On October 10th, Monroe College’s King Graduate School hosted the first of its lecture series for the semester. The theme of the night, “Crimes and the Numbers Game: The Future of Police Relations & the Community,” inspired a passionate discussion led by guest speaker Dr. Eli Silverman, renowned author and Emeritus Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. More than 250 students, faculty, staff, and members of the community participated in the forum.
Dr. Silverman has been known to challenge record keeping and data collection of crime statistics of the NYPD, which led to a spirited exchange between him and moderator Professor Thomas Cea, who is a retired Captain of the NYPD. Professor Cea was also able to share his practical experiences as a former member of the Police Department and the crime strategies used during his tenure.
The discussion welcomed opinions, questions and theories from the students and community members present. Guests were able to take part in dialogue, sharing thoughts and debating different topics, including the practice of “stop and frisk,” the prospects for decreasing crime rates, and how police officers relate to the community.
King Graduate School Dean Michael Marinaccio said the event was a great success and a solid step in establishing the graduate school’s role in the community.
“We are committed to becoming a center for urban studies and establish a resource for research and community engagement,” he said. “The lecture series will provide a forum for active discussion on community issues of importance. This first one was focused on the area of urban criminal justice because of its prominence in community concern.”
Future lectures and discussions will focus on urban entrepreneurship and public health. |