69 Pct. Youth Officer Retires After 20-Year NYPD Career

P.O. Johnson (right) presented a plaque to New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly last April for his “dedication to the youth of Canarsie.”

Sixty-ninth Precinct Youth Officer Jimmy Johnson retired today. He wrote the following, exclusively for the Canarsie Courier, about his 20 years as a member of the New York City Police Department.

By Jimmy Johnson

I smiled as I pondered a bittersweet ending. Keeping in mind that every end is the beginning of something new, I’m confident my work here has been done — what a triumphant finish for such humble beginnings. Without a doubt, this was the work of God.

I entered the Police Academy in 1985. I was full of ideas and expectations. A far cry from the boy who grew up in the Tilden Houses in Brownsville, I graduated from the academy in September 1985. No shattered glass or concrete stockpile could stop me now.

My first assignment was with Neighborhood Stabilization Unit #15 with foot posts in the 83rd, 94th and 90th precincts. In 1986 I went to Brooklyn’s 70th precinct, where I patrolled the vicinity of Church and Ocean avenues.

I soon received an offer to join Brooklyn South Narcotics Team as an undercover officer. I joined on a trial basis. After four years and 500 arrests, I returned to precinct duties. I landed in the 63rd precinct for approximately a year. By this time I had seven years on the job. I found myself wanting to do more to help the community.

It wasn’t until I was transferred to the 69th Precinct in May 1992, that I found an outlet for my heartfelt desire: the desire to help youths.

I partnered with Officer Alice Nelson. We were Sector Eddie at the southern end of the precinct. On a bright sunny day as we patrolled near the Breukelen Houses we saw three youths, all about twelve years old. They looked bored and discontent. I thought, what could we do, we’re just cops on patrol. Then I remembered that the position for youth officer was vacant.

"That’s it. If we become youth officers, we can help these children find something to do," I said to Alice. We got the job, but there was no one to tell us how to reach out to the children. It was on-the-job training."

We found time to pass through the project in between our paper workload. We didn’t know what to do. Yet I knew we had to do something. My girlfriend, Denise, and I began taking small groups of neighborhood children on outings, including the Museum of Natural History and the Bronx Zoo, in the back of our 1985 Datsun 200X.

My partner Alice and I were scheduled for Youth Officer training. This is where I found out about the Explorers group. I was told every precinct should have one and thought this is just what we need at the 69.

I started the first Law Enforcement post in the 69th Precinct in 1995 — and not a moment too soon. Those trips were getting expensive. There was only one thing that would make this program complete — youths! I needed at least six youngsters to start a program. One day a tough looking girl entered the precinct in handcuffs. She was crying and making threats. My supervising sergeant pointed at me from across the 50-foot muster room and said, "Johnson, get in there and get an address from that youth. You’re the youth officer now."

I had no idea what I was going to do. I walked to where the young girl was handcuffed to a bar. I asked her, "Does your mother know that you’re here?" She asked me for water. Filled with inescapable compassion I brought her a filled glass, and suddenly, through her tears, I could see hope.

She began asking for advice so I told her about the Explorer’s group. The youngster, whose name is Bianca Harrell, became one of my best leaders in the program.

Soon, gang membership started declining and Explorer’s membership increased. We made them feel like a part of the community by participating in graffiti clean up, street cleaning and other voluntary community service activities. I found that in order to reach the youth, you have to help them expand their self-image. I had to show them that they were more than basketball and rap. I took them skiing, white water rafting and sail boating.

The plight of youth is that those who love them don’t always understand them. And those who understand them don’t always love them or are themselves lost. My mission was to reconnect parents with their children, to help them understand their children and help the children understand their parents.

I thank God for the thousands of families I was able to help during my stint as a youth officer. I am also in debt to those who gave me the freedom to help families not only in the Canarsie area but also in various other communities around New York City.

Some of those who were instrumental in making my job as successful as it was deserve thanks. I thank Chief Joseph Fox, Chief Blackman, Chief James Secreto, Inspector Robert Johnsen, Captain Turnoff and Captain Brian White and many more.

I started the Explorers with no money, just zeal and ideas. It was Paul Curiale from New Millennium Youth organization, Councilman Lew Fidler, Assemblyman Frank Seddio, Sharon Devonlish–Leid, from the DA’s office, Gardy Brazela and Curtis Nelson from Sesame Flyers, who each helped me with funding and assistance in running the Explorers, which has grown to become the largest and most active law enforcement Explorer’s post in New York City for three years.

I will miss my good friend, Canarsie Courier editor Chuck Rogers. I’ve always said, "If there is no picture, then it never happened." Chuck was always there to make sure the community knew it happened. The Explorers served the community and Chuck reported it. He single-handedly spread the word that there were youths who were turning their lives around and helping the community.

I also send my gratitude to Courier associate editor Neil S. Friedman and former staffer Marsha Sereno and others at the weekly behind the pictures and stories.

In 1998, I noticed that gangs were on the rise in Canarsie. Few gang members remain today and local gang activity has declined since 1998. This resulted from diligent police efforts and cooperation from Chuck Rogers and the Canarsie Courier. Through superb police work and organization from the Police Commissioner to the Brooklyn South Task Force, as well as the great men and women of the 69th precinct, who provided the manpower to suppress violence, I took charge of the outreach portion of the puzzle. I conducted mediations, workshops and presentations to educate parents, teachers, politicians, clergy and the youth about gangs. I even infiltrated gang meetings to gain insight and help prevent future violence. Since that time I’ve conducted over five hundred presentations.

I am proud to have been the surrogate father for many youths in the Canarsie area. They will always be my children.

I’m going to miss my former, now deceased, partners — Gerrie Moore and James E. Davis, who was my partner before becoming a member of the City Council. I had some of my most exciting and spontaneous moments with James Davis, who I knew for 20 years and was a dear friend.

I am glad to say that I will continue to reach the youth and reconnect families in North Carolina. I will be working as a consultant to the Durham Police Department. I will be helping them with gang problems. As an ordained minister, I will be reaching out to the youth within the churches and compelling those on the outside to go in.

I would like to thank the Canarsie community for its love, faith and support.

Officer James Johnson signing out for the last time… "Sixty-two end of tour. K." I love you all, good night.

The Explorers will continue under the direction of Officer Valerie Wilson. Meetings are held 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Friday evenings. This is a year-round program and meetings are held at the 69th Precinct. The address is 9720 Foster Ave. You can call officer Wilson at 718-257-6302.

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