Meet your community affairs bureau

[The police officers] were my role models they were giving to the community nonstop. That’s my passion, to give back.”

Rasha Jamsheer, 50th precinct detective

Growing up in Iraq, Rasha Jamsheer dreamed of being a police officer. Today, she is the community affairs detective for the 50th precinct.

Jamsheer joked that her father, an Iraqi police officer who served for 40 years, believed she followed in his footsteps, but she refutes his claim. She moved to the U.S. at age 23 speaking only Arabic. Committed to pursuing her dream, she began taking English courses, while also learning from colleagues and customers at her first job – the now-closed McDonald’s near 42nd Street. 

In 2014, Jamsheer lived in Riverdale and decided to join the New York Police Department as a volunteer auxiliary officer, a program which enlists volunteers into non-enforcement and non-hazardous roles with the local precinct. 

She loved her volunteer role and logged upwards of 150 hours a month, more than 10 times the required minimum monthly requirement of 12 hours.

“[The police officers] were my role models, they were giving to the community nonstop,” Jamsheer said. “That’s my passion, to give back.”

Watching the officers at the 50th precinct engage with the neighborhood, motivated her to continue her pursuit of her childhood dream. After graduating from the police academy in 2017, Jamsheer returned to the 50th precinct and became a crime prevention officer, responsible for responding to regular officer duties, like 911 and 311 calls. As well as educating the public on crime statistics and how best to stay safe. 

Four years ago, she joined the Community Affairs Bureau and in October, she was made detective. 

“I love what I do and I would love to keep doing what I’m doing on a larger scale,” Jamsheer said. 

In her role with community affairs, she’s focused on the department’s relationship with the neighborhood by hosting events at local businesses.

Jamsheer handles everything from approving permits for block parties and public events to taking care of the safety of residents. She frequents local merchants and advises them on crime statistics, giving helpful tips, occasionally informing business owners when merchandise is too close to the door and vulnerable to thievery. She oversees police presence at parades, protests and all public gatherings, intent on keeping the safety of all, a top priority. 

Captain Lorraine Perez of the community outreach division has known Jamsheer since she began as an auxiliary officer. 

“She is the conduit of the department to these institutions that may be fearful and she is the one who will allay their fears and tell them this is what we planned,” Perez said. 

Perez added, with the Jewish population of the neighborhood and the ongoing tensions abroad, the department is on high alert for threats and Jamsheer oversees most of it. She shared part of her duties include driving past the places of worship, while also keeping open lines of communication between the precinct and the community, discussing possible threats and plans of action with personnel. 

“We want to make sure everyone feels safe,” Jamsheer said. 

In addition to building a trusting relationship with local houses of worship, Jamsheer also hosts events to build bridges between residents and police officers. She’s hosted coffee with a cop, karaoke with a cop, pizza with a cop, yoga with a cop and bingo with a cop. Jamsheer said all of the events have been a success. 

The most recent event was coffee break with a cop, on Dec. 14 at Lava House at 459 W. 238th St. Jamsheer attends all of the events, along with a few other officers and always at a local business, intent on bringing foot traffic to the shops and restaurants in the neighborhood.

“That familiarity builds trust,” Jamsheer said. 

Jamsheer shared, these events have been so successful, she was approached about new opportunities including yoga and pizza events. For yoga with a cop, she worked with Johanna Edmondson, owner of Female Fight Club, a woman-owned and woman-focused exercise gym at 5900 Riverdale Ave.  

“Most people only encounter police in crisis, this creates a calmer setting,” said Captain Perez of the community outreach division.

For Jamsheer, her most successful case was during her time as a police officer, when a distraught Muslim woman entered the precinct after she and her children were abused by her husband. Thanks to her fluency in Arabic, she was able to provide the woman with the assistance she needed. Jamsheer added, sometimes the woman and her children, who are now grown, come back to say hello. 

She said she believes the 50th precinct police’s relationship with the residents is in a good place, “we work well together.”

Jamsheer refers to the neighborhood as her own, despite her no longer living in Riverdale. When she isn’t working, she said she isn’t home, instead she can be found at her favorite local food spots like Yucca on Riverdale Avenue or Santa Fe Grill on Broadway.  

“I lived the American dream,” Jamsheer said, “This is my family.”

If she could offer any advice to the public, it would be to speak to their local police officers.

“The uniform is not just for emergencies,” Jamsheer said.