Al Sharpton Teaching Rookie Cops About Diversity

262 new cops, poised to graduate and start policing on July 2nd, gathered at Harlem's Apollo Theater yesterday for training on cross-cultural understanding, or, as Police Commissioner Ray Kelly puts it, "immersion training." For some rookies, it probably doesn't get more immersive than a visit from Rev. Al Sharpton, who was on hand to warn officers that "in most of our communities there's a tremendous fear of the cops and the robbers seem to be winning." But Sharpton's best sound bite came after the gathering, when he told reporters, "To me, it's always successful to be in a room full of police and not leave with my hands in cuffs." Yesterday marked the fourth and final day of mandatory diversity training, which was initiated after Sean Bell was shot and killed by plainclothes police officers in 2006; the sessions also come in the wake of the fatal cop-on-cop shooting in Harlem last month. The NYPD has been criticized for conducting a record-breaking number of stop-and-frisk searches this year, which groups like the NYCLU say disproportionately target minorities. Oh, and critics have also objected to the sodomy.

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By John Del Signore in News on June 19, 2009 11:40 AM

Comments [rss]

Potty Boy

When you have a petulant child, best thing to do is to ignore him. Lack of attention will shut him up or make him feel foolish. Sharpton, like all other loud-mouths, is like a petulant child. Treat him likewise. Spread the word, when you see or hear him, just ignore him. Don't get riled up. Just walk away and pretend he's invisible. When the news reports him, just change the channel until the report is over. When those around you start talking about him, tell them you're not interested in spreading publicity for him. When society gets hip to this notion, he'll be marginalized. It has a reverse-snowball effect.

And remember: Sharpton does not represent all minorities or even all African-Americans. He is a representative of one, himself. Most in his community are too busy going about their lives to make a fuss about this fool.

inoyourider

What a piece of shit.

longacre

The recruits are looking forward to next week's gun safety class taught by Plaxico Burress.

tsol

Has the NYCLU seen the NY Times murder map?

r1b2

Did he lose weight? He looks great in that shot. Just sayin'.

longacre

Yep, he did.

r1b2

Did he lose weight? He looks great in that shot. Just sayin'.

whitecastlerock

Is he also giving the rookies tax filing tips?

marcasm

I find it amazing that he still has any credibility. As meechybee pointed out, you must question the fact that the same man who fueled the Tawana Brawley case is now lecturing the police on tolerance ?

JacqueMehoff

what does nypd rant say about this? I don't want to know.

at least most of them don't live in the 5 boros and those that do want to leave ASAP. I've seen enough interviews with rookie cops and how they want to move out because of the scum they see in nyc. gee thanks officers.

Rocknrope

Ho-ly cow. I can imagine the looks on the faces of those officers, given the ones I know and their feelings towards this man.

NannyState

Delight?

hotstepper

this is a pandering load of horse shit. thanks for legitimizing that windbag NYPD.

Global Wombat

Godspeed you in your quest to correct the wrongs of society, Nubian Grand Wizard.

meechybee

Let me get this straight...

The mouthpiece for Tawana "I cried rape so I could be with my boyfriend" Brawley is lecturing the police on tolerance?

She accused at least one police officer of participating in the rape, smearing her with feces and marking her body with "KKK". Sharpton took all of this and splashed it all over the media -- even though many parts of her story didn't add up (she was seen on the street when she was supposed to have been with her abductors).

"Tolerance" is the last word I would ever associate with Sharpton.