Trenton teen talked police dream with city police

A 13-year-old city resident put shy to shame recently as she barnstormed a “Take It To The Streets” event in the first block of Franklin St.

Minerva, an eighth grader at Hedgepeth-Williams Middle School, sought out Trenton Police Capt. Stephen Varn and Sgt. Alexis Durlacher then mentioned her life dream.

“I want to be a police officer,” she said. “My favorite television show is ‘Law and Order.’ I watch it all the time. I want to be a police officer to help people do right.”

What a wonderful mental twist to law enforcement — a perspective rarely delivered during discussions about police work.

Only naïveté would discount the law enforcement role of police work although they can impact peace and help cultivate healthy attitudes about living well. This conversation between bright-eyed teen and police happened only because the officers walked the street. While Police Director Sheilah Coley has made downtown safety paramount, police walking beats in other areas matter.

“Is police work hard?,” Minerva quizzed Durlacher.

“It can be. The first six months can be hard but after that — it’s totally worth it. It’s a great profession,” Durlacher, a popular officer, said.

“Six months is not a long time,” Minerva said.

Take It To The Streets is a city-supported summer block party initiative that supplies numerous activities, including a bounce house, music, games and community/ police interaction plus, hamburgers and hot dogs.

Capt. Varn and Sgt. Durlacher posed for a photo with Minerva which produced a special moment.

Perhaps in a decade, Minerva will survive police academy challenges and move on with her mission to help people do right.