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Within These Walls:
A Case for Using the Arts to Teach Tolerance and Problem-Solving Skills to Police Academy Students
by K. D. Codish
Police academy students in New Haven, Connecticut recently unveiled a 1200-square-foot sculptural installation to satisfy the "term project" requirement of their academy training. On the premise that the arts can sometimes be more effective than traditional training methods in promoting tolerance and developing communication and problem-solving skills, the New Haven Police Academy may count these projects as up to a third of a student's final grade. They are not a substitute for courses such as penal code, defensive tactics and firearms, but are a complement to work in those traditional police subject areas.
Beginning the project
In the first weeks of an academy class, the 15 - 20 students are divided into four groups. Topics are generated by faculty and staff and presented to the class. Each group chooses a leader and selects one of the topics such as Homelessness, Domestic Violence, Alternatives to Incarceration, Street Sex Workers, Policing in the Year 2020, Women in Policing, Children who Witness Violence, Officers Posing for Playboy Magazine, Elder Abuse, Images of Policing in Film, Lesbians and Gay Men in the Military and Race and Gender in Policing. A faculty advisor from a community organization or university may be assigned to the group or identified by them.
Research and organization skills
Students are introduced to research and organizational methodology through on-site and on-line instruction by reference staff members at the New Haven Public Library. At the outset of the approximately 18-week period, students first devise a major premise from which to proceed. They then develop an oral and visual presentation as well as an original ten-page research paper. The projects stress creativity and original research and are meant to develop skills in communication, problem-solving and public dialogue. Because of the emphasis on tolerance and police/community collaboration, an award for outstanding project is presented at the class graduation ceremonies. It is named for former Yale University president A. Bartlett Giamatti, a longtime advocate of town/gown relations.
Project goals
The Within These Walls term project group, comprised of former academy students Julie Esposito, Brian Mauro, David Murgo and Makiem Miller, was given the general topic of domestic violence and charged with presenting the project visually. The four students chose to review New Haven police reports of domestic homicides over the preceding five years and to translate what they learned from these documents into a three-dimensional art exhibit or sculptural installation. The goal was to have other prospective police officers, as well as community members and even veteran officers, relate to domestic violence in more profound, meaningful ways. They would present images to make others use their own imaginations and experiences to personalize and interpret circumstances that might normally be distant, impersonal, merely academic or clinical.
Solving problems
The group worked closely with a local painter and sculptor, Eileen Doktorski. The project began with plans to paint larger-than-life sized images of traumatized children witnessing family violence. Then the students considered using photo scrapbooks of celebrity victims of spousal abuse.
Thinking critically
Slowly, through an intense process of brainstorming, imagining the crime scene, discussing police reports, viewing case evidence and studying victims' words from Victim Account Reports and actual notes left at crime scenes, the student artists developed a plan to construct four distinct exhibit areas -- a kitchen, living room, bedroom and small child's play area. Rather than construct actual "rooms," the group chose the medium of sculptural installation. The students erected partial walls and used props that were found, borrowed or taken from their own homes, such as a kitchen table, bedstead, couch and refrigerator door. The intention was for the students themselves to use the creative process not only to create a work of art but to invite the viewer to inspect, experience and react to the installation, so that he or she might understand what might have happened in a similar situation. The group wanted the audience actually to feel what the victim, child witness or responding officer could have experienced.
The reception
At project completion, an opening reception was held for domestic violence service providers, police officers, residents of battered women's shelters, legislators and members of the press. Students described the process used to create the exhibit and asked guests to explore the "rooms" and talk with them at any of the venues. Guests were invited to record their reactions to the installation in a book provided for comments. The exhibit was presented in the lobby of the New Haven Police Department chief's offices, and remained open to the entire community for several weeks.
As one reporter noted, the exhibit boasted no pools of blood, no lights and sirens, no screams. The details, or art, told the stories.
Viewer comments
"Very moving, powerful display -- captured the violence in subtle ways -- great work."
"Very impressive, I liked the quiet signs of abuse -- letters, notes, etc."
"This is a very powerful exhibit and it sounds like it was a great teaching technique. Thank you."
"I had one of those orders on my refrigerator door. It's great that police can see what it feels like for us."
"As a clinical social worker and a survivor of domestic abuse, this project should be part of school programs so kids can see they're not alone and for others to see they could be victims -- it's all so random ... I hope the police, along with the justice system, develop a continuous procedure to make this message alive for the community ... It would be great if you could bring the depth of sensitivity, empathy and education to the legislative and judicial system ... Thank you -- GOOD START!"
"You have been very successful in capturing the emotion and depth of pain that exists in homes where domestic abuse is present. I can only hope that you do not lose the depth of sensitivity and perception when you respond to domestic violence calls. Remember that most victims don't die. They live lives of quiet desperation. Please notice."
Detail of child's room. A Barbie doll dressed in pink exhibits a black eye. A note in childish writing asks, "Why does he hit my mommy?"
Photo: T. Charles Erickson
Detail of child's playroom. Plastic toy letters spell out "DON'T" and "WHY." The Minnie Mouse book on the floor is titled Have a Scream.
Photo: Alpha DaCosta
Kitchen. The table is set for dinner. An apron seems flung over a kitchen chair, perhaps indicating a hasty departure. A court order of protection restricting the spouse from returning to the premises is on the refrigerator. A rose-embossed note on a dinner plate pleads, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I love you."
Photo: T. Charles Erickson
Bedroom. "I'm sorry" is scrawled in red lipstick across a mirror. The opened lipstick lies on the dresser and in the top drawer is what appears to be a packet of cocaine and a note that says, in part, "Just let my daughter know you are the one to blame... I pray that my daughter hate [sic] you."
Photo: Alpha DaCosta
Bedroom. What appears to be a woman's body lies unmoving beneath blankets on a bed. A single strand of hair is visible on the pillow. A note begins, "It's so hard to say good-bye to yesterday."
Photo: Alpha DaCosta
Living Room. Two wine glasses and many lipstick-coated cigarettes are visible on a mirrored coffee table in what appears to represent an elegant, upper-class living room. A packet of powdered substance lies near a disconnected phone receiver. Letters written in the powder spell H E L P. On the expensive couch lies a copy of John Grisham's The Client. A large television blares static in the corner.
Photo: T. Charles Erickson
Page last updated 19 April 2002. If you have questions concerning the website only, let us know. Your use of this website constitutes your agreement to abide by our Terms of Usage. New Haven Department of Police Service, One Union Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut, 06519. (203) 946-6316 / (203) 946-6120 (TTY/TDD) Mayor of the City of New Haven, John DeStefano, Jr. Chief of Police, City of New Haven, Francisco Ortiz, Jr.
