It’s been a long, emotional year for everyone, ever since the coronavirus pandemic hit our shores last spring. For the NYPD, policing compliance with the statewide lockdown took its toll, as public frustration, then anger mounted, bodies piled up, and PPE was initially in short supply.

That was before mass, almost daily, street protests took off in the wake of the horrific killing of George Floyd by now convicted, former police officer, Derek Chauvin. Public condemnation was swift regarding the handling of the protests by the NYPD and more negative press and vitriol ensued when video emerged of police vehicles driving through protestors in Brooklyn, and the corralling protestors in Mott Haven.

Despite ongoing attempts at community outreach, more public condemnation and skepticism followed. Federal, state and city law reform was passed, and public hearings and internal investigations were held (the findings of which were duly acknowledged by the agency’s leadership). These required new procedures and training, amid ongoing scrutiny, and more pressure due to a wave of rising crime, including and increase in fatal shootings, which prompted a series of gun buyback events.

At the same time, 54 members of the agency died from COVID-19, and more than 5,300 uniformed officers retired, or submitted paperwork to start the retirement process. The latter represents a 75 percent spike in retirements from the previous year, according to a report by the New York Post based on departmental data.

Prior to the pandemic, ten officers were recorded as having taken their own life in 2019, seen as a worrying peak, and the agency continues to cope with suicide and mental health issues among its ranks.

Bearing all this in mind, volunteers decided that their local police officers deserved a break, and recently hosted a cookout at the 52nd precinct stationhouse. On Saturday, April 24, volunteers from Simplicity Mission brought their mobile food truck to the station and prepared some ribs. Meanwhile, members of Fordham Manor Church, located on Reservoir Avenue, fixed some plates, sang and played Christian-contemporary music, while officers finished their patrols and joined the group for some ribs.

According to Christopher Ko of Simplicity Mission, the event was a prelude to a week-long “National Police Appreciation Week,” which is due to be held from May 9 through May 16. Ko explained he normally visits homeless shelters and the poorest communities, and feeds anyone who visits the truck which is often stationed near St. Ann’s Park in the South Bronx, or in East New York, Brooklyn.

“What we do is we have a food truck with this barbecue smoker, and we hold events at homeless shelters, low-income neighborhoods, and at community events,” he said.

“We just wanted to come out and show them love,” Ko continued. “You know, with everything going on in society right now, and everyone is kind of hating on them, I would say that a lot of people haven’t taken the time to actually come to the station and talk to the officers and ask, ‘How can we make a difference together?’”

During National Police Appreciation Week, Ko and his Christian volunteers plan to visit both the 40th precinct in Mott Haven and the 50th precinct in Kingsbridge. Ko said, “We just want to spend the whole week blessing them and recharge them, so they can, kind of, be encouraged, because being a cop is a hard job.”

Explaining the origins of the food truck, Ko said, “We’re Christians. I’ve worked in churches for a long time, but I always had a love for the restaurant and food industry, and I thought, ‘How can we bring this together? How can we uplift the community and how can we bridge to make a change in the neighborhood?’” Answering his own questions, he said, “We try to feed them physically, but we also want to recharge them spiritually.”

During the event, Ko also teamed up with Massachusetts police officer, David Kim, who grew up in Queens and started his own nonprofit called “Bibles for LEO” (Law Enforcement Officers). Officers were presented with a Bible specifically made for police officers, as well as a challenge coin and prayer card.

Referring to his work with the nonprofit, Kim said, “I do this on the side to encourage first responders, so I made these kits.” He continued, “The main reason that we come out is to encourage police officers as they’re going through challenging times and we feel like they need encouragement.”

Kim, who will be joining Ko at next month’s events at the 40th and 50th precincts, concluded, “So we gathered together, we brought the kids, raised funds for all these events, because we want to provide the best for our law enforcement officers. That’s why we’re here.”

Hours after the event, 52nd precinct commander, Deputy Inspector Thomas Alps, tweeted, “We would like to thank @SimplicityMiss1 for stopping by the precinct yesterday. They are a nonprofit organization that provides amazing meals, and does outstanding work in the community: great food, prayers, songs & people. Thank you!”

For more information on Simplicity Mission, visit their website at www.simplicitymission.org. For information on “Bibles for LEO,” visit their website at www.biblesforleo.org.

If you, or someone you know, is in crisis, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.