PTL. SALVATORE SPINOLA
On Oct. 2, 1969, Ptl. Salvatore Spinola #20563 of the Emergency Services Unit, responded to calls for help at the intersection of Eastern Parkway and Troy Ave.
Three Dept. of Water Resources repairmen, fixing a leaking water main in a sewer, were overcome by fumes when a gas valve burst. Two of the men managed to climb to the surface after attempting to revive the third, which had passed out. They were unable to move him.
Ptl. Spinola, donning a gas mask and a rope descended into the manhole. The base was 12 feet below the street. The gas fumes were overpowering, though, and Ptl. Spinola was found unconscious at the bottom of the manhole. The repairman was found dead alongside the officer.
Ptl. Spinola was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A veteran of 14 years in the department, Ptl. Spinola was 36 years of age, married and the father of four children. He was given an �Inspector�s� funeral on Oct. 6, 1969, at St. Raphael�s Church, East Meadow, Long Island. He was buried in St. Anthony�s Cemetery, Nanuet, Long Island. On July 7, 1970, at the NYPD annual medal day ceremonies, Ptl. Spinola was posthumously awarded the NYPD Medal of Honor. Mayor John Lindsay presented the medal to his widow Mrs. Phyllis Spinola.
ANXIETY VS. FEAR DURING AN INTERROGATION
Taken from the John E. Reid & Associates web site, which has been referred to often on this site, the monthly Tips For Investigators concerns the use of anxiety versus fear during an interrogation.
A clear distinction must be made between anxiety and fear. Anxiety describes a generalized feeling of apprehension or uneasiness directed inward, toward the subject. As an emotion, it is closely related to guilt or shame which are also directed inward.
Fear, on the other hand, is a specific feeling of dread that is directed outward, toward the object of a threat.
It is important to note the distinction, as described by Reid Associates.
The reason anxiety-enhancing techniques are considered legal during an interrogation is that the subject retains full control over his decision to confess. The subject may exercise his free will to reduce the anxiety of an interrogation by walking out of the room, requesting an attorney or telling the truth. However, because fear is the result of an outside threat to the suspect , his or her free will may be impaired. The suspect may well come to believe that the only way to avoid the threat is by confessing. This would be true for both the guilty and innocent suspect which is precisely why courts evaluate the presence of threats in deciding the admissibility of a confession.
An important responsibility a professional investigator assumes is to know what statements or behaviors are permissible during an interrogation and which ones are not. Especially when testifying, an investigator must be able to defend the techniques used to elicit a confession. In this regard, explaining the distinction between anxiety and fear may become central to the admissibility of a confession. As a general guideline, if the statement or action addresses what the investigator may do or what might happen to the suspect if he continues to deny involvement in the offense, the statement invokes fear and should be avoided. If the statement or action addresses the suspect's own perception of his future or how others may perceive him if he continues to deny involvement in the offense it invokes anxiety and is probably permissible.
Some examples of the two are described below.
"I would hate to see you ten years from now worrying that your wife or employer might find out what you did and having to face the consequences; it's not worth it."
This illustrates a way to increase anxiety properly, and is a proper interrogation technique. Contrast this with the following:
"Listen, if you don't start telling the truth I'm going to lose my temper and get angry. Believe me, you don't want to get me angry (interrogator slaps hand down on desk top and is 6 inches from suspect's face)."
This increases fear, and is an example of an IMPROPER technique during interrogation.
Here�s another PROPER METHOD:
"If this is something you planned out long in advance that tells me you're basically a dishonest person. But, if this happened on the spur of the moment, that would be important for people to know."
This IMPROPER METHOD could be illustrated as follows:
"I'm going to ask you a question and one of two things will come out of your mouth C either that you did this or your teeth."
Get the idea?
To read more about this, visit the John E. Reid and Associates web site at:
http://www.reid.com/investigatortips.html
MORE ON GASLIGHT STATION HOUSES
The last 19th Century station house in Brooklyn to be lit by gas light was Precinct 49A.
This precinct was located at 263 Bedford Ave. Electric light was installed in 1926 or shortly there after. The station house was originally built in 1855, and opened as the Brooklyn Police Department�s 5th Pct. In 1929 it became the 92nd Pct, which was closed July 1971.
The area was consolidated into the 90th & 94th Pct�s. The NY Times reported in 1972 that the old building had become an abandoned, vandalized structure which was a haven for drug addicts and derelicts.
BROOKLYN NORTH HOMICIDE: �125 CLUB� HOLIDAY
All former members of the Brooklyn North Homicide Squad, as well as our friends, co-workers, and associates, are invited to the Brooklyn North Homicide Christmas Holiday Dinner.
This will take place on Thursday, December 12, starting at 1800 to 2100 hours.
The place, a familiar spot to all, is Nina�s Restaurant , 173 Kingsland Ave (under the BQE). You know the place; you know the squad, and you know the good time that will be had by all who attend.
We are urging all retirees from the squad to reach out to some friends, and join everyone for this holiday dinner. For $50. per person, how could you go wrong?
Please mark the event down in your calendar, and give the squad a call to RSVP your attendance. We�re looking forward to seeing our friends at this event.
You can contact the squad at (718) 963-5370. Looking forward to seeing everyone there that evening!
MORE FROM THE STRANGE-BUT �TRUE FILE
October 1999: Jerry Williams of Little Rock, Arkansas was awarded $14,500
and medical expenses after being bitten on the buttocks by his next door
neighbor's beagle. The beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced-in yard.
The award was less than sought because the jury felt the dog might have been
just a little provoked at the time by Mr. Williams who was shooting it repeatedly with a pellet gun.
QUOTABLE-QUOTES
"We apologize for the error in last week's paper in which we stated that Mr.
Arnold Dogbody was a defective in the police force. We meant, of course,
that Mr. Dogbody is a detective in the police farce."
-- Correction Notice in the Ely Standard, a British newspaper
"Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992 because we received
notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if there is
a change in your circumstances."
-- Department of Social Services, Greenville, South Carolina
T�LEST WE FORGET�� The NYPD Memorial
Please excuse the exemption of this part of the site for the past several weeks.
September 10, 1951 Det James Daggett, Safe,Loft&Truck Sqd, Explosion
September 10, 1964 Ptl Anthony Esposito, 66 Pct, LOD Hear attack
September 11, 1976 PO Brian Murray, Bomb Sq, Explosion investigation
September 12, 1968 Ptl John Madden, 104 Pct, LOD Heart attack
September 12, 1991 PO Hector Fontanez, 47 Pct, Shot during investigation
September 13, 1928 Ptl Jeremiah Brosnan, 24 Pct, Shot by perp
September 14, 1931 Sgt Timothy Murphy, 8 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
September 14, 1974 PO Bruce Anderson, 32 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
September 15, 1931 Ptl William Eberhardt, 15 Pct, auto accident on patrol
September 15, 1979 PO Melvin Hopkins, 77 Pct, Shot, robbery, off duty
September 16, 1927 Ptl Henry E.A. Meyer, 54 Pct, shot-robbery arrest
September 16, 1975 PO Andrew Glover, 9 Pct, shot-assasination
September 16, 1975 Sgt Frederick Reddy, 9 Pct, shot-assasination
September 16, 1977 PO Daniel Nowomlynski, 23 Pct, shot-off duty
September 18, 1927 Ptl Jerome DeLorenzo, 4 Pct, Shot-accidental discharge
September 19, 1943 Sgt Mathew McCormick, 120 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
September 21, 1952 Det Philip Lamonica, 42 Sq, Shot during arrest
September 21, 1984 PO Irma Lozada, TPD D-33, Shot-robbery arrest (RIP, Fran!)
September 22, 1946 Ptl William Brophy, 109 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
September 22, 1983 PO Joseph Hamperian, TPD-SCU, Struck by auto
September 22, 1987 PO Robert Venable, TPD-D33, Shot during arrest
September 23, 1896 Ptl Thomas McIntyre, MTD, Horse accident
September 23, 1937 Det John Wilson, 1 Pct, Shot-robbery
September 23, 1941 Ptl James Schowers, 28 Pct, LOD heart attack
September 23, 1970 Ptl Michael Paolilo, IdentUnit, Stabbed-off duty investigation
September 25, 1953 Ptl Harry Widder, GCP-Hwy3, Auto accident
September 25, 1971 PO Arthur Pelo, HA-BkSI, Shot-robbery arrest
September 25, 1995 PO David Willis, 10 Pct, Auto accident, radio run
September 26, 1977 PO Vito Chiaramonte, HA-CCU, Shot
September 27, 1945 Det Frank McGrath, 2 Sqd, Shot-investigation
September 27, 1992 PO William Gunn, 67 PDU, Shot-investigation
September 28, 1921 Ptl Joseph Reuschle, 42 Pct, Shot by prisoner
September 28, 1934 Ptl John Fraser, 4 Div, Shot-robbery in progress
September 29, 1854 Ptl James Cahill, 11 Ward, Shot-Burglary **
September 29, 1965 Ptl Donald Rainey, Auto Crime, Shot-Mistaken ID, off duty
September 29, 1983 PO Joseph McCormack, ESU, Shot-barricade situation
October 1, 1963 Ptl John Donovan, GCP-Hwy3, Motorcycle accident on patrol
October 2, 1960 Ptl Philip Curtin, 19 Pct, Info not available
October 2, 1969 Ptl Salvatore Spinola, ESU, Asphyxiation during rescue
October 3, 1913 Sgt Joseph McNierney, 29 Pct, Stabbed during arrest
October 3, 1929 Ptl William McCaffrey, Traffic Div, Auto accident on patrol
October 4, 1928 Ptl John Gibbons, Mcy1, Motorcycle accident on patrol
** NOTE: Ptl. James Cahill, assigned to the 11 Ward (which is now the area of the 9th Pct) was shot during a burglary investigation on September 29, 1854. This is the first recorded Line of Duty death for this department.
Monday, September 30, 2002
Thursday, September 26, 2002
NYC PARKS POLICE
The NYC Parks Police was established on May 21, 1856 by New York City Ordinance. The rate of pay and rank system was later set to be the same as the NYS Metropolitan Police on Oct. 8, 1857.
The NYC Parks Police later became the 33rd Precinct (Mounted) of the Metropolitan Police on April 4, 1866, according to Chapter 367 of the Laws of New York State.
On April 5, 1871 New York State Law once again established the NYC Parks Police from the old members of the N.Y. State Metropolitan Police that formerly policed NYC parks.
It has often been thought of as the �Central Park Police�. That may be due to the law that authorized the police force. It called for �a force to be know as �Keepers of the Central Park, and the several public parks, squares and places in the City of New York, to consist of such a number of men as the said board may, from time to time, deem necessary to preserve order in the said Central park, and the several public parks, squares and places; which force shall be under the exclusive control and direction of said board, and may be, in whole or in part discharged at pleasure�. Furthermore each member of that force by virtue of his appointment was vested with the same powers, �within the limits of said public parks, squares and places, and that portion of the streets and avenues bounding the same as lie adjacent thereto, as if he had been appointed to a similar rank in the force of the police department of the city of New York�.
