The thought that you are considered a problem can really change you. 

By the time I was 15, I looked a lot older than I was and police in my neighborhood didn’t see the good black boy my mom had raised. They began to do little things, like put their hands on their holsters when walking by. Just hanging out on the block with friends got me in trouble because 6 foot 3, 290 lb. black guys who aren’t playing football are always up to no good. I’ve often wondered if people saw me as a suspect when I’m walking down the street. It's even affected my confidence.

I’ve had to deal with harassment, name-calling and, on several occasions, use of unjustified force. One time, when I was 18, a cop punched me in the face. I’ve had so many run-ins with the police it's changed how I view society. The police are public servants, so if they’re profiling me, the public must be afraid of me.

My older sister, Liana, never had any negative experiences with the police. Even so, she knew what a difficult relationship I’d had with the NYPD, so imagine my surprise when, six years ago, she said with a smile, “Jared, I have something I want to tell you.” She was going to take the police test.

“I think I made an excuse, ‘oh, I think it’s a good job.’ Just trying to soften the blow that I knew it would be to you.” Liana told me recently she didn’t actually think she would become a cop. It wasn’t real to her until she was on the street.

Liana swore she’d be different from the police who stopped me, but I just couldn’t understand how that would be possible. There’s pressure from superiors to make quotas.

Listen to Jared’s story to hear what happens after his sister joins the force.