Police officer in D.C. recognized for children’s book designed to ease tensions
Written by Site Hub on March 17, 2020
Original article: https://www.wusa9.com/amp/article/news/local/dc/officer-tate-dc-childrens-books/65-c9c5c13a-35a5-4647-b247-35fdba26f26e
Officer Atif Hakim Tate of the Washington Metropolitan Police was recently recognized by WUSA-TV 9 News for his work to ease tensions between police and minority communities.
Tate grew up in the Ward 5 or “Trinidad” Washington D.C. neighborhood. He’s seen a lot in 37 years, including how difficult relations can be when the two cultures come together.
Beyond his normal job, Tate is passionate about writing children’s books designed to help children in communities like the one where he grew up. His recognized work, “The Twin’s Adventure: A Race with an Officer Friendly,” tries to help children of color see police officers in a different light. Tate also hopes it will give everyone, both police and people of color, a guide of sorts to create a better police culture as well.
During an interview with WUSA-TV, Tate explained that he has noticed the strain between both communities across the country. Although it was personally difficult for him to become a police officer, he did so originally to provide for his loved ones. It was afterwards that Tate realized that he could use his role in law enforcement to better policy and community relations.
Tate previously wrote another book for children called “God Bless the Mother” to teach children about the importance of mothers in their lives.