In 1871 the Park Police were under the Department of Parks. It was known as the �Parks Department Bureau of Police�. The head of the Park Police was �The Captain of Police� �whose duties consist in directing and controlling the park-keepers and gate-keepers. Attached to the bureau is a lieutenant, and a sufficient number of sergeants of police to assist the captain in the executive direction of its important affairs.�
The Parks Department had a Division know as the �Westchester Division�. This included all of the County of Westchester under the control of the Department, located north of the Harlem and the Spuyten Duyvil Creek. This area consisted of all the area south of the Village of Yonkers and west of the New York, Harlem and Albany Railroad. The Parks Department was responsible for the mapping and grading of streets, and the security and safety of the Macombs Dam Bridge and adjoining roadways.
The headquarters of the �Park Police� was in the basement of the Arsenal or Museum Building in Central Park, with a sub-station at Mt. St. Vincent in the north end of Central Park. The first Chief of Park Police was the former Metropolitan P.D. Captain Nathaniel R. Mills.
Most of those appointed to the force came from the Metropolitan P.D. Those that were to be appointed later to the force were to come from the park�s �gate keepers�. �Gate keepers� were first employed in the park in 1865.
In 1871 the Park Police consisted of 1 Capt., 1 Lieut., 5 Sergeants, 2 Roundsmen and 54 Park-keepers in Central Park and 3 Sergeant and 37 Park-keepers for the rest of the city. According to Captain Mills report on April 20, 1871 there were no Park Police Officers on duty in Westchester County.
The N.Y.C. Park Police powers were extended to the N.Y.C. annexed district to perform police duties in all parks by a NYS Laws, which was passed on May 6, 1874.
On January 1, 1898 the duties and manpower of the Parks Police were transferred to the Police Department, with many of the members transferred to various Bronx commands.
124 ROOM
Where exactly does this term come from?
We all know this as the clerical office in the precinct; the place you go to or call to get a complaint number, property voucher, etc. But where does the term come from? It�s not exactly the room number, so why is it known throughout the city as the �124 Room�?
With a little help from John Reilly, Ret. Det1 and police historian, I�ve found the origin of this term.
It originated with the �124 Man�. The term was first used, as early as the 1940�s, to refer to a patrolman assigned to the station house. The �124 Room� was the place that the �124 Man� performed his duties.
According to the 1949 Rules & Regulations of the department, Rule #124 states �A patrolman assigned to a station house post shall report in person to the desk officer at intervals prescribed by the commanding officer. In precincts where the clerical work is of such a nature that the desk officer requires assistance, the patrolman assigned to the station house post may be permitted by the precinct commander to aid the desk officer.�
The 124-Man was the desk officer�s assistant. He completed clerical duties as necessary, which often included typing the UF49�s for the Desk Officer. A patrolman who knew how to type, and who could prepare a well written report, was certain to get pulled in by the desk officer to be his �124 Man�.
Another term that was used but has not survived the test of time that the �124 Room� has is the �90-Room�. This referred to Rule #90, which referred to the holding of vouchered property. Thus the �90 Room� was the Property Room.
Watch this site for future posting on other commonly-used terms.
SIGNAL THIRTY-TWO
Referring to the radio code of the Police Department, this was also the title of an excellent fiction book written in 1950 by MacKinlay Kantor, about the patrol officers of the 23 Precinct.
It followed veteran Ptl. Joe Shetland and his newly assigned, rookie Prob. Ptl. Dan Shetland, through their activities around the clock in the 23 Precinct of the 1940�s. This was the time just following WWII, and the area of �Spanish Harlem� was known as one of the highest crime precincts in the city.
At that time the 23 Precinct ran from 86 St to 116 Street, from the East River to 5 Ave.
The title, Signal Thirty-Two, refers to the radio code in use at that time. A Signal 32 was the message sent by the radio dispatcher that a Felony was in progress at the location given. Mostly it was used for robberies. But it referred to any felony in progress; could be an assault, larceny, rape, etc.
One of the most interesting aspects of this book was reading about the procedures and practices in place back in the 1940�s in the NYPD. Patrolmen worked �around the clock�, six days straight followed by 48 hours off. Days off were never guaranteed, and overtime did not exist. When you made a collar on your last tour and sat in court for two days you did so at your own expense. No OT.
Do you know that part on the reverse of the UF28 that asks where you will be on your excused day off? Well it�s discussed in the book how you needed to let the Captain know exactly how to contact you in case they needed to �recall� you. �Touring New England� was not sufficient! Rules were obeyed, or else.
This excellent book, which I first came across about thirty years ago, is now once again part of my book collection. If you ever get a chance to read it, I�m sure you�d enjoy it.
MORE STORIES FROM THE STRANGE-BUT-TRUE FILE
May 2000: A Philadelphia restaurant was ordered to pay Amber Carson of
Lancaster, Pennsylvania $113,500 after she slipped on a soft drink and
broke her coccyx. The beverage was on the floor because Ms. Carson threw it
at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument.
December 1997: Kara Walton of Claymont, Delaware successfully sued the
owner of a night club in a neighboring city when she fell from the bathroom
window to the floor and knocked out her two front teeth. This occurred
while Ms Walton was trying to sneak through the window in the ladies room
to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge. She was awarded $12,000 and dental
expenses.
QUOTABLE-QUOTES
"I was provided with additional input that was radically different from
the truth. I assisted in furthering that version,"
-- Colonel Oliver North, from his Iran-Contra testimony.
"It is wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago!"
-- Dan Quayle, VP
The NYC Parks Police was established on May 21, 1856 by New York City Ordinance. The rate of pay and rank system was later set to be the same as the NYS Metropolitan Police on Oct. 8, 1857.
The NYC Parks Police later became the 33rd Precinct (Mounted) of the Metropolitan Police on April 4, 1866, according to Chapter 367 of the Laws of New York State.
On April 5, 1871 New York State Law once again established the NYC Parks Police from the old members of the N.Y. State Metropolitan Police that formerly policed NYC parks.
It has often been thought of as the �Central Park Police�. That may be due to the law that authorized the police force. It called for �a force to be know as �Keepers of the Central Park, and the several public parks, squares and places in the City of New York, to consist of such a number of men as the said board may, from time to time, deem necessary to preserve order in the said Central park, and the several public parks, squares and places; which force shall be under the exclusive control and direction of said board, and may be, in whole or in part discharged at pleasure�. Furthermore each member of that force by virtue of his appointment was vested with the same powers, �within the limits of said public parks, squares and places, and that portion of the streets and avenues bounding the same as lie adjacent thereto, as if he had been appointed to a similar rank in the force of the police department of the city of New York�.
In 1871 the Park Police were under the Department of Parks. It was known as the �Parks Department Bureau of Police�. The head of the Park Police was �The Captain of Police� �whose duties consist in directing and controlling the park-keepers and gate-keepers. Attached to the bureau is a lieutenant, and a sufficient number of sergeants of police to assist the captain in the executive direction of its important affairs.�
The Parks Department had a Division know as the �Westchester Division�. This included all of the County of Westchester under the control of the Department, located north of the Harlem and the Spuyten Duyvil Creek. This area consisted of all the area south of the Village of Yonkers and west of the New York, Harlem and Albany Railroad. The Parks Department was responsible for the mapping and grading of streets, and the security and safety of the Macombs Dam Bridge and adjoining roadways.
The headquarters of the �Park Police� was in the basement of the Arsenal or Museum Building in Central Park, with a sub-station at Mt. St. Vincent in the north end of Central Park. The first Chief of Park Police was the former Metropolitan P.D. Captain Nathaniel R. Mills.
Most of those appointed to the force came from the Metropolitan P.D. Those that were to be appointed later to the force were to come from the park�s �gate keepers�. �Gate keepers� were first employed in the park in 1865.
In 1871 the Park Police consisted of 1 Capt., 1 Lieut., 5 Sergeants, 2 Roundsmen and 54 Park-keepers in Central Park and 3 Sergeant and 37 Park-keepers for the rest of the city. According to Captain Mills report on April 20, 1871 there were no Park Police Officers on duty in Westchester County.
The N.Y.C. Park Police powers were extended to the N.Y.C. annexed district to perform police duties in all parks by a NYS Laws, which was passed on May 6, 1874.
On January 1, 1898 the duties and manpower of the Parks Police were transferred to the Police Department, with many of the members transferred to various Bronx commands.
124 ROOM
Where exactly does this term come from?
We all know this as the clerical office in the precinct; the place you go to or call to get a complaint number, property voucher, etc. But where does the term come from? It�s not exactly the room number, so why is it known throughout the city as the �124 Room�?
With a little help from John Reilly, Ret. Det1 and police historian, I�ve found the origin of this term.
It originated with the �124 Man�. The term was first used, as early as the 1940�s, to refer to a patrolman assigned to the station house. The �124 Room� was the place that the �124 Man� performed his duties.
According to the 1949 Rules & Regulations of the department, Rule #124 states �A patrolman assigned to a station house post shall report in person to the desk officer at intervals prescribed by the commanding officer. In precincts where the clerical work is of such a nature that the desk officer requires assistance, the patrolman assigned to the station house post may be permitted by the precinct commander to aid the desk officer.�
The 124-Man was the desk officer�s assistant. He completed clerical duties as necessary, which often included typing the UF49�s for the Desk Officer. A patrolman who knew how to type, and who could prepare a well written report, was certain to get pulled in by the desk officer to be his �124 Man�.
Another term that was used but has not survived the test of time that the �124 Room� has is the �90-Room�. This referred to Rule #90, which referred to the holding of vouchered property. Thus the �90 Room� was the Property Room.
Watch this site for future posting on other commonly-used terms.
SIGNAL THIRTY-TWO
Referring to the radio code of the Police Department, this was also the title of an excellent fiction book written in 1950 by MacKinlay Kantor, about the patrol officers of the 23 Precinct.
It followed veteran Ptl. Joe Shetland and his newly assigned, rookie Prob. Ptl. Dan Shetland, through their activities around the clock in the 23 Precinct of the 1940�s. This was the time just following WWII, and the area of �Spanish Harlem� was known as one of the highest crime precincts in the city.
At that time the 23 Precinct ran from 86 St to 116 Street, from the East River to 5 Ave.
The title, Signal Thirty-Two, refers to the radio code in use at that time. A Signal 32 was the message sent by the radio dispatcher that a Felony was in progress at the location given. Mostly it was used for robberies. But it referred to any felony in progress; could be an assault, larceny, rape, etc.
One of the most interesting aspects of this book was reading about the procedures and practices in place back in the 1940�s in the NYPD. Patrolmen worked �around the clock�, six days straight followed by 48 hours off. Days off were never guaranteed, and overtime did not exist. When you made a collar on your last tour and sat in court for two days you did so at your own expense. No OT.
Do you know that part on the reverse of the UF28 that asks where you will be on your excused day off? Well it�s discussed in the book how you needed to let the Captain know exactly how to contact you in case they needed to �recall� you. �Touring New England� was not sufficient! Rules were obeyed, or else.
