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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Manhattan Teen Wins “Top Cop” Position in Police Athletic League's
Police Commissioner For A Day Essay Contest
Manhattan teen Jalyn Cameron, a student at Saint Vincent Ferrer High School, is named as winner of the Police Athletic League’s Police Commissioner For A Day essay contest. Jalyn will be a 12th grade student in September and has the honor of being named NYPD Police Commissioner For A Day on June 8th, receiving a special congratulatory message from Police Commissioner Dermot Shea, during a Zoom ceremony to mark the occasion.
“The Police Commissioner for a Day Essay contest is a long-standing and beloved tradition that brings cops and kids together in spirit of camaraderie and mutual understanding.” said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. “My congratulations to Jalyn and all of the essay winners – your talent and thoughtful perspectives have enriched all of us.”
Police Commissioner For A Day is a city-wide essay contest organized annually by the Police Athletic League. Contestants write essays about programs they would implement to improve the city, if they were the Police Commissioner. The question posed by the Police Commissioner for the 2021 contest is: Young people all over the world have been active in social justice issues, including peaceful protests. As Police Commissioner for a Day, how would you counsel your commands to ensure the protesters feel safe and heard? Winners of the essay contest are honored to be named Police Commissioner, First Deputy Commissioner, Chief of Department, Bureau Chiefs, Deputy Commissioners and Patrol Borough Commanders.
"For 76 years, the Police Commissioner for a Day Essay Contest has allowed our New York City youth to draw upon the knowledge instilled from their academic journey to express innovative ideas as future leaders of the world,” says Danielle Madden-Buck, Chief of Programs for the Police Athletic League. “This contest is a reflection of our 107-year partnership with the NYPD and our passion for supporting and inspiring our NYC youth. We celebrate, acknowledge, and are proud of all the winners of this year's contest and their zeal for enhancing and improving New York City.”
In Jalyn Cameron’s winning essay she states, “Another priority will be to make sure police are in constant communication with protest organizers from beginning to end. Together, they will outline the target of the protest, and the course it will take. Both parties will come to a joint understanding that the protest should remain peaceful and discuss methods to prevent violence. Officers will make it clear that it is their primary goal to ensure everyone’s safety during the demonstration. Any hateful/disruptive counter-protestors toward organized assemblies will be discouraged and will risk arrest.
I understand that the job as Police Commissioner is not an easy one. It’s a position that comes with hard decisions and tasks. With this in mind, I will not be afraid to ask for help and will seek counsel when necessary. I will listen and ask questions of protest leaders and organizations to understand how we can best serve their community and cause. I will talk to young people to hear their perspectives on matters and understand their grievances and construct efforts to rectify them.”
New York City’s Police Athletic League is the first and finest civilian-run PAL in the country. Founded in 1914, PAL has served the city’s young people for over 100 years. PAL provides recreational, educational, cultural and social activities to 20,000 boys and girls annually. It is also the city’s largest, independent, nonprofit youth organization. For more information, please visit www.palnyc.org.
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