Yolanda Jacinthe

The 1st version was much better.

Totally unrealistic with a tree branch exposing through your waistline.

In 1989, I was 15 years old when the Central Park rape occurred. I remember the story in bits of pieces. I am a black female, Haitian-American. In May 1998, I became a police officer at the age of 23. I read out loud the Law Enforcement Oath of Honor to my graduating class: “On my honor, I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character or the public trust. I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I will always uphold the constitution, my community, and the agency I serve.” I cried when I said these words. In 2002, when the “exonerated five” were released, I had been an officer for 4 four years, working uniform patrol. If anyone asked me then, is that’s how police officers treat people, I would say hell no! It is now 2019, I am 45 years old and have been an officer now for 22 years. I rose through the ranks of officer, to sergeant, and now lieutenant. If you’d asked me again, is that’s the way some police officers treat people, I would say no again. I have interrogated people of all ages, and the law is the same for each and every person. I have never witnessed any type of police brutality, injustice, or any mistreatment of any kind amongst my peers. I was angry when I saw this series. I was angry at my profession. I questioned if this happened then, is it still happening now? Anywhere? Even if it’s not in front of me, is this really happening in my department? I am not that officer. I am not that person. And I speak for many law enforcement personnel who are not what this film portrayed. This film was an eye opener for me. It made me think back. At the same time this occurred in 1989, I was the same age age the these boys. I continued my life with bits of pieces of what I heard about this story and not ever knowing the real truth. It is time for people to be held accountable for their actions, especially when injustice was completely encouraged. These men are broken in ways no one could possibly ever imagine. How do you fix this? How do we prevent this from ever happening anywhere on planet earth? Thank you to all who brought this story to light. Hopefully more are exposed for their wrong doing throughout this entire nightmare.