This excellent book, which I first came across about thirty years ago, is now once again part of my book collection. If you ever get a chance to read it, I�m sure you�d enjoy it.
MORE STORIES FROM THE STRANGE-BUT-TRUE FILE
May 2000: A Philadelphia restaurant was ordered to pay Amber Carson of
Lancaster, Pennsylvania $113,500 after she slipped on a soft drink and
broke her coccyx. The beverage was on the floor because Ms. Carson threw it
at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument.
December 1997: Kara Walton of Claymont, Delaware successfully sued the
owner of a night club in a neighboring city when she fell from the bathroom
window to the floor and knocked out her two front teeth. This occurred
while Ms Walton was trying to sneak through the window in the ladies room
to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge. She was awarded $12,000 and dental
expenses.
QUOTABLE-QUOTES
"I was provided with additional input that was radically different from
the truth. I assisted in furthering that version,"
-- Colonel Oliver North, from his Iran-Contra testimony.
"It is wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago!"
-- Dan Quayle, VP
Monday, September 23, 2002
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO�A DD22
That�s the form that most resembles a chance book, requesting a Warden give an MOS permission to visit with a prisoner.
When was the last time you used one of those?
I�m still trying to find out what a DD1 was. If anyone can help, please let me know!
FOR THE INVESTIGATOR
While we have the access to a database such as �Auto Track� through the Borough Intell Teams and HIDTA, did you know there are other similar sites accessible via computer?
These sites are not free; you pay for your searches. But some of them are very reasonable. Ranging from 50 cents to several dollars a search, depending on what you�re looking for.
Why would we need something like this? These are sites generally used by private investigators that don�t have the luxury of free Auto Track (they pay for it when they use it). As long as we have access to Auto-Track, we probably don�t see a need for these. I�m just curious as to the results obtained from some of these other sites; can they find a subject or SSN that Auto-Track didn�t?
I don�t know the answers to these questions, but I should have some answers in the future.
I have opened my own account with �Locate-Plus�, and have started using their searches. It is similar to Auto-Track. They have a pretty extensive telephone database, though. I figure whatever it costs out-of-pocket will be worthwhile if it produces results not available in other places.
www.locateplus.com
www.iqdata.com
www.accurint.com
CREDIT BUREAU SUBPOENA DESKS
Three "Super Bureaus" collect and disseminate personal financial information on millions of Americans. Release of the information is regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act and various state statutes. Note: Subpoenas must be signed by a judge. All three bureaus accept service by mail at the addresses below. None charge a fee. Be sure to include the subject's social security number and current address when requesting a credit report by subpoena or search warrant.
EQUIFAX: Mail subpoenas/search warrants to: Equifax, Attn.: Custodian of Records, 1600 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309. Call 770/375-2613.
EXPERIAN: Mail subpoenas/search warrants to: Experian, Attn.: Custodian of Records, P.O. Box 1240, Allen, TX 75013. Call 972/390-4016.
TRANSUNION: Mail subpoenas/search warrants to: TransUnion, Attn.: Custodian of Records, 555 West Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60661. Call 312/466-6401.
GONE ARE THE NIPPERS
A footnote to the recent posting on the police equipment �Nippers�.
It should be noted that in 1958, according to an amendment to the Rules & Procedures, �Sergeants and patrolman assigned to duty in uniform and members of the force assigned to plainclothes or detective duty, shall carry regulation handcuffs while on duty�.
MORE QUOTABLE-QUOTES
"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life,"
-- Brooke Shields, during an interview to become spokesperson for a
federal antismoking campaign.
"We're going to turn this team around 360 degrees,"
-- Jason Kidd, upon his drafting to the Dallas Mavericks.
"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."
-- Bill Clinton, President
"We are ready for an unforeseen event that may or may not occur."
-- Al Gore, VP
"I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and the only regret I have is that I didn't study my Latin harder in school so I could converse with those people."
-- Dan Quayle, VP
That�s the form that most resembles a chance book, requesting a Warden give an MOS permission to visit with a prisoner.
When was the last time you used one of those?
I�m still trying to find out what a DD1 was. If anyone can help, please let me know!
FOR THE INVESTIGATOR
While we have the access to a database such as �Auto Track� through the Borough Intell Teams and HIDTA, did you know there are other similar sites accessible via computer?
These sites are not free; you pay for your searches. But some of them are very reasonable. Ranging from 50 cents to several dollars a search, depending on what you�re looking for.
Why would we need something like this? These are sites generally used by private investigators that don�t have the luxury of free Auto Track (they pay for it when they use it). As long as we have access to Auto-Track, we probably don�t see a need for these. I�m just curious as to the results obtained from some of these other sites; can they find a subject or SSN that Auto-Track didn�t?
I don�t know the answers to these questions, but I should have some answers in the future.
I have opened my own account with �Locate-Plus�, and have started using their searches. It is similar to Auto-Track. They have a pretty extensive telephone database, though. I figure whatever it costs out-of-pocket will be worthwhile if it produces results not available in other places.
www.locateplus.com
www.iqdata.com
www.accurint.com
CREDIT BUREAU SUBPOENA DESKS
Three "Super Bureaus" collect and disseminate personal financial information on millions of Americans. Release of the information is regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act and various state statutes. Note: Subpoenas must be signed by a judge. All three bureaus accept service by mail at the addresses below. None charge a fee. Be sure to include the subject's social security number and current address when requesting a credit report by subpoena or search warrant.
EQUIFAX: Mail subpoenas/search warrants to: Equifax, Attn.: Custodian of Records, 1600 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309. Call 770/375-2613.
EXPERIAN: Mail subpoenas/search warrants to: Experian, Attn.: Custodian of Records, P.O. Box 1240, Allen, TX 75013. Call 972/390-4016.
TRANSUNION: Mail subpoenas/search warrants to: TransUnion, Attn.: Custodian of Records, 555 West Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60661. Call 312/466-6401.
GONE ARE THE NIPPERS
A footnote to the recent posting on the police equipment �Nippers�.
It should be noted that in 1958, according to an amendment to the Rules & Procedures, �Sergeants and patrolman assigned to duty in uniform and members of the force assigned to plainclothes or detective duty, shall carry regulation handcuffs while on duty�.
MORE QUOTABLE-QUOTES
"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life,"
-- Brooke Shields, during an interview to become spokesperson for a
federal antismoking campaign.
"We're going to turn this team around 360 degrees,"
-- Jason Kidd, upon his drafting to the Dallas Mavericks.
"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."
-- Bill Clinton, President
"We are ready for an unforeseen event that may or may not occur."
-- Al Gore, VP
"I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and the only regret I have is that I didn't study my Latin harder in school so I could converse with those people."
-- Dan Quayle, VP
Thursday, September 19, 2002
NIPPERS
Ret. Det1 John Reilly commented on the recent posting concerning the lack of radios to call for help when Tom Nerney came on the job.
John added the following story concerning when he came on the job in the mid 1950s.
At that time not only did they not have radios, but he noted that handcuffs were not required equipment. The only required restraining piece of equipment were called �nippers�.
The nipper was a short 9-inch steel chain attacked to two handles. The handles could be brought together and then give a twist. When twisted the nipper chain could be quite painful, and it has been noted that most prisoners came along quietly.
He recalled an incident that occurred one day being at a noontime school crossing at West 142nd St. and Amsterdam Ave. when he noticed a number of men entering a tenement house further down the avenue.
As soon as the school crossing was over, about 5 minutes later, he entered the building and started checking each apartment in the building. There had been no break-ins, but when he stepped out onto the roof he found four junkies shooting up. He placed them under arrest, but then started thinking about how he was going to get them to the street. He had no radio, but fortunately he did have a set of handcuffs.
After he first handcuffed two prisoners together, he then put the third one in the middle, and put his nippers on the fourth and last prisoner. He then issued a stern warning to them all that if they tried to get away they would be shot. As it was a six-story building it took about 10 minutes to reach the street where he then made then all of them lie on the sidewalk. A storeowner called the station house and within minutes there were a number of radio cars to take the prisoners into the house.
John further noted, proudly, that he still has the nippers that he used over 40 years ago.
COPPERS
In another of my �buff� waves that come over me, I�ve put together a musical CD collection of what I refer to as �COPPERS: MUSIC FOR THE DETECTIVE�.
What exactly is music for the detective? Well, take a look at the eleven tracks on the CD, and I�m sure you�ll agree that this is �Music for the Detective�!
Here�s a play list and some �liner notes� for the music.
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE by Bon Jovi
�It's all the same, only the names will change / I'm Wanted, Dead or Alive�
DON�T FEAR THE REAPER by Blue Oyster Cult
�The seasons don�t fear the reaper / nor the wind or the sun or the rain / we should be like they are��
Everyone knows the �Grim Reaper� and his connection to the homicide detective.
THEME TO PETER GUNN by Blues Brothers
You know who Peter Gunn is! This is the Blues Brothers version. I think it has a better beat than the original Henry Mancini one. You can just picture Peter Gunn seated on a bar stool, sipping a scotch, conducting business in �Mothers�.
WATCHING THE DETECTIVES Elvis Costello
�She�s filing her nails while they�re dragging the lake/ She�s watching the detectives, they�re so cute��
Yes, they are!
SHAFT by Isaac Hayes
�Who�s the black private dick who�s a sex machine to all the chicks / SHAFT! / Damn right! / Who�s the man who would risk his neck for his brother man / SHAFT! / Right On!� / They say this cat Shaft is a bad mother� Shut your mouth! / I�m talking �bout SHAFT!�
This is the original Isaac Hayes version, not the remake one. The original, with Richard Roundtree. Can�t be beat.
I SHOT THE SHERIFF Eric Clapton
�I shot the Sheriff, but I didn�t shoot the Deputy�!
Sounds like an oral admission to me! Now just try and get the DA on board!
BALLAD OF DANNY BAILEY Elton John
�Some punk with a shotgun, killed young Danny Bailey / In cold blood in a lobby of a downtown motel / Killed him in anger / A force he couldn�t handle / � A runnin� gun youngster in a sad restless age� / Dillinger�s dead, I guess the cops won again/
From Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, this is an interesting ballad from the Bonnie and Clyde days of gangsters and rum-runners.
THEME FROM SOPRANOS
�Woke up this morning, got yourself a gun� / Woke up this morning, got a blue moon in your eye��
Bada-bing. What else can you say?
MACK THE KNIFE Bobby Darrin
�Just a jack-knife, has old MacHeath babe / and he keeps it out of sight /� Fancy gloves though wears old MacHeath babe / so there�s never, never a trace of red� / On the sidewalk, Sunday morning / Lies a body, just oozing life / Someone�s sneaking, around the corner / Could that someone be Mack The Knife?... / Five�ll get you ten, old Macky�s back in town!
Yes, old Macky�s back. He�s gotten out of Rikers, and he�s back in the Cypress Houses. I bet Joe Quuinn has the arrays ready.
RENEGADE Styx
�The jig is up, the news is out, they finally found me / Renegade, who had it made, betrayed for a bounty / Never more to go astray / This will be the end today / Of a Wanted Man�
A song to be played after a good day on the hunt!
