The NYPD challenged us with a most daunting project: to address the growing chasm between the police and the people. This would be no easy task considering the climate at the time caused by the never ending stories of police brutality that wracked the nation, shaking the already brittle trust of the populace. We knew no ordinary campaign would suffice, so we went past a campaign, we wanted to create a cultural wave around the one thing that we felt could make us stand taller than the rest of the country… We’re NYC and we strive to meet A HIGHER STANDARD.

PHASE ONE: THE RESET

On every daily newspaper I envisioned drawing our line in the sand. I wrote a decree, a pledge, a love letter to the citizens of NYC from the NYPD. In conjunction with news media on all local channels, the message would reach all 5 boroughs grabbing the attention of believers and doubters alike.

HIGHER STANDARD PIN

These pins will be an acknowledgement and a celebration of police officers upholding the new protocol of “Higher Standing”. Like the pilot wings handed out to young flyers, these pins can be given out as a sign of goodwill and an opportunity to open channels of dialogue.

PHASE TWO: ACCOUNTABILITY

The UN’s International Standards of Policing was the yardstick by which the NYPD were to measure themselves. And if the NYPD were to be serious, they had to have some skin in the game, not just talk from One Police Plaza. Thats why I thought “Do it in the Spring… in front of the UN building. Spring blossoms blowing from the United Nation’s cherry trees and a sea of NYPD’s Finest in their dress uniforms for the world and NYC to see.

PHASE THREE: EDUCATION

An informed public is further proof of NYPD’s intent to elevating their interactions. Officers are expected to always act within the law and by educating and informing the public, the NYPD will always have to be accountable.

LIBERTY CARDS

Wallet-sized plastic cards that list the most important rights of the public when interacting with police. Handed out by Community Police Officers, these would create a paradigm shift in people’s opinion towards the police.

THE HUB
The online depository for all elements of the Higher Standard program. All messaging, ancillary programs, videos, in-depth stories and behind the scenes will reside here to present the full breadth of the New NYPD positioning.

PHASE FOUR: RECRUITMENT

Declarations made, conversations begun. its time now to reveal the new Community Policing Initiative of the NYPD by which the same officers walk the same community getting to know the people, becoming familiar themselves. This would also be the perfect opportunity to reach out and recruit like minded people who would like to become something more than police officers but “peace officers” for their communities.