Teen named NYPD commissioner for the day

Gabriel Gomez, 17, got a taste of being the NYPD's top cop Wednesday -- a career he aspires to after he witnessed a robbery at age 13.

The Manhattan resident won a citywide essay contest, which asked high school students what improvement programs they would implement as NYPD chief, to become "police commissioner for the day."

A graduate of LaSalle Academy Catholic High School in Manhattan, Gomez bested 130 other students to win the contest sponsored by the Police Athletic League.

"If I were police commissioner I would recognize that community outreach, youth centers, education and early prevention are the solution," said Gomez, who read his essay at One Police Plaza, where he and the other 130 essay writers from across the city were recognized.

"Gabriel Gomez has a career in law enforcement [in his future] and can be the city's first Hispanic police commissioner," said police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

"We need young people who are problem solvers and are able to express themselves persuasively," said Kelly, who presented plaques to Gomez and the other students.

Gomez will begin courses this fall at John Jay College, where he will study forensic science. He said he was inspired to become a police officer after he witnessed a Chinese food delivery man being jumped by five masked robbers. "One had a gun," he said.

"I was in the elevator with my sister and her friend and a Chinese food delivery man. The delivery man got off the eighth floor and was jumped by five people in masks. Miraculously, I called 911 on my cellphone and got through. Within three minutes there were 20 police officers everywhere. It was really nice to see the police working to preserve human life." He said the police "treated me like family."

Gomez, whose essay is about preventing gang violence, says gangs are prevalent in poor neighborhoods because they offer "false hopes of money and fame."

His essay proposed that gang life's allure could be stopped by providing a 24-hour hotline through which counselors could help teenagers who were being pressured to join gangs. He also proposed offering educational and job training programs to gang members who quit their gangs.

He also suggested that young men and women who choose not join gangs should receive free tuition at a CUNY college for their first semester if they remain in a gang prevention program for four years.