Movies and TV shows about NYC feature gangsters and criminals up to no good, but the city is much safer today than in the recent past. Safety is still important, however, so on Thursday, July 12, Officer Mark Burger and a few representatives for the New York Police Department met with the CCIP (www.theccip.com) J-1 interns to give the new arrivals tips on how to best stay safe while living in Queens and moving around the city.

Since the program’s inception, the NYPD has supported CCIP in helping ensure exchange visitors’ security. The safety talk offered recommendations for navigating the city without becoming a victim of crime or injury. The talk included a list of dos and don’ts and rules for how to protect personal belongings. As in any big city, common sense is essential for staying out of potential danger.

This session was Joe Wong of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology led the activity. “I appreciated the chance to meet with the officer,” said Joe. “New York is crowded and can be intimidating, so I welcome professional advice on how to avoid trouble. I feel more in control of my own safety now."

The NYPD’s 109th precinct includes the part of Flushing where CCIP interns are living for the summer. In June, first-session interns were invited to a barbecue hosted by the 109th Precinct Community Council. They asked questions about what police work is like in a metropolis like NYC and posed for pictures with uniformed officers -- New York’s finest.