office to Avenue L. I knew that if I wanted a fresh shot of the accident, I'd have to get there…FAST.

So, I did whatever I had to do to get there in time to capture the disaster. I LITERALLY RAN! I ran so fast that I wound up beating the police to the intersection where the accident took place. As I ran from the Courier office to East 99th Street, I felt a sense of strength and my adrenaline was pumping faster as I raced past each block and avenue. I was beyond winded and breathless as I got closer, but the sensation of my calf muscles coming to life was more exciting than the car accident itself. I used to get excited to capture the “money shots” of people being taken away on stretchers, but suddenly, the feeling of running was a rush I never really appreciated.

Running it!!!

Let’s get real – lots of people have a hobby or sport that they enjoy outside of their career. In the back of my mind, I always thought that if I was going to pursue anything athletic, it would probably be running – because that's what my job often required me to do when I heard something news breaking.

The week after the car accident made the newspaper, I remembered how exhilarating it felt when my feet hit the pavement and I picked up speed. How far could I run, I wondered? And for how long?

A couple of weeks later, I had a Saturday morning to myself and decided I’d put my physical ability to the test. I headed over to Canarsie Park and jogged easily for about 20 minutes. I was only able to complete a mile, but the sensation and energy I had after my few rounds inside the park was exhilarating! I went back to the park a few days later and did another one-mile run. Two weeks later, I made it to two miles! While the 69th Precinct Community Council was hosting its games, I’d pass board members by and make my rounds – eventually running two and a half miles straight without having to take a break.

July changed my life forever.

I was asked to write an article on T.E.A.L. (Tell Every Amazing Lady About Ovarian Cancer) and the organizers’ annual walk/run in Prospect Park, which raised money to bring awareness to ovarian cancer. The press release from T.E.A.L. noted that there was a 5K run being held during their events at the park in September. What’s a 5K race? I always saw these advertisements and never had a reason to run. After interviewing Pamela Esposito-Amery and learning how little women know about ovarian cancer, my interest in supporting the cause, joining other runners and testing my own strength motivated me to do more with my new “hobby.”

A few days after talking to Pamela, I signed up online for the T.E.A.L. 5K run, not knowing how I’d be able to complete it – I’d never ran three miles straight! I clocked in most of my runs at about 30 to 40 minutes and the park in Canarsie wasn’t really helping during the summer. Garbage-strewn walkways, kids running in the middle of the path, people illegally barbecuing and dumping their trash on park grounds. Nothing says: “You can run a 5K!” like the smell of trash and spicy chicken…

I needed a new adventure to train for this race. So, I took the road less traveled. And if you ask me, it’s not really traveled by many who aren’t up for the sport of running or biking. I headed to the Belt Parkway! It’s still in Canarsie, still a mile from my house, and still a natural environment to hone my running skills.

By day, I was at the Courier office “chasing” the story, and by the evening I was out chasing my goal of being able to run three miles for the T.E.A.L. race. By the end of August, I was just about set. In addition to the rush, running gave me bursts of energy and I didn’t have as many aches and pains from the daily grind as I used to. Little did I know, running was an addiction.

There were evenings I’d take to the Belt before a meeting – just to cover a couple of miles since I didn’t want to lapse in my training. By Saturday, September 12th, I was well prepared.

I had to be at the race by 8 that morning. Even though I’m far from a morning person, I was anxious and determined as I made my way to Prospect Park. I’d obviously never ran in a race before, so when I received my number – 4056 – I felt a surge of excitement and also a sense of humbleness. Ovarian cancer survivors and their families inspirationally donned teal and white gear as they signed in for the race/walk. Soon, I headed to the starting line with a crowd of runners, some who’d lost their mothers, sisters and daughters to ovarian cancer and held a sign supporting their loved ones. The combined feeling of being humbled and revved up for the race gave me the extra jolt I needed as race participants picked up speed to make it to the finish line. I have to admit, two miles into the race, I was winded and had to slow down a bit. When I ran at Canarsie Park or along the Belt, I wasn't really going full force against hundreds of other runners – this took my “hobby” to a whole other level!

