Schools

Midwood High Student Wins NYPD Award

Essay earns student the chance to be "Commanding Officer for a Day."

By Will Yakowicz

A Park Slope police officer, Jimmy Jean-Mary, helps get kids off the streets and get some real police experience.

Participating in an essay contest through the Police Athletic League and Explorer Program, one of Officer Jean-Mary's kids got to sit in the Commanding Officer's seat for the day at the 78th Precinct.

A 17-year-old Midwood High School student, Dennis Sivohins won the PAL's "Commanding Officer for a Day" essay contest last week.

Officer Jean-Mary helped Sivohins through a typical day at the 78, including entering crimes into the station's CompStat database.

"We took him through some tasks that Deputy Inspector Ameri does while at work," Jean-Mary said. "He really enjoyed it."

The 78th Precinct's Commanding Officer, Deputy Inspector Michael Ameri said that the Explorer Program helps kids get positive experience.

"Dennis is a good kid, but more importantly it's a good experience for him to see the other side of the police department and do some of the day-to-day work we do here," Ameri said.

Sivohins wants to become a pilot, so he is planning to join the Air Force once he graduates high school.

But, although Dennis was the only one to win the contest, he isn’t the only motivated Explorer.

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“I have a bunch of bright kids in my program who want to go into the Air Force, military or trade school,” said Officer Jean-Mary.

As Jean-Mary helps to mentor his kids, he says that he gives them tons of advice to help achieve their goals:

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“I tell them that a closed mouth will never get fed. If you don’t ask questions, you will never know. And you have to ask questions to learn,” he said.

The Explorer Program is a way to help kids get positive role models in their lives.

“Children are like sponges, they absorb a lot of information, and if they’re led by a positive group they will have a positive future,” Officer Jean-Mary said.

The NYPD's Law Enforcement Explorers is a community service, career-oriented program designed to educate young men and women, ages 14 to 20, about Law Enforcement.

The Explorer program reaches out to New York City's young adults in every community to help build up relations between the community and New York City Police Department. 

Explorers are taught the importance of higher education, self discipline, and respect for authority while they actively participate in community service projects and other Exploring events. Learn more about the NYPD's Law Enforcement Explorers on the Community Affairs website. 


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