NYPD BLUE THEME
The drums beat, the music plays. You can almost feel the city in the music. Imagine a train going overhead on the El. Cars driving by. Look over there, in that lot. A couple of detectives, standing around a body. One of them has short sleeves, the other is writing in a notebook. You can feel it in the music. Another day in the city. �This is the life we�ve chosen�.
THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF CRIME
Compiled in 1859 by George W. Matsell, former Chief of Police of New York City, the SECRET LANGUAGE OF CRIME was a comprehensive dictionary of the criminal; a Rogues Lexicon.
Some of the entries of interest follow:
Amusers: Fellows who carry snuff or pepper in their pockets, which they throw into a persons eyes and then run away; the accomplice rushing up to the victim, pretending to assist, robs him while suffering with pain.
Barking Irons: Pistols
Baster: A house thief
Betty: A picklock
Blow a Cloud: Smoke a cigar or pipe.
Booth: A place where thieves gather or congregate.
Case: A dollar
Century: A hundred dollars.
City College: The Tombs.
Fly-Cop: A sharp officer; an officer that is well posted; one who understands his business.
Moll: A woman.
Mumpers: Beggars
My Uncle: Pawnbroker.
Oil of Barley: Strong beer.
Peepers: Eyes
Philistines: Police officers; officers of justice.
Pinked: Stabbed.
Roofer: Hat
Stop: A Detective
Tail-Diver: A thief who steals pocket-handkerchiefs from coat-tail pockets.
Thimble: A watch.
Turkey-Merchants: Purchasers of stolen silk.
MORE ON IDENTITY THEFT
Statistics regarding IDENTITY THEFT:
Approximately half of all single-case identity thefts are committed by a
family member, a friend, or another person who had access to the victim's
personal records.
Approximately 1 out of 5 identity thefts are committed by retail employees.
Approximately 10% of identity thefts are attributed to mail-box theft.
SOME MORE QUOTABLE QUOTES
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in
our air and water that are doing it."
-- Al Gore, Vice President
"I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix."
-- Dan Quayle
"The word "genius" isn't applicable in football. A genius is a guy like
Norman Einstein,"
-- Joe Theisman, NFL football quarterback & sports analyst.
Note: I think I actually heard Nicky Dimonda say this as well!
Ret. Det1 John Reilly commented on the recent posting concerning the lack of radios to call for help when Tom Nerney came on the job.
John added the following story concerning when he came on the job in the mid 1950s.
At that time not only did they not have radios, but he noted that handcuffs were not required equipment. The only required restraining piece of equipment were called �nippers�.
The nipper was a short 9-inch steel chain attacked to two handles. The handles could be brought together and then give a twist. When twisted the nipper chain could be quite painful, and it has been noted that most prisoners came along quietly.
He recalled an incident that occurred one day being at a noontime school crossing at West 142nd St. and Amsterdam Ave. when he noticed a number of men entering a tenement house further down the avenue.
As soon as the school crossing was over, about 5 minutes later, he entered the building and started checking each apartment in the building. There had been no break-ins, but when he stepped out onto the roof he found four junkies shooting up. He placed them under arrest, but then started thinking about how he was going to get them to the street. He had no radio, but fortunately he did have a set of handcuffs.
After he first handcuffed two prisoners together, he then put the third one in the middle, and put his nippers on the fourth and last prisoner. He then issued a stern warning to them all that if they tried to get away they would be shot. As it was a six-story building it took about 10 minutes to reach the street where he then made then all of them lie on the sidewalk. A storeowner called the station house and within minutes there were a number of radio cars to take the prisoners into the house.
John further noted, proudly, that he still has the nippers that he used over 40 years ago.
COPPERS
In another of my �buff� waves that come over me, I�ve put together a musical CD collection of what I refer to as �COPPERS: MUSIC FOR THE DETECTIVE�.
What exactly is music for the detective? Well, take a look at the eleven tracks on the CD, and I�m sure you�ll agree that this is �Music for the Detective�!
Here�s a play list and some �liner notes� for the music.
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE by Bon Jovi
�It's all the same, only the names will change / I'm Wanted, Dead or Alive�
DON�T FEAR THE REAPER by Blue Oyster Cult
�The seasons don�t fear the reaper / nor the wind or the sun or the rain / we should be like they are��
Everyone knows the �Grim Reaper� and his connection to the homicide detective.
THEME TO PETER GUNN by Blues Brothers
You know who Peter Gunn is! This is the Blues Brothers version. I think it has a better beat than the original Henry Mancini one. You can just picture Peter Gunn seated on a bar stool, sipping a scotch, conducting business in �Mothers�.
WATCHING THE DETECTIVES Elvis Costello
�She�s filing her nails while they�re dragging the lake/ She�s watching the detectives, they�re so cute��
Yes, they are!
SHAFT by Isaac Hayes
�Who�s the black private dick who�s a sex machine to all the chicks / SHAFT! / Damn right! / Who�s the man who would risk his neck for his brother man / SHAFT! / Right On!� / They say this cat Shaft is a bad mother� Shut your mouth! / I�m talking �bout SHAFT!�
This is the original Isaac Hayes version, not the remake one. The original, with Richard Roundtree. Can�t be beat.
I SHOT THE SHERIFF Eric Clapton
�I shot the Sheriff, but I didn�t shoot the Deputy�!
Sounds like an oral admission to me! Now just try and get the DA on board!
BALLAD OF DANNY BAILEY Elton John
�Some punk with a shotgun, killed young Danny Bailey / In cold blood in a lobby of a downtown motel / Killed him in anger / A force he couldn�t handle / � A runnin� gun youngster in a sad restless age� / Dillinger�s dead, I guess the cops won again/
From Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, this is an interesting ballad from the Bonnie and Clyde days of gangsters and rum-runners.
THEME FROM SOPRANOS
�Woke up this morning, got yourself a gun� / Woke up this morning, got a blue moon in your eye��
Bada-bing. What else can you say?
MACK THE KNIFE Bobby Darrin
�Just a jack-knife, has old MacHeath babe / and he keeps it out of sight /� Fancy gloves though wears old MacHeath babe / so there�s never, never a trace of red� / On the sidewalk, Sunday morning / Lies a body, just oozing life / Someone�s sneaking, around the corner / Could that someone be Mack The Knife?... / Five�ll get you ten, old Macky�s back in town!
Yes, old Macky�s back. He�s gotten out of Rikers, and he�s back in the Cypress Houses. I bet Joe Quuinn has the arrays ready.
RENEGADE Styx
�The jig is up, the news is out, they finally found me / Renegade, who had it made, betrayed for a bounty / Never more to go astray / This will be the end today / Of a Wanted Man�
A song to be played after a good day on the hunt!
NYPD BLUE THEME
The drums beat, the music plays. You can almost feel the city in the music. Imagine a train going overhead on the El. Cars driving by. Look over there, in that lot. A couple of detectives, standing around a body. One of them has short sleeves, the other is writing in a notebook. You can feel it in the music. Another day in the city. �This is the life we�ve chosen�.
THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF CRIME
Compiled in 1859 by George W. Matsell, former Chief of Police of New York City, the SECRET LANGUAGE OF CRIME was a comprehensive dictionary of the criminal; a Rogues Lexicon.
Some of the entries of interest follow:
Amusers: Fellows who carry snuff or pepper in their pockets, which they throw into a persons eyes and then run away; the accomplice rushing up to the victim, pretending to assist, robs him while suffering with pain.
Barking Irons: Pistols
Baster: A house thief
Betty: A picklock
Blow a Cloud: Smoke a cigar or pipe.
Booth: A place where thieves gather or congregate.
Case: A dollar
Century: A hundred dollars.
City College: The Tombs.
Fly-Cop: A sharp officer; an officer that is well posted; one who understands his business.
Moll: A woman.
Mumpers: Beggars
My Uncle: Pawnbroker.
Oil of Barley: Strong beer.
Peepers: Eyes
Philistines: Police officers; officers of justice.
Pinked: Stabbed.
Roofer: Hat
Stop: A Detective
Tail-Diver: A thief who steals pocket-handkerchiefs from coat-tail pockets.
Thimble: A watch.
Turkey-Merchants: Purchasers of stolen silk.
MORE ON IDENTITY THEFT
Statistics regarding IDENTITY THEFT:
Approximately half of all single-case identity thefts are committed by a
family member, a friend, or another person who had access to the victim's
personal records.
Approximately 1 out of 5 identity thefts are committed by retail employees.
Approximately 10% of identity thefts are attributed to mail-box theft.
SOME MORE QUOTABLE QUOTES
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in
our air and water that are doing it."
-- Al Gore, Vice President
"I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix."
-- Dan Quayle
"The word "genius" isn't applicable in football. A genius is a guy like
Norman Einstein,"
-- Joe Theisman, NFL football quarterback & sports analyst.
Note: I think I actually heard Nicky Dimonda say this as well!
Tuesday, September 17, 2002
QUOTABLE QUOTES
"I've never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body,"
--Winston Bennett, University of Kentucky basketball forward.
"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in
the country,"
-- Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, DC.
(Note from The Minister: A certain career-ending Compstat line!)
PETER GUNN, PRIVATE EYE
This television series, which ran from 1958 through 1961, was produced by Blake Edwards about a dapper private detective who liked to hang out in an after-hours jazz club called �Mothers�, where his lady friend sang sultry songs.
It starred Craig Stevens as Peter Gunn, and Lola Albright as Edie, his girl.
The television series was distinguished for its stylish and sophisticated lead character, Peter Gunn, and is also remembered for the jazz-influenced music of Henry Mancini. Created and produced by then neophyte filmmaker Blake Edwards, Peter Gunn was typical of the male private-eye genre of the late 1950s and early 1960s. The lead character was handsome, dashing, and consistently well--dressed in tailored suits, which never seemed to wrinkle even after the usual scuffles with the bad guys.
The series was set in Los Angeles, and, more often than not, inside a jazz club called Mother's. The story line essentially centered around Gunn solving his client's problems, which always involved his having to deal with an assortment of hit men, hoodlums and assorted "hip" characters found on the jazz scene. He is often aided by his personal friend and confidant, Police Lieutenant Jacoby (Herschel Bernardi). Although Gunn often had to endure many thrown fists, he himself did not advocate brutality, and violence was not a feature of the series. In the end, the crime was always solved, the criminals behind bars, and Gunn was shown relaxing at Mother's, where his girlfriend, vocalist Edie Hart, was the main attraction.
An important ingredient in the show, and which provided its unique character, was the music of Henry Mancini. He provided a new score for each episode, and when released on the RCA label, the two albums The Music of Peter Gunn and More Music From Peter Gunn proved to best-sellers. (The "Peter Gunn Theme" continues to be played on mainstream radio and has even been used as the vehicle for modern rock versions). Mancini's music was an integral part of the show's action, and here too it set the precedent for shows that were to follow.
SUN TZU AND THE ART OF WARFARE: INTELLIGENCE
The following was written over 2,500 years ago by Sun Tzu in his famous THE ART OF WAR, concerning �intelligence�.
�If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle�.