After walking for a minute, I saw the finish line not too far ahead and practically sprinted to the clock that showed the passing minutes and seconds. The square red numbers displayed 32:23. I wasn’t concerned about how long it took me – I simply wanted to complete the race, which I’d spent four and a half months training for.

At the end, I felt exhilarated, successful and honored to join hundreds of runners – many who experienced so many more life challenges than I ever had to face. I didn’t know how much time others spent preparing for the race, but I did know that I wanted to keep training to run in other 5Ks in the future – for whatever cause that would get me moving and motivated.

So, if you see me running in the middle of the street and I don’t say hello – don't take it personal…I might not have time to stop and talk and reveal whether I’m running to a crime scene or gearing up for my next big race.

Don't Mess With This Month Of Trying To Keep Our Kids In Line!

Calling just about all of the schools in the districts where the Canarsie Courier circulates is a tough job. Waiting to find out who to speak to, leaving them a message and then waiting for a call back - that we never get - is frustrating. This month it was particularly frustrating. October is National Anti-Bullying Awareness Month. There are variations of this title, but each school, I believe, has its own initiative aimed at creating a better learning environment for their students. What's really going to work???

As of last week, only ONE school has gotten back to us about anti-bullying efforts and programs. P.S. 276 on East 83rd Street invited me to capture their annual “Stomp Out Bullying” event, during which children gathered in the auditorium and took an oath, announced by Principal Yasmine Fidelia, that they would not engage in or promote behavior that interferes with their learning – and that they would report bullying to their elders and accept their peers' differences.Students made the promise and then took to the front of the school where they placed blue ribbons on a "Stomp Out Bullying" banner that was attached to a gate.

A promise is a promise...Sounds easy enough, right?

At the core of things, I've always wondered where do children initially learn that it's okay to torment and mock someone? Should we blame the adults for teaching them hatred? Where and when does a child even establish the idea that someone who is different than them deserves to be bullied?

Little Timmy can always get eye surgery...
Then, no more bullying!

Boys poked fun at me when I was younger -they pulled my hair and stuck gum under my seat. No big deal...Girls “bullied” me because I was quiet or because I didn't want to give them an answer on a test. One girl in junior high ordered me to meet her outside after class in the Bildersee schoolyard. At 13, seeing a girl slam her closed fist into the palm of an opened hand was enough bullying for me! I played no part in the drama, but later found out that this “bully” wasn't just targeting me, she had beef with tons of other kids in the school too!

Sorry to burst anyone's motivational bubble, but – much like gun violence- we can never do enough to stop bullying because everyone's reason for being a troublemaker is circumstantial. Some kids feel inadequate, so they mock someone else to feel better about themselves....Some kids have family problems that run so deep, all they can do is beat up on a kid in their class to resolve their inner-conflicts...Some kids grew up in families that never taught them how to get along with people who are different than them. Subsequently, if they come across someone who is of a different culture, who was born with a health or mental problem, or has some physical challenge, their first reaction might be to treat that person as a subordinate.

Let's get real! Adults are no better!

As far as this country has come in terms of “acceptance,” there are still adults who are known to throw around racial slurs and homophobic vocabulary. If they do this in front of their children, or they don't want their children spending time with those who are “different,” they internalize this and overhear our disapproval of those we “bully”- even during a passing conversation.

The media doesn't help either!

Six-year-old Gage Berger, of Utah, had plastic surgery on his ears recently because he was born with what looked like “elf ears”. The youngster was bullied in school for a long time before his parents decided that butchering his head and pinning his ears down was something that would give him more confidence. Really? If he didn't have any hearing problems, then what about as he grows older, is this child going to believe that anything can be fixed with a little nip/tuck?

So, here we are in Anti-Bullying Awareness month and we're telling children – not even teens – that not getting teased is as easy as going under the knife so you can impress everyone in class!

Instead of parents modifying their children, they should be meeting with the parents of those bullies and hashing out ways of punishing the bullies – NOT putting the victims on an operating table so they can be acceptable to their classmates.

