Several community activists are expressing outrage over a “challenge coin” calling East Flatbush’s 67th Police Precinct ‘Fort Jah.’
As first reported in Gothamist, the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) produced the coin in 2017 as a fundraiser for injured Haitian-American 67th Precinct Police Officer Dalsh Veve, who suffered severe head trauma while investigating reports of gunshots fired that turned out to be fireworks.
The precinct is among the more active in the city for taking guns off the street and has one of the highest rates of reported felony crime. It also has one of the city’s highest rates of civilian complaints.
Several “challenge coins” have recently resurfaced on auction websites during a time of strained racial tensions between the community and local police following the recent police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others. This has led to national months-long Black Lives Matter protests and demands for more police accountability and reforms.
NYPD spokesperson Detective Denise Moroney told Gothamist only one challenge coin listed for auction could be confirmed as part of a precinct fundraiser, and denied that the other coins have any link to the department.
Although there are several photos of these coins on various news websites, KCP confirmed only one at post time that the PBA produced. Some of the other coins on auction websites appear to either promote racism or demonize police, but sources on this can’t be confirmed at post time.
Candidate for the 45th City Council District and President of Black Lives Matter Brooklyn Anthony Beckford expressed his outrage on behalf of a precinct that is primarily Black and Caribbean.
The coins are considered offensive to Caribbean communities because of the depictions of Black men with dreadlocks, a natural hairstyle that has classically been criminalized, said sources, and the nickname ‘Jah’ that is a sacred part of the Rastafarian religion.
“The 67th precinct has challenge coins issued out by the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) that depict dehumanizing images and murderous wording that celebrates the murdering of Black people, specifically Afro-Caribs in the community. The fact that the NYPD is trying to justify these racist challenge coins, is a clear example of why the Black Lives Matter Movement exists and why there is a ‘Defund the NYPD’ campaign that exists as well,” said Beckford, who is also an East Flatbush resident.
Some golden coins show an image of the city with ‘Fort Jah’ on a sign and a palm tree at the intersection of Nostrand and Snyder Avenues. Other coins show a brown gunman or criminal being hunted by two white police officers with the image of a deer under the man in his shadow.
Canarsie Neighborhood Alliance Jamaal Patterson said, “Caricatures of members of the Caribbean Diaspora being hunted down by law enforcement is dangerous. Naming a precinct after Jah which is part of the [Rastafarian] religion that has strong cultural influences in the Caribbean community says something about the training. I would like to see sensitivity training for this precinct because there needs to be more respect for the Caribbean constituency they serve.”
Beckford said that as a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, he’s had challenge coins, which are supposed to be used to celebrate and commemorate events and achievements between members of a unit.
“So what is 67th precinct celebrating with challenge coins that shows an eagle holding a skull with dreads, two white officers hunting a Black Man with dreads like a deer and a full statement on one that glorifies the hunt. This is the same precinct with officers who murdered Shantel Davis, Kimani Gray, Dwayne Jeune and many more,” said Beckford.
“There is a lawlessness within the NYPD amongst many of its members who have a gang mentality, like those who wear the punisher symbol while on duty, which is a symbol of being ‘Judge and Executioner.’ The fact that the PBA issued these challenge coins out, renews my call for the disbanding of this racist organization that does not represent the interests of labor and definitely not Black workers,” he added.
When asked about the offensive coins the NYPD said “they condemn any form of racism and there are no public funds utilized to create challenge coins.”
The PBA did not return requests for comment at post time.
-Stephen Witt contributed to this story
