Lt. Samuel J. Battle and family
The NYPD just can’t get it right to save their lives. But, they are making a gesture in the right direction after more than four decades…and that isn’t even right! The first black police officer to serve in the New York Police Department, Samuel J. Battle, was honored with a plaque and a street in Harlem named after him.
But, he was honored not for being the first black police officer, because let’s be honest, there’s been many a black history month (43 to be exact) where that acknowledgement would’ve been perfect. No, there had to be more to this man being honored with a street and a plaque. Something is definitely up.
Well, the street where Mr. Battle is being honored, West 135th St. and Lenox, is where he saved a fellow white police officer during a “racial clash”, according to Black Voices. Read here and see what kind of top rate officer he was and why this honor is very much deserved. There’s also a very good historical report on Mr. Battle in the New York Daily News. Read it here.
-J.C. Brooks
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