Of course, bullying goes beyond poking fun of someone's physical traits. I was bullied because I was quiet and didn't follow the “rough” crowd. I was bullied because I looked smarter (looked being the operative word here, since I wasn't in any advanced courses) than the kids in my class. Were they jealous? Were they simply disrespecting the fact that I didn't want to be like them ...and why did they even care?

Programs in our schools can only help so much. By the time once class and grade of tormentors leave the building, another class is coming in. Teaching acceptance, tolerance and conflict-resolution is a great idea. But I'm thinking these kids need more than a mantra.

If you've every watched “Beyond Scared Straight,” - and if you haven't you should YouTube it – you'll see the perfect example of how at-risk youths are put to the test by adults behind bars. Inmates say such horrible things to the teens who are placed in jail for a day, that eventually, their resolve is broken down.

I propose the Department of Education (DOE) put money into a fully-functioning Anti-Bullying Boot Camp in every school or district where it's sorely needed. No, we don't want to lower anyone's self esteem, but let's get a team of therapists for those troubled kids and put them in their place! Let's sit these tormentors down in the cafeteria and smash food all over their bookbags and poke fun at THEIR imperfections without them being allowed to say anything. We can follow this up with a rigorous course of brainwashing – providing them with lessons on how to perform the best in THEIR lives and focus on THEIR learning and growth instead of picking on someone innocent!

If all of you educators out there think this is too brash, too harsh and too severe, then look at how bullying effects the victims. Some acts of torment leave a brutal emotional and psychological scar on kids and stay with them well into their adulthood. Some eventually turn to drugs, gangs or suicide because they're tired of not being accepted.

Alternatively, someone can bully the DOE into allocating money towards plastic surgeries and anything else that will ensure our children accept each other for who they truly are. 
It's only for one month – after that, we can stop harassing our educators...

UNPUBLISHED AND UNEDITED 10-3-15

Getting Guns – Not People – Off The Street Will Solve Everything!

Celebrating your heritage at a parade unites your sense of pride with others who have the same passion for the culture. Unfortunately, what it’s come down to is that celebrating your heritage also means you risk getting shot at, stabbed or attacked in the midst of a crowd. What’s even worse is that our city doesn’t have a handle on parade safety – namely the safety at the West Indian American Day parade. According to the Wall Street Journal, officials note that it’s the “most violent public event in the city.”

It's time for a parade in the city!!! Woo hoo!

Borough President Eric Adams held a press conference a couple of weeks ago, addressing the violence that took place at the West Indian Day parade – during which Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s aide was seriously injured after being shot. Forget about the fact that the victim, Carey Gabay, was simply “caught in the crossfire” of a gang violence which left him clinging to life. And forget about the fact that the gunman’s been on the loose for a while now.

The fact that we’re constantly talking about “cracking down on gun violence” with no real plan of action is very disturbing. What provokes someone to bring a weapon to a highly attended public event and open fire on innocent people?

The Daily News reported last week, after local pols got together for a press conference, that “guns are to blame for the violence, not the festival.” Let’s get real! An object just fired ITSELF into a crowd? That damned gun! How dare it go off! The celebrations aren’t the problems, the guns are! We told those dang guns to stay off the streets, didn’t we?

I have one question for politicians who are “addressing violence at and around J’Ouvert celebrations.” What about other parades? St. Patty’s Day? The Columbus Day parade? How about potential violence at the Pride parade? The Dominican Day parade? The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade? How many shootings have taken place at these highly attended festivities? Where are the leaders and coordinators of those parades? Maybe they can share their secrets for having a smooth-running celebration…

Making a statement on how “these shootings need to come to an end” is like shooting a gun in outer space. Hey, Jupiter can use some random acts of violence too! 

The only parade we have in Canarsie is the Memorial Day Parade – and we haven’t seen gun violence break out in the midst of our celebrations.

According to Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson, many of the firearms obtained by local residents are brought here from the south. On a national scale, who’s responsible for putting an end to gun trafficking?