Possessing accurate intelligence is like having a flashlight in the dark. It won�t remove any of the obstacles in your path, but it will illuminate them so you won�t stumble.
The question now becomes, �Who�s providing us with the intelligence we need�?
(Just another rhetorical question from The Minister).
TRAVEL NOTES FOR THE DETECTIVE
Traveling out of town?
Here are some Crime Museums you may find of interest.
Al Capone�s Hideaway and Steak House
St. Charles, IL 888-SCARFACE
Bonnie and Clyde Museum
Gibsland, LA 318-843-6141
Casino Legends Hall of Fame Museum
Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas NV. Features an extensive exhibit on the history of organized crime in Las Vegas.
www.lvbegins.com/hof.cfm 888-826-8767
The Conspiracy Museum
Dallas TX 800-535-8044
www.conspiracymuseum.com
The Sixth Floor Museum
School Book Depository, Dallas TX
www.jfk.org 888-485-4854
NOTE: Interested in the JFK Assassination?
You can view a live shot over the internet, 24 hours a day, from the Texas School Book Depository at:
www.earthcam.com/jfk/
The P.I. Museum
Rare artifacts related to the field of private investigation.
Can't travel to see the PI MUSEUM in person? See photos of detective artifacts on the website.
www.pimuseum.com 619-238-1985
Historical Museum of Lawmen
Las Cruces, New Mexico 505-525-1911
International Spy museum
Washington, DC www.spymuseum.org
New York State Prison: Sing Sing
Ossining, NY 914-941-0108
Sherlock Holmes Museum
London, England www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk
INTERESTING WEB SITE
ABA Banking Number
Have the 9 digit American Banking Assoc. number from a bank account, but don't know the bank? Enter the number here to learn the financial institution involved.
http://www.fedwiredirectory.frb.org/search.cfm
CYBERCRIME 101: CHECKING YOUR COMPUTER�S DOWNLOAD
It was recently discovered by a well renowned investigator from the 77 Squad that items that are downloaded via the internet on your computer are saved in your computers �Download Manager� file.
This is worth a little more mention.
Let�s try to put this to a practical investigative point of view. Hypothetical, of course.
We�ll call you Nicky for the moment. Let�s say you have a subject, this could be a client if you�re a private eye, or maybe a girlfriend, who you believe is receiving e-mail and photos from cyber-pals. You become suspicious and you want to catch her at this. So, you ask another investigator friend, maybe your partner, let�s call him Vito, if there�s anyway you can retrieve these items. This Vito then tells you that you go into your computer�s hard drive via the Windows Explorer option, and when you find the Program file for America Online (assuming that�s what you�re using) you then go to the Download file, and see what photo�s have been downloaded. Seems easy enough, right?
The only problem is that Vito never specifically tells Nicky that you have to go into YOUR OWN computer to do this. See, if you sign on to America Online from another computer, maybe from a work location like the 77 Squad for example, as a �Guest�, and then try to access the Download Manager you will be getting the items from THAT PARTICULAR computer, not from your computer AT HOME. But that goes without saying, right?
And furthermore, let�s say you didn�t realize all this, and were viewing the items downloaded to the work computer instead. If you were viewing the photos that were there, you would probably realize the ones that were �mug shots� of perps the squad was looking for. Surely you�d remember the photo of the perp you�d been looking for, for your own case, for the past two months, right? I mean, if these mug shots were in the computer because you, or someone else you work with, had been sending and receiving these perp photos from other agencies, you would probably realize this when you looked at the photos, right?
I mean, there is no way you could think these people were sending their photos to your girlfriend, I mean �subject�, could you? Surely, you would never print these photos out and confront your girlfr� I mean subject, with them and ask her �Who are these people and why are they sending you their pictures behind my back�? Of course not. I mean, this is all a hypothetical situation, remember?
A little bit of knowledge can be a very dangerous thing!
REMEMBER� You Can Always Contact the MINISTER OF INVESTIGATION at:
Ltjac77@yahoo.com
"I've never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body,"
--Winston Bennett, University of Kentucky basketball forward.
"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in
the country,"
-- Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, DC.
(Note from The Minister: A certain career-ending Compstat line!)
PETER GUNN, PRIVATE EYE
This television series, which ran from 1958 through 1961, was produced by Blake Edwards about a dapper private detective who liked to hang out in an after-hours jazz club called �Mothers�, where his lady friend sang sultry songs.
It starred Craig Stevens as Peter Gunn, and Lola Albright as Edie, his girl.
The television series was distinguished for its stylish and sophisticated lead character, Peter Gunn, and is also remembered for the jazz-influenced music of Henry Mancini. Created and produced by then neophyte filmmaker Blake Edwards, Peter Gunn was typical of the male private-eye genre of the late 1950s and early 1960s. The lead character was handsome, dashing, and consistently well--dressed in tailored suits, which never seemed to wrinkle even after the usual scuffles with the bad guys.
The series was set in Los Angeles, and, more often than not, inside a jazz club called Mother's. The story line essentially centered around Gunn solving his client's problems, which always involved his having to deal with an assortment of hit men, hoodlums and assorted "hip" characters found on the jazz scene. He is often aided by his personal friend and confidant, Police Lieutenant Jacoby (Herschel Bernardi). Although Gunn often had to endure many thrown fists, he himself did not advocate brutality, and violence was not a feature of the series. In the end, the crime was always solved, the criminals behind bars, and Gunn was shown relaxing at Mother's, where his girlfriend, vocalist Edie Hart, was the main attraction.
An important ingredient in the show, and which provided its unique character, was the music of Henry Mancini. He provided a new score for each episode, and when released on the RCA label, the two albums The Music of Peter Gunn and More Music From Peter Gunn proved to best-sellers. (The "Peter Gunn Theme" continues to be played on mainstream radio and has even been used as the vehicle for modern rock versions). Mancini's music was an integral part of the show's action, and here too it set the precedent for shows that were to follow.
SUN TZU AND THE ART OF WARFARE: INTELLIGENCE
The following was written over 2,500 years ago by Sun Tzu in his famous THE ART OF WAR, concerning �intelligence�.
�If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle�.
Possessing accurate intelligence is like having a flashlight in the dark. It won�t remove any of the obstacles in your path, but it will illuminate them so you won�t stumble.
The question now becomes, �Who�s providing us with the intelligence we need�?
(Just another rhetorical question from The Minister).
TRAVEL NOTES FOR THE DETECTIVE
Traveling out of town?
Here are some Crime Museums you may find of interest.
Al Capone�s Hideaway and Steak House
St. Charles, IL 888-SCARFACE
Bonnie and Clyde Museum
Gibsland, LA 318-843-6141
Casino Legends Hall of Fame Museum
Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas NV. Features an extensive exhibit on the history of organized crime in Las Vegas.
www.lvbegins.com/hof.cfm 888-826-8767
The Conspiracy Museum
Dallas TX 800-535-8044
www.conspiracymuseum.com
The Sixth Floor Museum
School Book Depository, Dallas TX
www.jfk.org 888-485-4854
NOTE: Interested in the JFK Assassination?
You can view a live shot over the internet, 24 hours a day, from the Texas School Book Depository at:
www.earthcam.com/jfk/
The P.I. Museum
Rare artifacts related to the field of private investigation.
Can't travel to see the PI MUSEUM in person? See photos of detective artifacts on the website.
www.pimuseum.com 619-238-1985
Historical Museum of Lawmen
Las Cruces, New Mexico 505-525-1911
International Spy museum
Washington, DC www.spymuseum.org
New York State Prison: Sing Sing
Ossining, NY 914-941-0108
Sherlock Holmes Museum
London, England www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk
INTERESTING WEB SITE
ABA Banking Number
Have the 9 digit American Banking Assoc. number from a bank account, but don't know the bank? Enter the number here to learn the financial institution involved.
http://www.fedwiredirectory.frb.org/search.cfm
CYBERCRIME 101: CHECKING YOUR COMPUTER�S DOWNLOAD
It was recently discovered by a well renowned investigator from the 77 Squad that items that are downloaded via the internet on your computer are saved in your computers �Download Manager� file.
This is worth a little more mention.
Let�s try to put this to a practical investigative point of view. Hypothetical, of course.
We�ll call you Nicky for the moment. Let�s say you have a subject, this could be a client if you�re a private eye, or maybe a girlfriend, who you believe is receiving e-mail and photos from cyber-pals. You become suspicious and you want to catch her at this. So, you ask another investigator friend, maybe your partner, let�s call him Vito, if there�s anyway you can retrieve these items. This Vito then tells you that you go into your computer�s hard drive via the Windows Explorer option, and when you find the Program file for America Online (assuming that�s what you�re using) you then go to the Download file, and see what photo�s have been downloaded. Seems easy enough, right?
The only problem is that Vito never specifically tells Nicky that you have to go into YOUR OWN computer to do this. See, if you sign on to America Online from another computer, maybe from a work location like the 77 Squad for example, as a �Guest�, and then try to access the Download Manager you will be getting the items from THAT PARTICULAR computer, not from your computer AT HOME. But that goes without saying, right?
And furthermore, let�s say you didn�t realize all this, and were viewing the items downloaded to the work computer instead. If you were viewing the photos that were there, you would probably realize the ones that were �mug shots� of perps the squad was looking for. Surely you�d remember the photo of the perp you�d been looking for, for your own case, for the past two months, right? I mean, if these mug shots were in the computer because you, or someone else you work with, had been sending and receiving these perp photos from other agencies, you would probably realize this when you looked at the photos, right?
I mean, there is no way you could think these people were sending their photos to your girlfriend, I mean �subject�, could you? Surely, you would never print these photos out and confront your girlfr� I mean subject, with them and ask her �Who are these people and why are they sending you their pictures behind my back�? Of course not. I mean, this is all a hypothetical situation, remember?
A little bit of knowledge can be a very dangerous thing!
REMEMBER� You Can Always Contact the MINISTER OF INVESTIGATION at:
Ltjac77@yahoo.com
Friday, September 13, 2002
GASLIGHT DAYS
Which Manhattan station house build in the 19th Century was the last one to be wired for electric light?
The answer is the �old� 9th (Broadway) Precinct station house located at 345 West 47th Street.
It was built in 1860/1861 and opened Jan. 1, 1862. At first it was lit by oil lanterns, then in the 1880s gas was used for illumination. It was not until June 1926, that the station house was wired for electric lights.
In 1929, the precinct number was changed to the 18th Pct., then on Nov. 25, 1940, the 18th Pct. was moved to a new station house at 306 West 54th Street. The old 47th St. building continued in police service. At first, Traffic Pct. "D" moved in, then on Feb. 6, 1947, the 16th Pct. was activated and took over the building.
The 16th Pct. was abolished on March 1, 1968, and Safety Unit "B" occupied the building until 1969. After Safety Unit "B" moved to West 30th Street (old 14th Pct. and current Manhattan Traffic Task Force) the West 47th St. building was demolished. Today the site is a park and playground.
THE CELL
I have been unable to bring myself to read any of the current �9-11� books that have hit the market.
With one exception, though. I have read, and highly recommend, THE CELL.
