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NYPD Tries To Reach Out To Diverse Communities

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) - The 1,500 NYPD officers sworn-in last Thursday at Madison Square Garden are now  taking part in a team building event.

WCBS 880's Monica Miller On The Story

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In one of the most diverse cities in the world, New York City police commissioner Ray Kelly says his recruits are taking part in a four-day workshop where they'll be meeting with members of different cultural groups and build strong relationships with the communities they serve.

"The nature of place - there's always going to be some tension, always going to be some friction, and in the universe of 50,000 employees, there's going to be some people who make mistakes. But generally speaking, I think our relations are good, but we strive to make them better," said Kelly in Harlem on Tuesday.

Former City Councilwoman Margarita Lopez says she takes her participation very seriously.

"You have an awesome gift. You are in charge of our safety. You are in charge of our freedom. Don't mess with it," she said.

"We are not anti-police. We're anti-police misconduct, anti-police brutality. We are also anti-crime, and I think them hearing it from some figures that they may feel do not feel that way gives them another kind of entree into how to deal with people in the community," said Rev. Al Sharpton.

What do you think of the idea? Sound off in the comments section below!

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