I was always a clown. In the eighth grade I won a city speech contest by doing an Eddie Murphy routine. I’m no good at public speaking, but if I can assume a role and speak as that person, then I’m fine. When I had to give a book report, I always did it in character.

When I first started the show, I was known as the ‘cop nerd.’ I was in the 9th Precinct in the East Village every day. I’d be at work wearing a fake bulletproof vest with foam in it, then I’d leave and put on a real one to ride around with these guys.