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| In 1981, Robert McGuire, New York City Police Commissioner during the Koch
Administration, decided there was only one way to improve the teaching of constitutional
law to police officers. Instead of putting them in classrooms or showing them
videotaped chalk talks, McGuire wanted to make dramatic films containing storylines built
around constitutional law issues. I was told to make the films "look like Hill
Street Blues," and to effectively teach issues like stop and search. The result
was a series of 5 films starring James Earl Jones, Sam Waterston, Ken Howard, Rob Morrow
and many more. The civilians were played by actors; all the cops were played by real
cops. The films mixed dramatic structure, spontaneous performances and documentary
shooting and cutting. |
 That's me in the center. |
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| Here's what The New York Times had to say about the Constitutional Law Film Series: "Good,
gritty drama...The new films are sophisticated, fast-paced and to judge from the reaction
of a roomful of detectives, immediately involving."
Click here to read complete article. |
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| I also made two films, one a music video, for the NYPD's Operation SPECDA, a classroom
anti-drug program. |
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| Please look at the additional newspaper articles [click here]
to get more details on these projects. |
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| In the late 80's, I made several more films for the NYPD. The first,
"Police Women," provided an intimate look at the inner feelings of the women who
wear the uniform. The second was called "Restoring Dignity: Frontline
Response to Sexual Assault." This film, on the moments after a rape, and the
importance of understanding the state of mind of the rape victim, has
since been in constant use
all over the country. |
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