HARLEM — Police and kids battled on the hardwood at a Harlem community center Tuesday in a nail-biter of a basketball game aimed at improving relations between the NYPD and local youth.
A team of 15 boys and young men between the ages of 12 and 20 beat a team of male officers at the Frederick E. Samuel Community Center.
The officers, who enlisted a few local kids to their team to even the numbers, were down by one point with five seconds left in the game, but failed to attempt a final shot after the ball handler made contact with a defender, fell and lost possession.
"It was competitive and the sportsmanship was awesome," said Officer Nick Corso of the NYPD's 32nd precinct after the game.
Corso's team included members of the NYPD's Community Affairs Bureau, officers from the 32nd and 28th precincts and local probation officers.
The game was organized by representatives from the Community Affairs Bureau and retired NYPD narcotics Detective Elijah Brooks, who is also executive director of Youth on the Move and program director for the Frederick E. Samuel Community Center.
"There used to be a time when officers knew the kids [in the neighborhood] and the kids knew the officers," Brooks said. "We just wanted to open our doors and give the kids the opportunity to have a relationship with the NYPD."
Games will become a regular event at the community center, but officers will only occasionally play in them, said Joanne Jaffe, chief of Community Affairs.
Although no official plans have been set, Jaffe said she envisions officers meeting with youth during the games to discuss issues, offer support and gather feedback.
"These are the cops that are up here each and every day," Jaffe told participants before the game. "You should know them and they should know you, but in a family way."
After the game, the local players were presented with watches by the NYPD.
They were also promised tickets, and a police escort, to a Nets game at the Barclays center on Feb. 5.
"It was fun. I enjoyed myself and I got a lot out of it," said Eric Bianco, 20, who was told about the game through Arches, a city mentoring program.
"[The officers] could play," he added.
In addition to members of the NYPD playing in the game, a few dozen officers lined the walls of the gym to cheer on their colleagues.
Spectators also included local community leaders like Diana Blackwell, president of both the Fred Samuel Residents Association and PSA 6.
"We've got to break the negativity that's building up and this is a good way to do that," Blackwell said.
