Contributed Photos
With the friendly officers in Fair Haven.
I am the mother of three sons, Angelo, who is 18, Tyrek, who is 11, and Malachi, who is 8. We would like to salute the entire New Haven Police Department for its extraordinary “PAL” summer athletic camp.
I signed Malachi up for the camp, even after hearing about all that was going on in other states with police in their communities. I had a little fear in my heart for my son and the officers. I prayed and gave it to God.
Officer Nancy Jordan with Malachi.
Malachi was excited to start, so I let him attend. As the days went on, the fear was replaced by faith, and that faith turned into victory. The children and officers were safe on and off-site as they went on field trips.
Malachi loves to play basketball and wants to be a basketball player. PAL camp gave him courage to move forward, since the officers allowed children to have open gym everyday. Basketball was one of the sports the boys enjoyed. Malachi played in the Hoop It Up tournament for the first time this year and was very excited.
He was blessed beyond measure to have the amazing Officer Nancy Jordan overseeing the 8‑year-olds and to have a Yale student named Spencer. He and Spencer had their own special way of saluting each other — with a thumbs up. It brought great joy to my heart.
Acting Police Chief Anthony Campbell (left) and Sgt McFadden (right).
We didn’t have transportation in the afternoon. Malachi was sure he would be fine getting on the bus. Though I was scared, I prayed and God showed me he was covered. His drop-off station was on Blatchley Avenue. The police there — Sgt. Anthony Maio, Officer Sean Sullivan, and Officer Mike Criscuolo — made sure my son Tyrek and I had enough water. They allowed us to sit inside the station where it was nice and cool, although that wasn’t part of their job. They were assigned to make sure all the children off the bus and crossed the street safely. These officers went above and beyond for their community.
Malachi in art class.
Malachi and I would like to thank Sgts. Elisa Tuozzoli and Albert McFadden for being supportive in the beginning of the application process. Thank you also to the New Haven school resource officers: Ivelisse Ortiz, Nancy Jordan, James Baker, Charles Tyson, Miguel Aponte, Victor Fuentes, Jeremy Elliott, Edrick Agosto. Thank you to Yale University, University of New Haven and Southern Connecticut State University.
Maria Solomon.
Thankful!