Charles Davis.  Sean Carrington.  Gerard Carter.  Rodney Andrews. James Nemorin.  Robert Parker.  Dillon Stewart.  Randolph Holder.

Fidelis Ad Mortem

 

A leading activist in Black Lives Matter stated this to the media about blacks who become police officers: “Black and brown guys that join the [NYPD]?” he said.  “You can’t trust ‘em.  They go blue as soon as they become cops and the blue line is ruled by white men.  We don’t want them here telling our people what to do.”

The names I have listed above are some of the black police officers who were shot and killed trying to make our communities safer.  These officers were killed between when I joined the NYPD in 1993 and today.  Three of the eight were killed here on Staten Island.

Our communities need to work together.  It will require deep, thoughtful and uncomfortable conversations.  We must discuss inherent bias, all racism, and we must acknowledge the violence that plagues our communities.

I shared in the past, the work I was part of as President of Community Education Council 31 and the District Leadership Team.  I was very proud of the work we did on My Brothers Keeper and the Building Empathy, Equity and Excellence project.  This work involved Systems Thinking to work to bring about positive changes.  It involved close, personal and uncomfortable conversations.  Our diverse group learned new things about each other from these deep, personal and uncomfortable conversations.

This type of work is something I believe our city needs to move forward.

Read about the Building Empathy, Equity and Excellence work here.