Children’s Concerns on Gun Violence Addressed by Police Commissioner
Dozens of children engaged with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch at a community event in Harlem, where they discussed the NYPD’s strategies to combat rising gun violence and what it means for a woman to lead the police force.
“Hi, I’m Mariah,” a young girl introduced herself, speaking into a microphone in front of her peers and officers at the Police Athletic League (PAL) event. “I’m 11, and my brother is 13. With gun violence being such a big problem, how can we ensure all children, no matter their race or gender, are safe?”
This question reflects a grim reality: youth gun violence in New York City has surged to alarming levels, with a significant number of both shooters and victims under 18, according to NYPD statistics.
By 2025, projections show that 14% of shooting victims and 18% of shooters will be young people, marking the highest rates since data collection began in 2018, city officials stated last month.
“Protecting children is the NYPD’s top priority,” Tisch emphasized. “We are committed to keeping them safe.” She explained that collaboration with community organizations like PAL is crucial in guiding children away from gangs and gun violence.
According to Tisch, the department focuses on deploying officers where they are needed most to maintain safety. She mentioned that, remarkably, there were low instances of children being shot across the city in January.
One child, Kieran, asked Tisch about her tenure as police chief. She responded that it’s a question many people ask and expressed her passion for the role: “I truly love what I do.” Although unsure of how long she would serve under Mayor Mamdani’s administration, who has previously advocated for police budget cuts, she hopes to stay in the position for a while.
Laughter broke out when kids asked her what it’s like being a female police chief. “I’m the woman at the helm of the NYPD,” Tisch stated with a smile.
A mother in the audience then prompted her children to guess how many women had held the position in the NYPD’s 180-year history. “Eight!” one child exclaimed.
Tisch clarified that she is only the second woman to lead the department, mentioning her predecessor, Keychant Sewell, as a friend and role model. “I want all the girls here to know they can be anything they aspire to be,” she encouraged.
The discussion took a serious turn when a child asked about how police handle situations where individuals refuse to relinquish their weapons. Tisch passed this heavy question to her chief of staff, Victoria Perry.
Perry explained that patience is essential in those scenarios. “We repeatedly ask individuals to drop their weapons, and if they don’t comply, we use other methods like mace or Tasers,” she outlined.
“What if that person is resistant to a Taser?” another child interjected.
In the same week, the topic had gained added urgency following an incident in Queens, where a 22-year-old man was fatally shot by police after becoming violent.
However, the kids did also ask some light-hearted questions. One girl quietly asked Tisch if TV police shows are true to life. “Some are, some aren’t,” Tisch explained to the group of 8- to 10-year-olds. “Some shows have former police officers to make things feel more realistic.” She continued, saying that while some portrayals are accurate, others diverge significantly from reality.
