NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly presented members of the Brooklyn group, Grandmothers LOV, with certificates today for their work to improve crime in Brooklyn’s troubled neighborhoods.
“I want to thank people here for their leadership,” Kelly told the group of grandmothers at a breakfast inside of Police Headquarters.
The group, that operates under the acronym LOV, love over violence, was formed two years ago when the Brooklyn Clergy NYPD Task Force wanted to help turn the family matriarchs into community leaders.
“Being that I’m a leader, I encourage a lot of grandmothers in the community that really needed help,” said Inez Rodriguez, who hails the program.
”This program made it easy for them (the grandmothers) to learn how to work with their grand-kids and it made it comfortable for them to relate to police officers and get help,” said Clara Woods, vice president of the organization.
The collaboration was aimed at grandmothers who are primary caregivers because the children’s parents for one reason or another are no longer in the picture, cops said.
Each of the members was awarded with a certificate and a commemorative heart-shaped pin.
“We can see the difference in Brooklyn, things are getting better in Brooklyn,” Kelly said.