SCSD Students Learn About Safe Police Interaction from Visiting Author

Stay calm. Ask to call your parent or a trusted adult. Do what’s asked of you.
 
These are just a few of the pointers SCSD students received from Derrick Dotson, author of a children’s book, The Police and Me. Mr. Dotson, a Syracuse native who previously had a career in law enforcement, is now Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Black Sanctuary, an education and empowerment platform created to teach private citizens, especially Black Americans, how to interact with police safely.
 
Thanks to support from the Syracuse Police Department’s Police Athletic/Activities League (PAL), Mr. Dotson recently visited Delaware, McKinley-Brighton, Van Duyn, and Meachem – along with other local community gatherings – to read his book and answer students’ questions.
 
“Sometimes, people fear law enforcement or police,” Mr. Dotson told them. “But the more you know, the less you’ll be afraid. I hope that now, if you ever come in contact with the police, you won’t be as afraid. You’ll know all the things I’ve shared with you and you can use them to help keep you safe.”
 
As he read his book, Mr. Dotson made a point of stressing to students the steps the characters took and the lessons they learned. Students were reminded that bad things don’t happen every time the police are involved – like it can sometimes appear on TV. They were reminded of the importance of making sure their hands were visible to police. And they were reminded that police are here to help keep them safe.
 
“I liked the part where [a character] got pulled over,” McKinley-Brighton 4^th grader Anthony Brantley said. “Because I learned that you have to drive safe! I also learned how to stay safe when I’m with the police, and how they can help me when I’m in danger.”
 
“Hearing his book helps me feel safer, because I know what to do with police,” classmate Ahmariona Quellins said. “Don’t argue with them and do what you’re told!”
 
At each school, students had the opportunity to win a signed copy of Mr. Dotson’s book. Thank you to Mr. Dotson for taking the time to share these important lessons with our students – and thank you to the Syracuse PAL team for making this possible!