Written by John Miller, former DCPI, along with Michael Stone (author of another great book, GANGBUSTERS) and Chris Mitchell (editor of Jack Maple�s text CRIMEFIGHTER), I found this book to be totally riveting.
It takes the reader from �The First Terrorist� who was found in New York City, the killer of Rabbi Meir Kahane, El Sayyid Nosair, on November 5, 1990 and walks you through the growth of the terror cells in New York up to the 9-11 attack.
It was especially interesting to read what the NYPD and then-Lt. Edward Norris, Squad Commander of the 17 Squad at the time, found out about Nosair.
Often frustrating to read, but definitely riveting. �Inside the 9/11 plot, and why the FBI and CIA failed to stop it� is the subtitle. As Sun Tzu wrote centuries ago in The Art Of War: �Know Thy Enemy�.
Do yourself a favor, and read this book.
FOR THE LITERARY DETECTIVE: ANOTHER INTERESTING WEB SITE
This site has been mentioned here on prior postings, but is certainly worth mentioning again.
If you haven�t already done so, you should bookmark this site.
www.nycop.com
One of the features The Minister regularly refers to is the �Book Review� section. Here you can find reviews of current true-crime books as well as fiction books worth noting. Many of the authors reviewed are retired members of the department.
Among the books reviewed on their current posting are the following.
True Crime Books:
Cop Shock Author: Allan R. Kates
This is a book about police post-traumatic stress, and deals specifically with the story of Det. Anthony Senft and Det Richie Pastorella of the NYPD Bomb Squad. It is referre3d to as a �scholarly work on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder that the cop in the street will identify with�.
Fiction Hits:
Blood Shot Eyes Author: Patrick W. Picciarelli - Lieutenant NYPD (ret.)
This is a story about a sadistic woman who becomes a police officer. The protagonist in the novel, a private investigator is �a former NYPD detective who is called upon to solve a ten year old double homicide.� The author's background and knowledge of the NYPD lends authenticity to this novel.
Justifiable Homicide Author: B. J. Whalen, Lieutenant NYPD
The author's knowledge of NYPD procedures lends authenticity to this story of the war on drugs as viewed through the eyes of both the cops and the drug dealers.
Nightbird Author: Lt. Ed Dee, NYPD (Ret.)
A former detective from NYPD, the author�s background enables him to �paint a picture in the reader's mind with details that other writer's can only hope to recreate�.
14 Peck Slip Author: Lt. Ed Dee (Ret.)
�Only a cop could write a novel like this�. His street sens and knowledge of police work help to make this story one you won�t want to put down.
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Multiple links for investigators:
http://abyss.usask.ca/~roebuck/forensiclinks.html
Yet Another Multiple-Link Investigator�s Site. Pretty good; worth bookmarking.
http://members.aol.com/stpauloig/investigate.html
V.I.N. information:
www.vehicleidentificationnumber.com
www.fsautoparts.com/asp/vin/
MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY? HUMOROUS ADVERTISEMENT?
�Do more work in the same amount of time. Take the same amount of time, and produce more. If you increase your output, and not your time working, your productivity should soar�.
Where is this quote from?
This is taken from a recently aired radio commercial for Nextel. This is intended to be a humorous look at how a management consultant is proposing a business become more productive. Of course, Nextel offers the use of their direct-connect phones as a way of accomplishing this. Once again, this is intended as a �humorous� advertisement, meant to get a chuckle and get the Nextel phone remembered by the public.
If any of you thought this quote was taken from a recent management philosophy of leading law enforcement agencies, it would be understandable, but not quite correct. Or, maybe it is?
STRANGER THAN TRUTH: YOU CAN�T MAKE THIS STUFF UP!
A medical student currently doing a rotation in toxicology at the poison control center reports the following story.
A woman called in very upset because she caught her little daughter eating ants. He quickly reassured her that the ants are not harmful and there would be no need to bring her daughter into the hospital. She calmed down and at the end of the conversation happened to mention that she gave her daughter some ant poison to eat in order to kill the ants.
She was then told her that she better bring her daughter into the emergency room right away.
Seems that a year ago, some Boeing employees on the airfield decided to steal a life raft from one of the 747s. They were successful in getting it out of the plane and home. When they took it for a float on the river, a Coast Guard helicopter coming towards them surprised them. It turned out that the chopper was homing in on the emergency locator beacon that activated when the raft was inflated.
They are no longer employed at Boeing.
The Ann Arbor News crime column reported that a man walked into a Burger King in Ypsilanti, Michigan at 12:50 A.M., flashed a gun and demanded cash. The clerk turned him down because he said he couldn't open the cash register without a food order. When the man ordered onion rings, the clerk said they weren't available for breakfast. The man, frustrated, walked away.
BELATED CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER...
Please forgive me for the oversight in mentioning the well-deserved promotions of two great cops.
Brian Fogarty of SATCOM Brooklyn North, and Eddie Lott, Squad Commander of the 81 Squad, have both recently been designated "Commander of Detective Squad". Well deserved!
Also, we welcome back Patrick Johnston to the 88 Squad after a brief stint on "terminal leave". This job gets in your blood. Welcome back, Patty.
Which Manhattan station house build in the 19th Century was the last one to be wired for electric light?
The answer is the �old� 9th (Broadway) Precinct station house located at 345 West 47th Street.
It was built in 1860/1861 and opened Jan. 1, 1862. At first it was lit by oil lanterns, then in the 1880s gas was used for illumination. It was not until June 1926, that the station house was wired for electric lights.
In 1929, the precinct number was changed to the 18th Pct., then on Nov. 25, 1940, the 18th Pct. was moved to a new station house at 306 West 54th Street. The old 47th St. building continued in police service. At first, Traffic Pct. "D" moved in, then on Feb. 6, 1947, the 16th Pct. was activated and took over the building.
The 16th Pct. was abolished on March 1, 1968, and Safety Unit "B" occupied the building until 1969. After Safety Unit "B" moved to West 30th Street (old 14th Pct. and current Manhattan Traffic Task Force) the West 47th St. building was demolished. Today the site is a park and playground.
THE CELL
I have been unable to bring myself to read any of the current �9-11� books that have hit the market.
With one exception, though. I have read, and highly recommend, THE CELL.
Written by John Miller, former DCPI, along with Michael Stone (author of another great book, GANGBUSTERS) and Chris Mitchell (editor of Jack Maple�s text CRIMEFIGHTER), I found this book to be totally riveting.
It takes the reader from �The First Terrorist� who was found in New York City, the killer of Rabbi Meir Kahane, El Sayyid Nosair, on November 5, 1990 and walks you through the growth of the terror cells in New York up to the 9-11 attack.
It was especially interesting to read what the NYPD and then-Lt. Edward Norris, Squad Commander of the 17 Squad at the time, found out about Nosair.
Often frustrating to read, but definitely riveting. �Inside the 9/11 plot, and why the FBI and CIA failed to stop it� is the subtitle. As Sun Tzu wrote centuries ago in The Art Of War: �Know Thy Enemy�.
Do yourself a favor, and read this book.
FOR THE LITERARY DETECTIVE: ANOTHER INTERESTING WEB SITE
This site has been mentioned here on prior postings, but is certainly worth mentioning again.
If you haven�t already done so, you should bookmark this site.
www.nycop.com
One of the features The Minister regularly refers to is the �Book Review� section. Here you can find reviews of current true-crime books as well as fiction books worth noting. Many of the authors reviewed are retired members of the department.
Among the books reviewed on their current posting are the following.
True Crime Books:
Cop Shock Author: Allan R. Kates
This is a book about police post-traumatic stress, and deals specifically with the story of Det. Anthony Senft and Det Richie Pastorella of the NYPD Bomb Squad. It is referre3d to as a �scholarly work on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder that the cop in the street will identify with�.
Fiction Hits:
Blood Shot Eyes Author: Patrick W. Picciarelli - Lieutenant NYPD (ret.)
This is a story about a sadistic woman who becomes a police officer. The protagonist in the novel, a private investigator is �a former NYPD detective who is called upon to solve a ten year old double homicide.� The author's background and knowledge of the NYPD lends authenticity to this novel.
Justifiable Homicide Author: B. J. Whalen, Lieutenant NYPD
The author's knowledge of NYPD procedures lends authenticity to this story of the war on drugs as viewed through the eyes of both the cops and the drug dealers.
Nightbird Author: Lt. Ed Dee, NYPD (Ret.)
A former detective from NYPD, the author�s background enables him to �paint a picture in the reader's mind with details that other writer's can only hope to recreate�.
14 Peck Slip Author: Lt. Ed Dee (Ret.)
�Only a cop could write a novel like this�. His street sens and knowledge of police work help to make this story one you won�t want to put down.
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Multiple links for investigators:
http://abyss.usask.ca/~roebuck/forensiclinks.html
Yet Another Multiple-Link Investigator�s Site. Pretty good; worth bookmarking.
http://members.aol.com/stpauloig/investigate.html
V.I.N. information:
www.vehicleidentificationnumber.com
www.fsautoparts.com/asp/vin/
MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY? HUMOROUS ADVERTISEMENT?
�Do more work in the same amount of time. Take the same amount of time, and produce more. If you increase your output, and not your time working, your productivity should soar�.
Where is this quote from?
This is taken from a recently aired radio commercial for Nextel. This is intended to be a humorous look at how a management consultant is proposing a business become more productive. Of course, Nextel offers the use of their direct-connect phones as a way of accomplishing this. Once again, this is intended as a �humorous� advertisement, meant to get a chuckle and get the Nextel phone remembered by the public.
If any of you thought this quote was taken from a recent management philosophy of leading law enforcement agencies, it would be understandable, but not quite correct. Or, maybe it is?
STRANGER THAN TRUTH: YOU CAN�T MAKE THIS STUFF UP!
A medical student currently doing a rotation in toxicology at the poison control center reports the following story.
A woman called in very upset because she caught her little daughter eating ants. He quickly reassured her that the ants are not harmful and there would be no need to bring her daughter into the hospital. She calmed down and at the end of the conversation happened to mention that she gave her daughter some ant poison to eat in order to kill the ants.
She was then told her that she better bring her daughter into the emergency room right away.
Seems that a year ago, some Boeing employees on the airfield decided to steal a life raft from one of the 747s. They were successful in getting it out of the plane and home. When they took it for a float on the river, a Coast Guard helicopter coming towards them surprised them. It turned out that the chopper was homing in on the emergency locator beacon that activated when the raft was inflated.
They are no longer employed at Boeing.
The Ann Arbor News crime column reported that a man walked into a Burger King in Ypsilanti, Michigan at 12:50 A.M., flashed a gun and demanded cash. The clerk turned him down because he said he couldn't open the cash register without a food order. When the man ordered onion rings, the clerk said they weren't available for breakfast. The man, frustrated, walked away.
BELATED CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER...
Please forgive me for the oversight in mentioning the well-deserved promotions of two great cops.
Brian Fogarty of SATCOM Brooklyn North, and Eddie Lott, Squad Commander of the 81 Squad, have both recently been designated "Commander of Detective Squad". Well deserved!
