New High School Course: ‘How to Deal with Cops’

One part of the state harassing another part of the state, this I like to see.

The principal of East Side Community High School, a public school, invited the New York Civil Liberties Union to give a two-day training session last week on how to deal with coppers.

NyPo has the details:

The 450 kids were coached on staying calm during NYPD encounters and given a “What To Do If You’re Stopped By The Police” pamphlet.

NYCLU representatives told kids to be polite and to keep their hands out of their pockets. But they also told students they don’t have to show ID or consent to searches, that it’s best to remain silent, and how to file a complaint against an officer.

Principal Mark Federman said he brought in the NYCLU because students told teachers they had bad experiences with being stopped by police.

It appears coppers are flipping out:

 Eugene O’Donnell, a former police officer and professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said the literature implies cops are “public enemy No. 1.”

“It’s unlikely that a high school student would come away with any other conclusion than the police are a fearful group to be avoided at all costs,” he said.

Ed Mullins, president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association said, “Education is the key, but are Civil Liberties going in with an agenda or to educate? I think we deserve equal time and should have the opportunity to follow up with the same platform to explain exactly what police do and what we think is the best way to deal with the police.”

If the coppers are given "equal time," I hope the kids grill them and ask if they do have the right to remain silent. And ask if they can refuse to show ID etc...

-RW