Many leaders are their own worst enemy – saying that Stop Question and Frisk unfairly targets minorities, and that its tactics need to be reformed. Why? If we had police officers conducting Stop and Frisk in and around the West Indian parade perimeters, maybe that goon would have been caught sooner and the gun would have been taken off of our streets. But no…that gun is most likely still in circulation.

What measures do we need to take? How about turning our parades into mini war zones with armed soldiers in army fatigues at each corner ready to apprehend someone who brandishes a weapon? How about checkpoints set up 24 hours before and after an event where police officers examine the insides of your pockets, bags and clothes? How about metal detectors all over the damned place? Where does it end?

Unless we take preventative physical measures and CATCH someone who’s armed, we’re not going to resolve the problem of gun violence. Our city, along with the NYPD, doesn’t have the money to place armed guards at every intersection near Eastern Parkway – and is that what we want to see when we’re trying to celebrate our freedom to…celebrate?

I’m not saying that if the parade was completely canceled that gun violence in that area wouldn’t exists. After all, those damned guns have a mind of their own and put themselves in the wrong peoples’ hands. Shoot, I thought I had the answer…

Hail To The Yuppies And The Paths They (Won’t) Trek!

There’s no end in sight to the controversy behind bike lanes being constructed in our community. On a personal level, I grew quite tired of hearing about the crazy ways the Department of Transportation (DOT) was changing the direction of traffic to accommodate the new bike paths, which would connect Canarsie to other communities by encouraging cyclists – or rather, forcing them – to pass through the neighborhood. 

Hello yuppie!

I don’t have an opinion on where Canarsie should have them or if they’re creating more of a mess than anything. One question I have about these bike lanes and their ability to bring more passersby through our community is: What’s in our community for out-of-town cyclists who will actually use these bike lanes to peruse Brooklyn?

I’ve already offered my two cents about the idea to bring a ferry to Canarsie Pier. What does Canarsie have to offer visitors? Nail salons? Chinese take out places that are on every street? A storefront church in which to worship? Let’s get real!

I was finishing one of my runs in Canarsie Park a couple of months ago and left the park from the back, passing Canarsie Road. A woman on her bike got my attention. I could tell she was one of these yuppies not from our community – a Caucasian girl with a long skirt and purse strap slung across her chest is not an everyday sight in Canarsie. In what sounded like an Australian accent, she asked me where the nearest coffeehouse was located, saying she just came from the bike path off of the pier and wanted a small, quaint place to sit outside and enjoy a drink.

What is this – Park Slope??? Prospect Park?? We ain’t got no cafes, eateries or restaurants with outdoor dining! So what do we have to offer those avid cyclists who follow the bike path from Paerdegat Avenue North to the park? McDonalds?? Gas stations where they can pump their bike tires with air?

I told the local tourist that she could head to Rockaway Parkway to our local Dunkin’ Donuts – or McDonald’s for a cup of java. She made a face as if to say, “I’ve biked for miles on that nice long path to reach this community where there are NO nearby cafes that I can sit outside?” I was almost embarrassed to tell her that she should have kept going to Cross Bay Boulevard where there are a lot of outdoor seating-type places – BY THE WATER (yeah, sort of like Canarsie, but better!).

It’s a great idea to connect Brooklyn bikers through a common path that will encourage them to explore different communities in their travels. Subsequently, there must have been a rhyme or reason for proposing the bike lanes along Shore Parkway and along East 102nd Street.

However, I’m sure there’s a better place in Canarsie for visitors to pass than the projects at Bayview Houses – where drivers are taking an alternate route to get to the Belt Parkway and there’s already mass confusion!

Still, bikers who want to stop in Canarsie after a long ride need more than just a $1 store to make their experience worthwhile.

When I was a kid – back in the 1980s, Canarsie had lots of small delis, bakeries and café-type businesses – but no hipsters! There were a lot of people biking in our community back then. I remember, when I lived on East 91st Street near Seaview Avenue, biking to Canarsie Park and riding over the sand dunes. My favorite time to bike at the park was when merchants in the area sponsored the street fair all along the avenue. You could spend a day pedaling around the park, then enjoy a cold drink or snack from the vendors at the fair – and the fair had HUNDREDS of people. It would have been ideal back then to have a bike path leading into Canarsie so residents of other communities could join our fun times.

