NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – You’ve heard about the importance of getting police officers out into the community so they can relate more to the public. Well, there’s one cop in New Orleans who’s doing just that through skateboarding.
NOPD Sgt. Chirstopher Prochaska is no ordinary cop. He’s known as “the skateboarding cop.”
“My favorite trick is the basic ollie because the ollie is the foundation to everything in skateboarding,” he said.
Sgt. Prochaska has been with the NOPD for 19 years, and he’s been skateboarding since he was 14 years old. He’s 45 now and married with two kids.
“I think there are a lot of kids and adults that are surprised when they see me skateboarding. I think they may have a preconceived notion of what police officers are,” he said.
He’s merging his love for the sport with his job. He believes skateboarding is a way to be a positive influence for the community. Sgt. Prochaska was even one of the ones who helped spearhead getting Parisite Park built in Gentilly.
“I think this skate park is great for the kids. It keeps them out of trouble. Let’s face it. They are not appropriating buildings, parking garages, and other places that weren’t meant for skateboarders, where they could be exposed to danger,” Prochaska said.
The kids he skates with are happy to have the “skateboarding cop” on their side.
“Woah, it’s really cool to see a skateboarding cop. He’s pretty good, too. I was really surprised to see him skateboarding. That’s amazing and good for the community,” David Magee, a local skateboarder, said.
This cool cop is keeping the streets safe in his patrol car and on his board, but we’ve got a hunch which one he prefers!
Prochaska said he tries to make it a point to stop by Parisite Park once a week, if he can. They do community clean-up every Saturday in the park.
