Here we see an example of why police must know the everyday people of the community they serve. These officers are trying to do their jobs. They probably have no idea what these men mean to the community. It seems clear that putting the men in the story through the experience of going to court is good for no one. These men are part of the community experience. They provide guidance and a kind of wisdom to all that watch their games of chess and especially those they teach how to play. I think if both the police and the citizens remember that we are in this together and we either rise or fall together, it would go along way in improving communities in many cities across the country. It's hard, but communities have the right to be free of fear from the government/police and criminals. It is not a trade off. This can only happen if we work together. MTM
By dnainfo –
Wed Nov 17, 11:54 am ET, Carla Zanoni, DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
INWOOD — A group of seven mild-mannered chess players are due in criminal court next month after police officers from the 34th Precinct issued them summonses for playing their favorite board game in
Inwood Hill Park.
The men were ticketed on Oct. 20 for being inside of
Emerson Playground, a children's play area off limits to adults unaccompanied by minors. But the men were in an area furnished with stone chess and backgammon tables — separated from the play area by a fence.
"There is a problem in this area with drug dealing, but the police have time to write tickets to people playing chess?" asked Yacahudah Harrison, 48, one of the men who received a summons for "Fail[ing] to comply with signs."
The men said the police pulled right up to the corner of 207th Street and Seaman Avenue, and came directly to their table. Now they're due in criminal court on Dec. 28.
Click here for full story.
police and criminals. It is not a trade off. The only way to bring this about is together.
Here we see an example of why police must know the everyday people of the community they serve. These officers are trying to do their jobs. They probably have no idea what these men mean to the community. It seems clear that putting the men in the story through the experience of going to court is good for no one. These men are part of the community experience. They provide guidance and a kind of wisdom to all that watch their games of chess and especially those they teach how to play. I think if both the police and the citizens remember that we are in this together and we either rise or fall together, it would go along way in improving communities in many cities across the country. It's hard, but communities have the right to be free of fear from the government/police and criminals. It is not a trade off. This can only happen if we work together. MTM
By dnainfo – Wed Nov 17, 11:54 am ET, Carla Zanoni, DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
INWOOD — A group of seven mild-mannered chess players are due in criminal court next month after police officers from the 34th Precinct issued them summonses for playing their favorite board game in Inwood Hill Park.
The men were ticketed on Oct. 20 for being inside of Emerson Playground, a children's play area off limits to adults unaccompanied by minors. But the men were in an area furnished with stone chess and backgammon tables — separated from the play area by a fence.
"There is a problem in this area with drug dealing, but the police have time to write tickets to people playing chess?" asked Yacahudah Harrison, 48, one of the men who received a summons for "Fail[ing] to comply with signs."
The men said the police pulled right up to the corner of 207th Street and Seaman Avenue, and came directly to their table. Now they're due in criminal court on Dec. 28. Click here for full story.
police and criminals. It is not a trade off. The only way to bring this about is together.