But no.

Fortunately, when residents protested the bike lanes in Canarsie, including one that would be placed along East 108th Street, it seemed to have worked and the DOT listened to our demands. Things are somewhat back to normal, thanks to fighting the good fight.

It all works out in the end; Canarsie has little or nothing for the hipster yuppies who bike through the borough. They’ll turn back or keep going when they reach our commercially inept community. Happy trails!

When Quaint Communities Don't Speak Up

When they say Canarsie is a “quiet” and “quaint” “family-oriented” community, I truly believe them. Who's “them”? Politicians, civic leaders and residents who have lived here for decades. I'm not going to disagree with “them” but if this community is “family-oriented” and “quaint,” why isn't anyone coming out to stand against the incidents that victimize our residents? Seems like we're more quiet than anything!

The day the police released a sketch of the Canarsie rapist, I expected activists and residents to be out on the streets stapling copies of the drawing to utility poles, storefronts and light poles. I expected a group of women to reach out to the media and say, “We're not going to be victimized in our community!!” I expected someone – maybe a young woman who lives on Rockaway Parkway – to start a movement. 

Shhhhhhhh!

Alas, we remained a “quiet” and “quaint” community that stays indoors and doesn't demand justice!

Where are the mothers, daughters, grandmothers and other women who have to walk the streets at night when they're coming home from work or school – or maybe a social function? 

Where is there a group of women with the mentality, strength and anger to get together and march through the streets to let this cowardly attacker know that we're waiting for him to be caught?

Which politicians out there will spearhead a protest or press conference that will lead to women in our community taking a stand for themselves? We should be seeing hundreds of women marching up and down Rockaway Parkway with signs that say, “We want our safety back!”…“We're not afraid of our streets!” and “Get this thug out of our community!”

With all of the female activists and leaders in our community, are ANY of them planning on coordinating a massive event – even if the perpetrator is caught – that will educate women and empower those who are simply looking to make it home safely no matter what time of day or night it is?

Let's get real!! If all we're going to do is sit back and let the cops put a couple of bright lights and a command center at the crime scene, it's not doing much more than telling the rapist that if he plans on striking again, he'd better go elsewhere in Canarsie since authorities possibly know his travel pattern.

I don't think it's enough to advise women to pay attention while they're on the streets. It's not enough to tell a girl to take her headphones off and be vigilant of who's walking around. A woman can be approached by a man she's lived next door to for HER ENTIRE LIFE and never suspect that he plans on raping her that one time she communicates with him.

On another note – why aren't male civic leaders coming out and talking to the men in our community!!! Spread the word to male residents that talking to a woman who is walking alone in the middle of the night WILL eventually land them in jail. Someone has to talk to the criminal minds out there and set them straight. Someone needs to tell these thugs to leave women alone and have RESPECT for a young lady – no matter if she ignores them or rejects them. Women do not deserve to be harassed – why don't men understand that? If they're mentally disturbed, women need to have the tools to combat these dangerous goons. If we're approached by a psycho – what do we do? What steps do we take to ensure ourselves that we can walk away without becoming a victim?

Alas...We remain a “quiet” and “quaint” community with no protests and minimal finger-wagging from politicians when it comes to speaking out against heinous and violent acts. I'm guessing no one is truly upset about what's going on in our community?

There are plenty of communities that sponsor marches and include the involvement of quality-of-life organizations. If we've got an intoxicated driver who kills a child, where's Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)? Are we getting all of these organizations involved in making our community safer? How many organizations out there advocate for women's safety and rights? Can't we (whoever 'we' are) get them involved? Can't we have a non-profit sponsor a self-defense course for the community at a local event? Plenty of women need support and education from sources that specialize in educating the public on all different dangerous situations.

When will it be our community's turn to speak up and make a fuss?

That's right, we're a “quiet” and “quaint” community...

