We are the proud parents and families of children at Zeta Inwood Elementary School and Zeta Manhattan Middle School.

We write to express our deep concern and objection to statements made by the Commanding Officer Inspector John Portalatin and other officers of the NYPD 34th Precinct about our children.

Our children attend a public charter school in Upper Manhattan. They are thriving academically, socially, and emotionally. They deserve dignity and respect—and not to be characterized as threats to the community.

In recent public Community Board meetings, NYPD officers—while in uniform and acting in their official capacity—made statements about our children that are not only inaccurate and baseless, but harmful to their futures and well-being. We are asking for immediate review and action.

 
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The following statements were made publicly:

• Inspector Portalatin (March 2, 2026, Traffic & Transportation Committee Meeting) - Suggested that the presence of Zeta children would increase crime and that Zeta children would engage in disorderly conduct in the surrounding area:
  • “Crime is going to go up” when “maybe the kids [Zeta students] saw something of an opportunity.”
  • Characterized that our children may “ be running in and out of the street.
• Officer Christopher Taveras (March 2, 2026)
  • Appeared in uniform and voted in opposition to the proposed Zeta high school while acting in an official capacity—misusing official NYPD authority to influence a decision against our children’s public school where NYPD impartiality is required
• Officer Virginia Peralta (March 4, 2026, Land Use Committee Meeting) - Identified our children with students in the area who fight, and stated our children may bring weapons:
  • “We've had kids meet up there [at nearby fast food locations] to fight and stuff like that and that's been a big issue.”
  • “We're worried about new kids coming there and that being an issue of them being scared bringing a weapon to school.”
• Special Operations Lieutenant Wollasky (March 4, 2026)
  • On behalf of the 34th precinct, speculated that our children would not live in or respect the neighborhood, bringing down quality of life:
  • Said Zeta students would not “take pride in this area and take care of it,” would not “clean . . . up there after themselves. They’re not going to respect the tenants. . . .”
  • [T]he quality of life in the opinion of the 34th precinct is going to greatly be negatively . . . impacted by a school housing high schoolers of . . . that volume in that location.”

Recordings here (Clip 1​, Clip 2) and here (Clip 3​, Clip 4)
 

 
 Why this matters:

These unfounded statements characterize our children as potential criminals, as careless, and as outsiders to a community they are very much part of.

When law enforcement officers publicly describe children of color in this way, it reinforces harmful stereotypes and raises serious concerns about bias.

Our children are among the highest-achieving students in NYC and New York State. They are scholars, artists, athletes, and leaders—a source of pride in our families and in our community. They deserve better from their public officials.

We expect the NYPD to uphold its own standards of professionalism, impartiality, and respect for all New Yorkers—including our children.

We are calling on the NYPD Commissioner to:

• Conduct a prompt and thorough review of the statements and conduct of Inspector Portalatin, Officer Taveras, Officer Peralta, and Lieutenant Wollasky
• Publicly clarify that these statements do not reflect NYPD standards or values
• Take appropriate corrective and disciplinary action regarding officers who made speculative, biased, or harmful statements about children while in uniform
• Reaffirm the NYPD’s commitment to treating all children  and communities with fairness, dignity, and respect

We believe in partnership with the NYPD. We want our children to grow up trusting the adults who are meant to protect them.

But trust requires accountability.

We ask for immediate action, on behalf of our children.

Signed,

Parents and Families of Zeta Inwood and Zeta Manhattan Middle School Students

Jaime Nunez (4th grade parent), Haramritjot Singh (PK parent) , Maribel Burgos (1st grade & 4th grade parent), Kaity Almanzar (4th grade parent), Johanna Mejia Paula (6th grade parent)