Harlem Cops and Kids Day boosts community-police relations

Over 1,500 people are expected for peaceful walk followed by afternoon of interactive games, free food/ice cream and live entertainment

After a tense year of community-police relations and in the midst of a sharp rise in murders and violence this year, NYPD, Public Advocate Letitia James, Manhattan DA Cy Vance, members of Harlem clergy, Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E., Healthfirst, Manpower Group, NY Republican State Committee, FreshDirect and  T. Carrillo Funeral Service will unite with Harlem residents in a Walk for Life followed by Cops and Kids Day of Fun and Food. The events kickoff at 1:30PM on Thursday, June 11 from West 128th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard.
The Walk for Life will call for an end to the violence, shootings and killing of each other in Harlem. The walk will be led by clergy, elected officials, community leaders, NYPD Foundation and former heavy weight champion Riddick Bowe. Participants will gather at 1:30 p.m. on West 128th Street between Frederick Douglass Boulevard and St. Nicholas Avenue and walk to Rucker Park to greet the kids as they are dismissed from school.

Next, Harlem residents and New York City’s Finest will join together in Rucker Park for a friendly competitive basketball tournament, fun interactive games, food/ice cream and live entertainment headlined by the renowned Kid Capri and Reggie Reg from the legendary group, Crash Crew.

More than games, fun and food will be enjoyed. There will be a host of give-away items to include a college scholarship, summer internships, summer camps awards, books/school supplies awards and several passes to Macy’s in store ”Modern Man” where boys/men ages 12-18 will learn how to dress for success, coordinate ties/pocket squares and learn the art of shaving.

During the planning process the Hon. Letitia James stated, “The public advocate is proud to be a partner in an ongoing effort to improve police-community relations.” The event organizers and many in the Harlem community believe that events such as Cops and Kids Day are proactive ways to heal community and law enforcement relations and that safety is a shared responsibility.

Cops and Kids – 2:30 (Rucker Park) West 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem.