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This is the fourth in an occasional series by a neighborhood police officer from the 8th Precinct in Northwest Detroit. His personal views are adapted from Facebook posts with permission.
By Baron Coleman
‘A large impact on my life’
May 25, 2016
Every now and again I work secondary employment while in uniform. While I was on security duty tonight at a business, two young men approach me, both with dead serious stares.
Officer Baron Coleman: "it's good to never mistreat people." (Facebook photos)
One said: “You don't remember me, do you?”
When it was clear that I didn’t, he explained: ”You used to write me tickets for skipping school at Henry Ford." Once, he said, I informed him: "You have an option -- you get a few tickets or I take you into school and lecture you for a few minutes.”
According to this young man, now 23, he chose the lecture and recalls that I spoke to a group of students aged 14-17 for an hour.
When I asked about the impact of the conversation, he said he never skipped again, went on to earn a college degree and is working. "It made a large impact on my life,” he said. “It was nice to know a cop actually cared about me."
It was six years ago when we had met and I had no memory of the day I lectured a room full of skippers. But at least one never forgot what he heard.
His friend’s words were: "That's cool you looked out for him."
That's about the third time in the last 10 years a child has told me my intervention had motivated them to succeed, I feel it's a ministry to be able to help someone with words and time.
That’s another reason why it's good to never mistreat people.
‘I used to be that boy’
April 13, 2016
On the way home from a great day at work, I stopped at a local Coney to get my healthy evening meal -- chicken, grill peppers, tomatoes, vinegar. They know me.
A 15-year-old tall kid stopped me before I got out of the police car.
He politely waited for me to finish a phone call and then asked: "Can I please use your phone to call my people? I'm hoping to wait at my grandma’s house while I wait for the bus.”
The next bus wouldn’t come for an hour. I called his granny for him, she said: “No!”
So I told him instead of freezing outside, why don't you wait in the Coney?
He said they told him he had to order to wait inside, and gave me the impression he didn’t have money,
This boy plays basketball at Henry Ford High, where I know Coach Ken Flowers, Principal Kristen Woods-Helms and the officer of the school, Corey Whitti.
I love that school on Evergreen, so I told this kid: "Let’s go inside and eat.” I told him to order whatever he wanted.
He ordered a plate of chicken tenders, fries and a pop. The kid went to town on that plate,
I asked: "When was the last time you ate? "
He said it was around 10 a.m.. We sat down at 7 p.m.
I use to be that boy, so I sat with him for a few minutes. Before leaving, I gave him my card and told him I will see him again, I told the folks in the Coney take care of this young man for me, he has a promising future.
That is my hope for our young -- a successful future. Hopefully, he won't forget a great experience with the police. I hope it planted a seed.
Street corner outreach and ‘mutual respect’
April 12, 2016
Today I spent about 30 minutes at a gas station on 7 Mile. Young guys like that location, so I thought I’d give it a long visit.
It wasn’t long before four teens walked up, so I signaled them to my police car, I introduced myself. They responded to my respectful approach.
I inquired about their hairstyles -- nappy unkempt. Their reply: “The women like it."
We talked about Black Lives Matter, bad cops, aggressive cops and hateful cops.
The ages were 17-18. I allowed them to open up. From the beginning, one was not feeling me. But three were all in.
One asked: "What made you join the police?"
Great question. I related that I also had concerns about police as a youth, and that instead of hating police I joined the department to help make it what I thought it should be about.
I gave these boys my card and asked them to keep in touch. My last words were to be careful, be happy and stay alive.
We had a good talk with mutual respect, I'm glad I have learned the power of reaching people.
Neighborhood policing means knowing your community and letting residents know you.
