Teens, cops work for better future

By Matthew McLaughlin

Somerville teenagers recently had an encounter with police that resulted in some harsh words being exchanged.

“Racism!” one youth shouted.
“Gangs!” an officer yelled back.
“Respect!” another teen hollered.
“Graffiti!” Another cop proclaimed.

The verbal exchange was not part of a street fight, however. Both groups were shouting assumptions people make about cops and teens. This was one of many activities Teen Empowerment, a non-profit organization in Somerville, used in a three-day workshop to create greater dialogue between two groups that are often at odds with each other. Police from Somerville, Medford and Everett participated in the event.

Wendy Weiser, program director for Somerville TE, said the forum strives to create a better understanding by finding a common ground between cops and kids.

“The things we can talk about are the things we have in common.  Like what your favorites sports teams are, or what your favorite food is,” she said.

Police Chief Anthony Holloway, said he thought the event was positive because it allowed police to see teenagers in a different light.

“Nine times out of ten, cops talking to kids has a negative context,” he said. “So it is nice to get together and put a personality behind the faces.

Jenny Cermeno, 18, also said she thought the event broke down some barriers of communication.
“A lot of times kids look at cops like they’re the bad guys,” she said. “I hope both people will make less assumptions.”

The two groups discussed everything from what their favorite sports teams are to what neighborhood they are from. They also participated in games that encouraged teamwork and acted in role reversals where cops played teenagers and vice versa in everyday encounters on the street.

Many of the performances and conversations revolved around teenagers hanging out at a park and being approached by police, a common occurrence in the city.

“There are less things for kids to do,” said Greg Rego, 18.  “The movie theater is closed, Goodtimes is getting closed. The only thing really to do is to go down to the park.  If you kick us out of the park, where are we going to go?”

Several officers said that while they have to enforce park curfews, they actually prefer kids in the park than out on the street.

“I personally want the kids down at Lincoln Park,” said officer Jim McNally, who patrols around Union Square. “Now I know where they are all the time.”

McNally said there are occasions when teenagers are not doing the right thing at the parks and he has to enforce the law. But he also said he will occasionally get calls of people breaking the law only to find someone called to police simply for seeing teenagers.

“Sometimes older people automatically call and say ‘oh they’re breaking into cars’ and ‘they’re selling drugs.’” he said.  Incidents like this contribute to tensions between well-intentioned cops and teens. Tanya Joseph, 15, said she has been approached several times by police without provocation.

“You come up to me as if I’m already doing something wrong, so I already have that tension in my  chest,” she said. “Police don’t really know us personally.”

Holloway said he hopes community interaction will increase in the coming months when the police   department reorganizes to a new structure that will feature more community policing. But while police have to be more engaging in the community, teenagers also have to take a leap of faith as well, he said.

“You have to make that step also and communicate with us,” Holloway said.

At the end of the dialogue, Teen Empowerment members and police signed an agreement to strive for better interactions with each other. Police agreed to give teenagers the benefit of the doubt and teenagers agreed to manage their own behavior and break down the us versus them mentality. And both agreed to have more events like the one they attended in the future.

Comments

[Tanner]

“I personally want the kids down at Lincoln Park,” said officer Jim McNally, who patrols around Union Square. “Now I know where they are all the time.”

Yeah sure......so it will make it easier for him to arrest them so he can get $court time$...cha-ching!

It's not easy being the on top of the city payroll year after year.

[Mike]

This makes me sick lmao. All these crooked cops pretending to enjoy working with all these adolescents. How much did they get for overtime doing this event? You know something's up when you see officer hickey holding a teenagers hand without putting handcuffs on them.

[Who is Officer Hicky]

Who is officer Hicky? Is he a nice guy?

[Sara]

A one-time event doesn't cut it. Why doesn't the city bring back the community police officers? This was an effective, on-going tool for the police and the kids, who got to know one another. The neighbors knew they could talk to the community officer about problems in their neighborhood. This officer would be dealing with the drug problems in this city, rather than watching from the sidelines as the police are doing now.

[Ward 3 Voter]

Hey Chief Holloway & Somerville News Bloggers
Officer Nick Stiles, Officer Jim McNally are great poice officers somerville has and also there are many many more to many to list. Also i known these police officers for a very long time. Keep up the good work officers.
Ward 3 Voter

[Rob]

We have a MORON here !!! Thats not Hicky in the photo, as a matter of fact, its not even a Somerville cop. Its so funny reading the commentary from the local idiots.

[Ward 3 Voter]

hey Rob
get a life.

[hey rob]

the very first photo and the guy growing bald is officer hickey, so who's the Moron now

[The Last Of The Mohican!]

Officer Hickey is a great guy he's like the last of the mohicans. A true pioneer!

[look before you leap]

The balding guy is from the Everett police. I was there.

[SpermWhale]

I find it hard to beleive that after all these years the local Morons don't know what Hickey looks like. There are enough of you idiots that have his autograph. Although that Everett cop looks a little like Hickey, he's missing one thing..... the wheel barrow...... thats what Hick uses to carry his balls around!

[Tanner]

“I personally want the kids down at Lincoln Park,” said officer Jim McNally, who patrols around Union Square. “Now I know where they are all the time.”

Do you think I was kidding when I commented on "McNally's" motives in the above post?

Somerville -
Two 17 year-old Somerville residents were busted for pot after police caught them and four of their friends smoking and playing basketball at Lincoln Park Wednesday, May 28, a police report said.

According to the report, authorized by Officer James McNally, six males were hanging around at the school basketball courts. It appeared, McNally wrote, some of them were passing something around. McNally saw they were smoking.

McNally witnessed several of the youths smoking, including Salami and Jit, before he called for backup. Officers Steve St. Hilaire, Marcos Freitas, Alan Monaco and Sgt. Neil Brennan responded.

The police officers frisked each individual to see who was carrying pot. They also found a pile of discarded clothing, including a pair of blue jeans worn by Salami, which contained a large plastic bag holding seven smaller plastic bags, each reportedly filled with pot. A pair of black jeans, claimed by Jit, also contained a bag of marijuana.

Of the six youths, Jit and Salami were arrested.