Keep Our Kids Snoozing Because Of All The Sleep They’re Losing

Sometimes when I watch the morning news, the anchormen openly discuss what time they got up in the morning to arrive at the studio – or at their field assignment – on time. What’s that? They had to get up at 2 in the morning to prepare for a 4 a.m. broadcast? Going to bed 7 in the evening is NOT glamorous, but HEY, let’s get real (didn’t see it coming so early in my column did you!) you need a good night’s sleep to be able to function and perform in your career if you want to be successful.

When I saw one of the reports from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, coddling our children because their school day starts too early, all I could think is – what are these kids gonna do when they get out there in the REAL WORLD?

Sleep your school days away Junior!

According to their studies, “fewer than one in five middle and high schools in the U.S. began the school day at the recommended 8:30 a.m. start time or later during the 2011-2012 school year." What’s the problem? The CDC says that too-early start times can keep students from getting the sleep they need for health, safety and academic success. Oh puh-lease!

Wahhhhhh! If city workers - like garbage men and highway construction crews, who had to get up at 3 in the morning complained that they’re “not as productive as they can be” because they don’t get enough sleep, we’d say – get another job where you don’t have to hustle to earn a living.

The CDC’s report said that in 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement urging middle and high schools to modify their start times. Why? Do we want to spoil our children into thinking they shouldn’t be hard workers the way adults have to be in order to be productive?

Yes – students need ample sleep after studying ‘X’ amount of hours. I understand they’ve got a hard life of completing assignments and participating in extracurricular activities. But what about a teacher who’s up late at night grading papers and has to take care of her family? Doesn’t she deserve more sleep too? Noooo….just let the KIDS come in later so they could snooze and extra hour while the rest of us are on our way to work!

In my opinion, they should keep these students coming to school early and getting their day started early. If they’re GOOD students – dedicated students – they and their parents will manage their time efficiently so that there’s time to study, participate in extracurricular activities and get enough sleep.

What time do I get up in the morning? Well, I have the luxury of living in Canarsie, not too far from where I work, so I’m up at 7 to be at work at 9. But when I have to cover a meeting in the evening, I’ve basically worked a 12-hour day and first settle in near 8 at night.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a Community Education Council meeting at 7 p.m. While I only had a of couple hours to “rejuvenate,” I also needed to keep up with my “extracurricular” hobby of running three miles, which I complete almost every other day. The fact that I had a meeting that night didn’t deter me! I came home, went out for my run for an hour, came back, freshened up and went to my meeting! AND I had to write the article about the meeting when I got home!

Whose fault is it that our kids aren’t getting enough sleep? If they’re hanging out and wasting time, they’re losing time that they could get their projects done and go to bed ON TIME!

When you’re tired, who do you have to blame? Usually no one but yourself! However, officials will have you believe that our kids have it so bad that they should be babied until they leave high school! Whose fault is this?

PARENTS!!!

Here’s a novel idea – maybe if you keep them on an early schedule, the way a professional adult has to be, they’ll learn good old fashioned work ethic values! They say insufficient sleep is causing our kids to be overweight and use drugs. Whose fault is THIS?

PARENTS!!!!

I strongly believe the best way to lead is by example. What example are we setting for youngsters if we cow down to allowing them to go to school later – even if it’s by an hour? How prepared will they be for college or a full time career – where they have to get up at the crack of dawn – if their early years are spent mismanaging or wasting their time so that they’re not sleeping enough?

Youngsters hate going back to school and having to follow that “routine”. Soak it up kiddies –because guess what, once you’re grown up and doing whatever it is that you’ve gone to school FOR, you won’t have those summer vacations to sleep late and slack off. We need to prepare our kids for the not-so-easy life of being an adult and being on a productive schedule. If you don’t agree, go ahead and press the snooze button – the professionals will be up and working while you’re in your tenth dream…

Being Stopped By A Cop – Common Sense Or Senseless

Car stops have become commonplace in communities all over our country. In many recent cases, confrontations with police officers have escalated – resulting in civilian injuries and even death. Even youths getting arrested for being in “the wrong place at the wrong time” is smeared all over newspapers.

