Officer’s ears have it
Highly respected Bx. cop uses listening as crimefighting tool
TTo Police Officer James Graham, the most important crimefighting tool he has is his ears. And the Bronx-born cop is getting a reputation for mastering that particular crimefighting tool as he tackles residents’ quality-of-life concerns in his role as community affairs officer for the 49th Precinct in Morris Park.
“The community needs police,” Graham, 40, said. “But I want them to need us not only when there is a crime, but for support whether it be a personal situation or if they they need advice on something.”
Graham’s entire career with the NYPD has been about outreach. When he joined the department five years ago, the freewheeling cop started out as a bicycle patrol officer, which garnered a lot of attention from community residents. He was then assigned as a neighborhood coordination officer, where he focused on crimes in a specific community.
Five months ago, he was made one of the precinct’s community affairs officers, where he fields quality-of-life concerns across the entire precinct, which covers a large swath of the northeast Bronx.
The phone never stops ringing and the work, be it a coat drive or a neighborhood meeting, never seems to end. But Graham enjoys being the guy in the precinct everyone in the community can reach out to.
“[Being a community affairs officer] allows you to have a better interaction with the community and find out what the needs are,” he said. “There is something that stands out about the blue shirt we wear. It says you are approachable and people can speak to you about issues and what is going on.”
His zeal for the job has been noticed by neighborhood residents, who recommended him for a Daily News Hometown Heroes award.
“He takes time to listen. He’s personable,” said Bronx resident Bobbi Brooks, who recommended Graham for the honor.
Brooks reaches out to Graham at least three times a week to discuss drug dealing and homelessness in her community.
“I’ve seen him going out of his pocket to feed people who are down on their luck, and he’s always on point when you talk to him about what the community needs,” said Brooks. “There are a lot of beautiful police officers out there who deserve to be embraced, who deserve to be loved and supported, and he’s one of them.”
Graham said he knew he was making an impact in the community just last month. While out sick with the flu, the Co-op City native tried to field calls from area residents on his NYPD cell phone as best he could, but realized the community members who were calling just wanted to see how he was feeling and wish him a speedy recovery.
His superiors at the 49th Precinct have also noticed his growing connection with residents.
“Officer Graham is a hard worker who is passionate about his assignment and is dedicated to serving the community,” said Capt. Andrew Natiw, the precinct’s commanding officer. “He serves a vital role in strengthening the 49th Precinct’s relationship with our community.”
Graham has always considered himself a “giving type of person” and said he’s glad to be able to provide an ear, and sometimes a shoulder to cry on, to residents of his native borough.
“I’m trying to establish to [them] that the police are not robots,” he said. “We want everyone to know the cops in the precinct, not because they are in trouble, but because they’re looking up to us like a big brother or sister.
“We’re there for them. They can talk to us just as human beings,” Graham said. “Things get accomplished when we have a conversation.”