Also, we welcome back Patrick Johnston to the 88 Squad after a brief stint on "terminal leave". This job gets in your blood. Welcome back, Patty.
Wednesday, September 11, 2002
SEPTEMBER 11
REMEMBER THE HEROES. REMEMBER THEIR FAMILIES.
Sgt. John Coughlin
Sgt. Michael Curtin
PO John D�Allara
PO Vincent Danz
PO Jerome Dominguez
PO Stephen Driscoll
PO Mark Ellis
PO Robert Fazio
Sgt. Rodney Gillis
PO Ronald Kloepfer
PO Thomas Langone
PO James Leahy
PO Brian McDonnell
PO John Perry
PO Glen Pettit
Det. Claude Richards
Sgt. Timothy Roy
PO Moira Smith
PO Ramon Suarez
PO Paul Talty
PO Santos Valentin
Det. Joseph Vigiano
PO Walter Weaver
REMEMBER THE HEROES. REMEMBER THEIR FAMILIES.
Sgt. John Coughlin
Sgt. Michael Curtin
PO John D�Allara
PO Vincent Danz
PO Jerome Dominguez
PO Stephen Driscoll
PO Mark Ellis
PO Robert Fazio
Sgt. Rodney Gillis
PO Ronald Kloepfer
PO Thomas Langone
PO James Leahy
PO Brian McDonnell
PO John Perry
PO Glen Pettit
Det. Claude Richards
Sgt. Timothy Roy
PO Moira Smith
PO Ramon Suarez
PO Paul Talty
PO Santos Valentin
Det. Joseph Vigiano
PO Walter Weaver
Monday, September 09, 2002
POLICE PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
A text which I recently had the opportunity to view, thanks to Det. Tom Nerney sharing some of his library with me, is titled �POLICE PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE�.
This small pocket sized book of 250 pages was written in 1914 by the Police Department. It was issued to all �Members of the Force�, and is stamped on the inside cover with a serial number.
The Police Commissioner at the time, Arthur Woods, writes as a preface, dated October 15, 1914, �This book is issued to the Force solely for the information of its members. It should not be confounded with either the Rules and Regulations of the Department or with the orders of the Police Commissioner�.
The information offered was meant to instruct and assist the men on post �and simplify his many duties�. It is a virtual �hands-on� practical guide to the patrol officer.
It starts with chapters on Disci0pline and Deportment, covering �the necessity for strict and prompt obedience to orders; Loyalty, and attitude towards civilians on and off duty�, and continues to cover chapters on Patrol, Arrests, Evidence, and on the Law.
Where the Rules and Regulations set down the guidelines to be followed, this text was intended on helping the patrolman get through his tour offering �advice� gathered from many years of experience. For lack of a better term, it was a �how-to� for the new patrolman.
DUTCH HOUSE MEN
As noted in the �Police Practice and Procedure� of 1914, issued to members of the force for information purposes, the �most dangerous of burglars� are those known as �DUTCH HOUSE MEN�.
These burglars are �the most desperate�. The work heavily armed and �will take life under the slightest provocation�. They usually operate in an inhabited dwelling, and secrete themselves in the building until they think the occupants have gone to sleep. Then, by prying open a skylight on the roof, or by using a fire escape, they make their way to an apartment window to gain entry.
Dutch House Men may fasten a rope to a chimney as they lower themselves down the side of the building to a desired window, open it, and gain entry. They will go from room to room looking for �the loot�, and usually �place some obstruction, a table or a chair, in such a position that if the occupant should awaken and attempt to leave the room he would trip over the object and make enough noise to warn the burglar that his presence had become known�.
They will then return to the roof or their previously secreted location and remain their until there is an opportunity to escape.
These burglars are in contrast to the �Flat Thieves�, who are not as desperate and will not enter an apartment while anyone is at home. A �Flat Thief� requires only about five minutes in an ordinary flat to steal considerable property, and when he leaves �it looks as though an earthquake had shaken the building�.
DET RICHARD HENEBERRY, TRUCK SQUAD
On Aug. 8, 1925 Det. Richard Heneberry was killed in the line of duty. He was assigned to the Truck Squad. This squad dealt with truck hijacking, and later became the more familiar Safe, Loft and Truck Squad.
On Aug. 6, 1925, Det. Heneberry and other members of the Truck Sqd. were on patrol in a department auto looking for truck hijackers and thieves.
While at 34th St. & 9th Ave. he became suspicious of a sedan and the three youths riding in it. Deciding that something was wrong, he told the driver of the department auto to �Stick them up against the curb.�
When the sedan was forced to stop on West 34th St., near 10th Ave., the doors opened, the suspects jumped out and started firing at the police vehicle. Det. Heneberry and the driver, Ptl. Maroney, returned fire until Heneberry was hit and fell, mortally wounded, to the ground. When Heneberry fell, all three of the gunmen ran into buildings on 34th St. One entered 433 W. 34th. St., closely followed by four police officers. During the ensuring gunfight, a tenant, the mother of four small children, stepped into the hallway, was caught in the crossfire and killed. All three gunmen were arrested.
Det. Heneberry was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital where he died two days later, Aug. 8, 1925.
Det. Heneberry was appt to the NYPD in 1919, he was 30 years old. In 1922, Heneberry, then a patrolman, was in another gunfight with auto thieves. He was wounded at that time and he received the Mayor�s Medal for Bravery for that action. The three gunmen, after their arrest, admitted that they had committed a robbery on Aug. 1st and were on their way to commit another robbery. Edward Hart, believed to be the actual killer, after having been indicted for murder in the first degree, was permitted to plead guilty to murder in the second degree and was sentenced to from 20 years to life imprisonment.
At the annual NYPD medal day ceremonies on Dec.30, 1926, Det. Heneberry was posthumously awarded The NYPD Medal of Honor. The medal was presented to his mother
FROM THE ROLODEX�. Telephone Contacts for the Investigator
Cell Phone companies, and their Customer Service and Subpoena contact numbers.
AT&T Wireless
Customer Service 800-888-7600
Fraud Dept 800-504-2096
Subpoenas/Warrants 800-635-6840
Cingular Wireless
Customer Service 866-CINGULAR
Subpoenas/Warrants 866-254-3277
Nextel
Customer Service 800-639-6111
Subpoenas 703-433-8860
Sprint PCS
Customer Service 800-480-4727
Subpoenas 800-877-7330
Verizon Wireless
Customer Service 888-466-4646
Subpoenas/Warrants 908-429-3885
Investigative Note on Telephones: The MOS in TARU are the experts on telephone work. I suggest utilizing TARU immediately on any telephone work that may be needed; they can expedite the task and ensure that what you need to get is properly applied for. The numbers listed above are nice, but check with TARU first� they can probably handle any request better than you can!
TARU: 718-971-1400
TARU Telephone Section 718-820-5307
Further note: The Minister of Investigation has dubbed the people at TARU �The Detective�s Emergency Service�.
STRANGE BUT TRUE�or, �YOU CAN�T MAKE THIS STUFF UP�!
In January 2000, Kathleen Robertson of Austin Texas was awarded $780,000 by
a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was
running inside a furniture store. The owners of the store were understandably
surprised at the verdict, considering the misbehaving little tot was Ms. Robertson's son.
In June 1998, a 19 year old Carl Truman of Los Angeles won $74,000 and medical expenses when his neighbor ran over his hand with a Honda Accord. Mr. Truman apparently didn't notice there was someone at the wheel of the car, when he was trying to steal his neighbor's hubcaps.
In October 1998, Terrence Dickson of Bristol, Pennsylvania was leaving a house he had just finished robbing by way of the garage. He was not able to get the garage door to go up since the automatic door opener was malfunctioning. He couldn't re-enter the house because the door connecting the house and garage locked when he pulled it shut. The family was on vacation. Mr.Dickson found himself locked in the garage for eight days. He subsisted on a case of Pepsi he found, and a large bag of dry dog food. He sued the homeowner's insurance claiming the situation caused him undue mental anguish. The jury agreed to the tune of half a million dollars.
REMEMBER�
�Three people can keep a secret, if two are dead�.
A text which I recently had the opportunity to view, thanks to Det. Tom Nerney sharing some of his library with me, is titled �POLICE PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE�.
This small pocket sized book of 250 pages was written in 1914 by the Police Department. It was issued to all �Members of the Force�, and is stamped on the inside cover with a serial number.
The Police Commissioner at the time, Arthur Woods, writes as a preface, dated October 15, 1914, �This book is issued to the Force solely for the information of its members. It should not be confounded with either the Rules and Regulations of the Department or with the orders of the Police Commissioner�.
The information offered was meant to instruct and assist the men on post �and simplify his many duties�. It is a virtual �hands-on� practical guide to the patrol officer.
It starts with chapters on Disci0pline and Deportment, covering �the necessity for strict and prompt obedience to orders; Loyalty, and attitude towards civilians on and off duty�, and continues to cover chapters on Patrol, Arrests, Evidence, and on the Law.
Where the Rules and Regulations set down the guidelines to be followed, this text was intended on helping the patrolman get through his tour offering �advice� gathered from many years of experience. For lack of a better term, it was a �how-to� for the new patrolman.
DUTCH HOUSE MEN
As noted in the �Police Practice and Procedure� of 1914, issued to members of the force for information purposes, the �most dangerous of burglars� are those known as �DUTCH HOUSE MEN�.
These burglars are �the most desperate�. The work heavily armed and �will take life under the slightest provocation�. They usually operate in an inhabited dwelling, and secrete themselves in the building until they think the occupants have gone to sleep. Then, by prying open a skylight on the roof, or by using a fire escape, they make their way to an apartment window to gain entry.
Dutch House Men may fasten a rope to a chimney as they lower themselves down the side of the building to a desired window, open it, and gain entry. They will go from room to room looking for �the loot�, and usually �place some obstruction, a table or a chair, in such a position that if the occupant should awaken and attempt to leave the room he would trip over the object and make enough noise to warn the burglar that his presence had become known�.
They will then return to the roof or their previously secreted location and remain their until there is an opportunity to escape.
These burglars are in contrast to the �Flat Thieves�, who are not as desperate and will not enter an apartment while anyone is at home. A �Flat Thief� requires only about five minutes in an ordinary flat to steal considerable property, and when he leaves �it looks as though an earthquake had shaken the building�.
DET RICHARD HENEBERRY, TRUCK SQUAD
On Aug. 8, 1925 Det. Richard Heneberry was killed in the line of duty. He was assigned to the Truck Squad. This squad dealt with truck hijacking, and later became the more familiar Safe, Loft and Truck Squad.
On Aug. 6, 1925, Det. Heneberry and other members of the Truck Sqd. were on patrol in a department auto looking for truck hijackers and thieves.
While at 34th St. & 9th Ave. he became suspicious of a sedan and the three youths riding in it. Deciding that something was wrong, he told the driver of the department auto to �Stick them up against the curb.�
When the sedan was forced to stop on West 34th St., near 10th Ave., the doors opened, the suspects jumped out and started firing at the police vehicle. Det. Heneberry and the driver, Ptl. Maroney, returned fire until Heneberry was hit and fell, mortally wounded, to the ground. When Heneberry fell, all three of the gunmen ran into buildings on 34th St. One entered 433 W. 34th. St., closely followed by four police officers. During the ensuring gunfight, a tenant, the mother of four small children, stepped into the hallway, was caught in the crossfire and killed. All three gunmen were arrested.
