Queens Teen Gets to Hang with Top Cop

New York, NY —

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, stepped aside temporarily to welcome this year's winner of the Police Athletic Leagues annual "Police Commissioner for a Day" essay contest.

Gianna Lankenauth, 14, of Queens, will get to accompany Kelly on some of his official duties. Kelly says it's important for kids to see all aspects of the police department.

KELLY: Any thing that fosters interaction between the police and the community, particularly young people, I think is positive.

REPORTER: The high school freshman says so far Kelly has already changed her opinion of him.

LANKENAUTH: He's not scary, he's really nice. [giggles]

REPORTER: Lankenauth's essay, "How to Reduce Crime in New York," won out over 120 entries. Other high school students were selected to shadow deputy commissioners, police chiefs, borough commanders and precinct captains.