Context:

A staffing crisis in the New York Police Department has led Commissioner Jessica Tisch to halt officer participation in a Brooklyn improv theater program designed to foster empathy and understanding between police and civilians. The program, 'To Protect, Serve and Understand,' was initiated in 2014 following the death of Eric Garner and involved pairing officers with civilians to engage in acting exercises. Despite its perceived benefits in improving communication and reducing tension, the program's continuation is challenged by the pressing need to deploy officers to manage high-crime areas. Participants and supporters argue that the program's benefits outweigh the drawbacks of reduced police presence, as it provides officers with unique skills for handling stress and conflict. However, the department's shrinking size, with the lowest number of officers since the early 1990s, has made resource allocation a critical issue, overshadowing the perceived soft benefits of the theater program.

Dive Deeper:

• The New York Police Department is experiencing a significant staffing crisis, with the number of officers reduced to about 33,580, the lowest since the early 1990s. Commissioner Jessica Tisch has prioritized deploying available officers to high-crime areas over participating in community-building programs.

• The 'To Protect, Serve and Understand' improv theater program, developed in response to Eric Garner's death, aimed to create a 'theater of empathy' by pairing police officers with civilians for acting exercises. These activities were designed to help both groups see each other's humanity and improve mutual understanding.

• Although the program hasn't quantitatively measured its impact on police-community relations, surveys indicate participants found it beneficial for enhancing communication skills and fostering better teamwork and perspective-taking.

• Critics like Jillian Snider argue that, given the current staffing shortage, it may not be the best use of resources to allocate officers to such programs, despite their potential soft benefits in building trust and reducing community tension.

• The program's exercises often included intimate and challenging activities, such as role-playing and singing, which allowed officers to explore their emotions and discuss the stresses and frustrations inherent in their roles. Participants reported gaining valuable insights and coping strategies through these experiences.

• Supporters of the program believe that it offers essential benefits that should not be overlooked, as it requires only a minimal time commitment from officers and provides crucial opportunities for personal growth and healing.

• The program's future remains uncertain as Commissioner Tisch and theater directors hope for a meeting to discuss its importance and potential continuation amid the department's ongoing resource challenges.