For some kids, this summer offered a special activity

A graduation ceremony was held last week for kids in the newly-formed Police Youth Academy. The program was one of Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri’s goals when he came to Hamtramck last spring.

By Charles Sercombe
For the past two weeks, about 50 kids had a whirlwind experience at the newly inaugurated Hamtramck Police Youth Academy.
Seeing the academy established was high on the to-do list of Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri when he first came here back in the spring.
“This really is a passion for me,” Altaheri said, during a graduation ceremony held last Friday afternoon under a blistering sun in Zussman Park. “I really love these kids, and at the end of the day, they are our kids, right?”
About 50 or more people attended the ceremony, a number of them visiting from Dearborn, and the event was covered by several media outlets.
Altaheri continued: “We have to make sure they’re safe, and that’s how we make our city safe.”
Mayor Amer Ghalib brought up a point about improving police and community relations, which is a topic that was also high on Ghalib’s list of things to do when he took office.
The mayor said he hopes the program will inspire more young people to consider public safety as a career option, but, short of that, he hopes their participation will “break the wall of fear” some folks have about police officers.
Ghalib senses a change has happened since he took office.
“Nowadays, not many people fear the police like we used to in the past,” he said.
One special speaker was Ahmed Said, the brother of the slain Melvindale police officer Mohamed Said.
Ahmed Said that, “in a blink of an eye,” his life changed when his brother died.
“The day my brother died, he took my heart with him,” he said.
Sponsoring the academy was Adnan Gobah, the owner of Hamtramck Hardware on Conant, who is also the head of the city’s volunteer Citizens Patrol.
The kids, he said, “are Hamtramck’s future.”
The keynote speaker was Detroit actor Hill Harper, who had a succinct message for the kids, as well as for those attending: “Never give up.”
One of the academy students, Basmah Jabril said her experience was nothing short of “amazing.”
“It’s about serving and supporting the community,” Jabril said.
She added that the officers are kind and “committed to the well-being of our community.”
During the past two weeks, the kids were taken to just about everywhere in the city: the fire department, city hall, the district court, Pulaski Park, a coffee shop, Ghalib’s medical clinic, and local restaurants.
Altaheri said the program, which was limited to 12-15 year-olds, will continue next year, and that, by the outpouring of kids who appear to want to be involved, it will likely expand.
Posted Aug. 30, 2024