Saturday Nights, Soccer & The Sergeant

Sergeant Brown, United States

Sergeant Brown serves with the New York City Police Department in Harlem. He shares his journey of discovering soccer through the Saturday Night Lights program while working as a Neighborhood Coordination Officer in Washington Heights. From 2019 to 2024 he participated in the SNL soccer program, building stronger relationships between the NYPD and the community.

My name is Sergeant Brown from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) assigned to the 32 Precinct in Harlem (NYC). I am 35 years old. I grew up in Queens watching baseball (New York Yankees), basketball (New York Knicks), and American football (Giants & Jets). I played baseball (first base) and basketball (center).

I did not know much about soccer until I came across the Saturday Night Lights (SNL) Soccer Program back in 2018. I became part of the program because SNL was offered in my former Precinct (33 Precinct in Washington Heights).

When I was serving as a Neighborhood Coordination Officer in Washington Heights, I received a call from a woman named Danielle Madden. She explained to me they were running three Saturday Night Lights Programs at two different locations in my Sector (the area of Washington Heights I consistently patrolled). They had volleyball and basketball at one site and soccer at another site. She asked me if I was interested in participating in the program.

I participated in the SNL soccer program every Saturday night from 2019-2024. The program was designed by the Manhattan District Attorneys Office to provide Jr High School, High School and College age kids with a place to play organized sports on a Saturday night. This allowed me to get involved and take part in the program, and learn more about soccer and the youth in the community.

What attracted you to the SNL program?

What initially attracted me to Saturday Night Lights was the premise around the program. Gyms should be open on Saturdays for our Middle School/High School/College youth, so they have a safe space to socialize, exercise and play sports. In 2018, my first year as a Neighborhood Coordination Officer, I was off on Fridays and Saturdays. Since the program was running on Saturdays, I received permission to switch my days off to Sunday and Monday, so I was able to consistently participate in the program week after week.

The idea of building a bridge with the youth in the community while learning a new sport like soccer was a no brainer for me. I wanted to be a part of this program!

What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?

The photos were taken of the coaches and participants of the SNL program. The program has two sessions, a Jr High School Session and a High School/College session. I tried to take an equal amount of photos from both sessions.

I tried to show a balance of what the SNL program entails, which is more than just soccer. It entails mentorship, coaching, organized sports, an outlet for the youth to safely socialize, and food and drink for the members who come out and participate. The program offers more than just soccer. Soccer is a very special part of all the participants' lives.

My favorite photo is of Coach Jimenez and his stepson. This photo is special to me because it portrays the love they share centered around the sport they both grew up loving and playing.

Coach Jimenez is the heart and soul behind the SNL program. He never misses a week of SNL. He plays the role of a father and mentor in many of the young people’s lives. He currently works full time as a school dean, but that does not stop him from teaching and playing soccer on Saturdays from 8am until about 9pm. Through the years he became a great friend of mine. He taught me a lot about soccer, how it brings communities and cultures around the world together, and I see that every week at Saturday Night Lights.

What impact has the SNL program had on you and the participants?

Soccer and the SNL program has had a major impact on my life, because it helped break the barrier between the Police Department and the youth in the community. Having the police at the soccer program can be intimidating for the youth at first. It is important to see how this program has built a bridge within the community between the NYPD and the youth and their families in the city of New York.

Seeing the participants outside of the program, and having them say “hi” and wave at the police when they encounter them shows the program is working. It also provides a sense of security for the youth, knowing they can count on the police if they need help, and not feel scared reaching out to the police if they encounter danger.

What are your personal ambitions for the future?

In the future, I hope to keep climbing the ranks in the NYPD, where I can continue to help reduce crime, provide a sense of security, and be a positive example for members of the community.

What do you think the future looks like for soccer in New York City? What would you like to change?

The future for soccer in NYC is very bright! I hope to see the popularity of soccer in NYC continue to grow. I would also like to see soccer offered more in school settings to help expose students to the game.