The 11 rookies took some of the pressure off the veteran officers, Johnson says.

With the department strengthened, Johnson launched a new community policing program. This involved introducing the officers to students and assigning regular patrols of the yard and the Houses.

"This is part of the 'Park and Walk' system that is being implemented across the country," says Johnson. "We had to have the man-power before we could begin the plan."

"Johnson originally planned to introduce the officers to students in March, but training took longer than expected.

"By the time school begins in the fall, we will introduce them," Johnson says. "People will ultimately get to know them."

Johnson also hopes the Harvard community will forget the racial harassment charges against the department by the fall.

In late April, the Black Student Association (BSA) distributed a flyer condemning the police Department for treating Blacks as "second-class citizens."

BSA President Zaheer R. Ali '94, who helped write the flyer, listed four incidents in which he alleged the police mistreated Black students because of their race.

"This suggests an attitude that police can't believe that Black students go here," Ali said after the flyer was distributed.

Johnson, who is Black, denied any mistreatment of Black students by his officers, and said he would meet with BSA and other minority organizations until the perception of racism is gone.

Looking back, Johnson also sees a bright side to the allegations.

"The latest spate of accusations of insensitivity has demanded much attention," Johnson says. "But in the long run, although the charges are unfair, I believe it will make us more professional at the department."

The BSA distributed its flyer just two weeks before police stations across the country would face scrutiny after the Rodney King verdict was announced.

"The King verdict also affected morale. But that will pass eventually," says Johnson.

Harvard students were among many Americans to lose respect for police officers after the Los Angeles riots.