Eleven-year-old Emily Snyder enjoys playing soccer, ski racing, and working with children at her family’s local synagogue. She is currently debating whether she will someday become a pediatrician or a teacher, but on June 7, she’ll join the ranks of the Brookline Police Department. As this year’s winner of the Brookline Police Chief for a Day writing contest, Snyder wrote a compelling essay about addressing and combating bullying, earning her a unique opportunity to explore what it might be like to be a police officer in Brookline.
Now in its second year, the Brookline Police Chief for a Day competition challenges fifth graders across Brookline to write a 500-word essay in response to a question posed by the Brookline Police Chief for a Day Committee. Last year’s essay question focused on public safety in Brookline, and this year, the committee asked: “How would you solve a bullying issue at your school?”
Snyder’s essay outlines a comprehensive approach to combating bullying both in school and online. She highlights different actions that individuals can take to stop bullying while stressing the importance of empathy for those who are victims of it.
“I tried to think about how I would feel if I was a witness and saw someone being bullied,” reflected Snyder. While she does not see bullying as widely prevalent at her school, Snyder recognizes that it is an ongoing issue, and her essay encourages anyone who witnesses or is affected by it to take immediate action.
When Snyder learned that she won the competition, she was ecstatic. “I was shocked,” she recalled, “I had no idea.”
“I did not realize how big of a deal it was until different parents from other schools in Brookline came up to me to congratulate Emily on winning,” her father Richard Snyder added.
On her day as police chief, Snyder will be sworn in as an officer and participate in a variety of interactive scenarios that stimulate different types of police work. Snyder will also receive a police uniform and officers that are on duty that day will address her as “chief.” When asked what she is most looking forward to, Snyder mentioned that she is excited about the uniform and she is still trying to decide whom she will bring to the luncheon.
The Brookline Police Chief for a Day writing contest was piloted by Lt. June Murphy to introduce children to local law enforcement through the positive experience of being Chief for a day. “She wanted to give back and get kids to see what police work is all about,” said Officer Dana Inchierca, this year’s Chief for a Day Committee Chairman. Tragically, Murphy passed away suddenly last May. Officer Inchierca and his team continue the contest in honor of Murphy and her dedication to the community.
For Inchierca, chairing the committee and participating in the event last year has been highly rewarding. “I love this part of police work,” he said. “Giving back to the community is what I love to do, and it’s why I became a police officer. There’s so much negativity out there about police right now, so it’s nice to be involved in something positive.”
Inchierca and his team have been consistently impressed with the essays submitted for the competition. As he wrote in an email, “Sometimes as adults, we think we have all the answers until we get leveled with a reality check from a young, untainted perspective.”
Snyder will be Brookline Police Chief for the day on June 7. The day begins with a swearing ceremony at *The Devotion School at 9:30 am.
By Danielle Myers
* Publisher’s Note: The Devotion School is presently named after Edward Devotion, who died in 1774. During his life, Devotion owned at least one slave. Brookline Town Meeting approved a warrant article in May to change the Devotion School’s name. The final vote was 171 to 19 with 14 abstentions; 36 Town Meeting Members did not cast votes.