When it came to Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, Sandra Bland and New York’s own Eric Garner dying while in police custody, the country went ballistic figuring out how those who are supposed to protect us can abuse their power and cause so much friction between civilians and law enforcement.

What are your rights during a car stop?

Last week, when I saw the video of 23-year-old Alando Brissett being “beaten” by cops in one of our local Target stores, at first I took the side of civilians and shoppers who felt police brutality was clearly committed. Then when I read the fine print (well, not-so-fine print in the Daily News that indicated Brissett was disturbing store employees), I changed my mind and asked, “What if this guy was dangerous and threatened the cops?” All we have is footage of Brissett being subdued in a violent manner – we have no idea what transpired before the video began.

We can take both sides on the debate of how interactions with police can be de-escalated. Yes, in some incidents I do believe that police use excessive force on those who are unarmed. However, they are probably trained to believe that when someone is resisting arrest, it’s reason enough to go to any measures to make sure no one gets hurt…but when someone dies – could it have been avoided?

There are two problems, I believe, that communities aren’t addressing. One is understanding that there are two sides to every story. The second is demonstrating why there are two sides to every story.

Last week I conjured up some costly ways police departments can utilize their National Night Out Against Crime. What I forgot to add to the roster of events they should have is lessons on what to do when you’re apprehended by a police officer.

Let’s get real! Not everyone knows what their rights are when a police officer pulls you over or approaches you. Not everyone knows if the police officer will feel like their life is at danger by what you say and by your seemingly simple body actions. If you’re walking on the street and a police questions you randomly – about anything – and you put your hand into your pocket, potentially looking suspicious – you might question why an officer would overreact and whip out their gun assuming you’re armed. Is a cop going to take a chance that there’s no weapon in your pocket and that your body language was innocent?

In order to better educate the community on how to act, not act – and react – while interacting with police officers, why don’t we have seminars on these engagements? I’ve heard of these types of sessions being “in the works” but shouldn’t local precincts and community councils sponsor lectures on avoiding police brutality incidents?

I propose that precincts sponsor apprehension simulation programs – at least twice a month – and demonstrate how and why situations can escalate between police officers and civilians. What they should do is conduct the simulations in a parking lot – have the civilians sit in the driver’s seat and reenact a car stop. Where should your hands be when you roll down the window to exchange information with the police officer? What are your legal rights? What can you say – and what should you not say? What tone of voice should you use? If a police officer asks you to get out of your vehicle, what are your rights and what should you do? By demonstrating a scene-by-scene breakdown to residents, maybe it will help them better understand their fate.

There should be a separate seminar for teens. If a cop approaches them and asks for ID, they should be taught not to get an attitude or say, “Man, I wasn’t doin’ nuthin!” Teach our youths about saying the right things to cops if they’re pulled aside. Give them a dialogue sheet with an imaginary scenario and demonstrate how their body language – and street language – can land them in cuffs. Does your son or daughter know their legal rights? If they’re not carrying drugs or a weapon on them, all they need to know is that saying, “Yes, officer” will help them avoid being apprehended for resisting arrest.

Sure, you can be dealing with a really bad cop who has a bad day and is ready to take their hatred out on you. However, equipping yourself with the respect, tools and skills that will help you safely escape being handcuffed gets you farther away from becoming a statistic who was a victim of police brutality.

Another angle that local police should help the community understand is how they deal with apprehending someone who is emotionally disturbed. Do they really deal accordingly with mentally unstable people? In my opinion, there are many instances where police do not know if someone is mentally unstable and they do not deal with them accordingly. How is the NYPD improving this discrepancy?

There should be multiple seminars offered to our residents, which showcase all different scenarios in which they can be arrested for having an attitude that’s self-defensive, “harmless and innocent.”

We can beat ourselves senselessly by spending more money on town hall meetings about tax liens, flood zones, insurance fraud and energy bills. What the public really needs is an interactive lesson about staying out of prison and dying at the hands of those who protect us.