Det. Heneberry was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital where he died two days later, Aug. 8, 1925.
Det. Heneberry was appt to the NYPD in 1919, he was 30 years old. In 1922, Heneberry, then a patrolman, was in another gunfight with auto thieves. He was wounded at that time and he received the Mayor�s Medal for Bravery for that action. The three gunmen, after their arrest, admitted that they had committed a robbery on Aug. 1st and were on their way to commit another robbery. Edward Hart, believed to be the actual killer, after having been indicted for murder in the first degree, was permitted to plead guilty to murder in the second degree and was sentenced to from 20 years to life imprisonment.
At the annual NYPD medal day ceremonies on Dec.30, 1926, Det. Heneberry was posthumously awarded The NYPD Medal of Honor. The medal was presented to his mother
FROM THE ROLODEX�. Telephone Contacts for the Investigator
Cell Phone companies, and their Customer Service and Subpoena contact numbers.
AT&T Wireless
Customer Service 800-888-7600
Fraud Dept 800-504-2096
Subpoenas/Warrants 800-635-6840
Cingular Wireless
Customer Service 866-CINGULAR
Subpoenas/Warrants 866-254-3277
Nextel
Customer Service 800-639-6111
Subpoenas 703-433-8860
Sprint PCS
Customer Service 800-480-4727
Subpoenas 800-877-7330
Verizon Wireless
Customer Service 888-466-4646
Subpoenas/Warrants 908-429-3885
Investigative Note on Telephones: The MOS in TARU are the experts on telephone work. I suggest utilizing TARU immediately on any telephone work that may be needed; they can expedite the task and ensure that what you need to get is properly applied for. The numbers listed above are nice, but check with TARU first� they can probably handle any request better than you can!
TARU: 718-971-1400
TARU Telephone Section 718-820-5307
Further note: The Minister of Investigation has dubbed the people at TARU �The Detective�s Emergency Service�.
STRANGE BUT TRUE�or, �YOU CAN�T MAKE THIS STUFF UP�!
In January 2000, Kathleen Robertson of Austin Texas was awarded $780,000 by
a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was
running inside a furniture store. The owners of the store were understandably
surprised at the verdict, considering the misbehaving little tot was Ms. Robertson's son.
In June 1998, a 19 year old Carl Truman of Los Angeles won $74,000 and medical expenses when his neighbor ran over his hand with a Honda Accord. Mr. Truman apparently didn't notice there was someone at the wheel of the car, when he was trying to steal his neighbor's hubcaps.
In October 1998, Terrence Dickson of Bristol, Pennsylvania was leaving a house he had just finished robbing by way of the garage. He was not able to get the garage door to go up since the automatic door opener was malfunctioning. He couldn't re-enter the house because the door connecting the house and garage locked when he pulled it shut. The family was on vacation. Mr.Dickson found himself locked in the garage for eight days. He subsisted on a case of Pepsi he found, and a large bag of dry dog food. He sued the homeowner's insurance claiming the situation caused him undue mental anguish. The jury agreed to the tune of half a million dollars.
REMEMBER�
�Three people can keep a secret, if two are dead�.
Thursday, September 05, 2002
POLICE HISTORY
In the interest of being historically correct, the following relates to the previously posted �Birth of the NYPD�.
The birth of the NYPD in reality occurred on April 5, 1870, under Chapter 137 of the NYS Laws of 1870, and not Jan. 1, 1898, when the Tweed Charter granted the City of New York the right to police itself.
The name granted the newly created department by law was the �NYC Municipal Police Department�.
The name change from the New York City Municipal Police to the NYPD occurred on June 13, 1873, under Chapter 755 of the NYS Laws of 1873).
PTL. WALTER WEBB & PTL. EDWIN CHURCHILL
The line of duty deaths of Ptl. Edwin Churchill and Ptl. Walter Webb, in 1931, are noted as bringing about �a milestone in NYPD history�, according Ret. Det1 John Reilly. An account of this incident follows.
On Aug. 21, 1931, at about 3.45 p.m., as an auto carrying the payroll for the employees of the Mendoza Fur & Dyeing Works, 712 East 133rd St., the Bronx, pulled into a driveway at the plant two men armed with pistols ran up to the auto. As Ptl. Walter Webb, 40th Pct., assigned to payroll escort duty, attempted to draw his revolver he was shot in the chest by one of the gunmen. The gunmen then seized the payroll from the plant manager and fled in his car. At 149th St. & St. Ann�s Ave. they abandoned the payroll auto and changed into a yellow taxicab that had been waiting for them.
At 163rd St. & Boston Road, a motorist told Motorcycle Ptl. Edwin Churchill, that he had seen three armed men in the taxicab that had just passed him. Churchill took off after the cab and was able to stop it at 169th St. & Boston Road. As the cab stopped the gunmen jumped out and shot Churchill. They reentered the cab and fled. Fireman Vincent Hyde, a former police officer, picked out Churchill�s revolver, then jumped onto the running board of a cab and gave chase, after firing shots at the bandits, the gunmen fired back at Hyde, he was shot in the chest and fell off the cab.
Other police officers commandeered vehicles to join in the chase. The chase went from the Bronx into Manhattan and covered almost twelve miles. It ended on Dyckman St. where police shot and killed the two holdup men and the driver of the get away cab. During the chase the police and bandits fired about one hundred shots. A four-year-old girl was killed by one shot; three police officers and nine civilians were also wounded.
One of the facts brought out in the investigation and public outcry over the deaths of the two policemen and the four year old girl, was that there was no communication with cruising police cars. It was only when the bandits crossed over into Manhattan that any police motor patrol cars became involved, having been alerted by telephone calls to the 30th Pct. station house. In 1931, there were no radios in patrol cars. Later police officials admitted that radios may have helped but they didn�t have any.
The following year, 1932, one way radio communications was installed in police patrol cars. It was not until 1937, that the first RMP car was equipped with two-way radio communications.
INVESTIGATOR�S TIP: TELEPHONE DE-CODING
How do you DECODE TELEPHONE TONES from a tape recording of a telephone conversation where you can hear the phone numbers being punched in at the start of the tape?
Often, this works:
1) Re-wind the tape to just before the number is being punched in.
2) Pick up your phone, and call your own pager.
3) When your pager says "Enter A Message Now", play the tape recording into the phone.
4) Usually, it will show on your pager's display, the same as if you'd punched in the number yourself.
FOR THE CULINARY DETECTIVE
Readers will recall a recent request for submission of the �Best Pizza Places�, as recommended by the hungry detective. Here is another entry.
I have it from a very good, reliable source that one of the best places for a slice of pizza in lower Manhattan is at East 5 Street and 1st Avenue. Three of Cups is the name; where the name comes from is anybody�s guess. The pizza is reported to be one of the best you�ll have. If in the area, give it a try.
I also understand that the infamous Quentin Tarantino had a NYSID number generated for an incident right around here as well. That�s also from a good source of mine. (See, some of my sources actually do police work!)
Also receiving nomination for good pizza is the Patsy�s on 1st Avenue in the 25 Pct; up around 118th Street. Great pizza; with a historical setting as well. In the shadows of Rao�s, it serves one of the best pizza you�ll get in Manhattan North.
Maybe we should start gathering a list of good Chinese restaurants next?
In the interest of being historically correct, the following relates to the previously posted �Birth of the NYPD�.
The birth of the NYPD in reality occurred on April 5, 1870, under Chapter 137 of the NYS Laws of 1870, and not Jan. 1, 1898, when the Tweed Charter granted the City of New York the right to police itself.
The name granted the newly created department by law was the �NYC Municipal Police Department�.
The name change from the New York City Municipal Police to the NYPD occurred on June 13, 1873, under Chapter 755 of the NYS Laws of 1873).
PTL. WALTER WEBB & PTL. EDWIN CHURCHILL
The line of duty deaths of Ptl. Edwin Churchill and Ptl. Walter Webb, in 1931, are noted as bringing about �a milestone in NYPD history�, according Ret. Det1 John Reilly. An account of this incident follows.
On Aug. 21, 1931, at about 3.45 p.m., as an auto carrying the payroll for the employees of the Mendoza Fur & Dyeing Works, 712 East 133rd St., the Bronx, pulled into a driveway at the plant two men armed with pistols ran up to the auto. As Ptl. Walter Webb, 40th Pct., assigned to payroll escort duty, attempted to draw his revolver he was shot in the chest by one of the gunmen. The gunmen then seized the payroll from the plant manager and fled in his car. At 149th St. & St. Ann�s Ave. they abandoned the payroll auto and changed into a yellow taxicab that had been waiting for them.
At 163rd St. & Boston Road, a motorist told Motorcycle Ptl. Edwin Churchill, that he had seen three armed men in the taxicab that had just passed him. Churchill took off after the cab and was able to stop it at 169th St. & Boston Road. As the cab stopped the gunmen jumped out and shot Churchill. They reentered the cab and fled. Fireman Vincent Hyde, a former police officer, picked out Churchill�s revolver, then jumped onto the running board of a cab and gave chase, after firing shots at the bandits, the gunmen fired back at Hyde, he was shot in the chest and fell off the cab.
Other police officers commandeered vehicles to join in the chase. The chase went from the Bronx into Manhattan and covered almost twelve miles. It ended on Dyckman St. where police shot and killed the two holdup men and the driver of the get away cab. During the chase the police and bandits fired about one hundred shots. A four-year-old girl was killed by one shot; three police officers and nine civilians were also wounded.
One of the facts brought out in the investigation and public outcry over the deaths of the two policemen and the four year old girl, was that there was no communication with cruising police cars. It was only when the bandits crossed over into Manhattan that any police motor patrol cars became involved, having been alerted by telephone calls to the 30th Pct. station house. In 1931, there were no radios in patrol cars. Later police officials admitted that radios may have helped but they didn�t have any.
The following year, 1932, one way radio communications was installed in police patrol cars. It was not until 1937, that the first RMP car was equipped with two-way radio communications.
INVESTIGATOR�S TIP: TELEPHONE DE-CODING
How do you DECODE TELEPHONE TONES from a tape recording of a telephone conversation where you can hear the phone numbers being punched in at the start of the tape?
Often, this works:
1) Re-wind the tape to just before the number is being punched in.
2) Pick up your phone, and call your own pager.
3) When your pager says "Enter A Message Now", play the tape recording into the phone.
4) Usually, it will show on your pager's display, the same as if you'd punched in the number yourself.
FOR THE CULINARY DETECTIVE
Readers will recall a recent request for submission of the �Best Pizza Places�, as recommended by the hungry detective. Here is another entry.
I have it from a very good, reliable source that one of the best places for a slice of pizza in lower Manhattan is at East 5 Street and 1st Avenue. Three of Cups is the name; where the name comes from is anybody�s guess. The pizza is reported to be one of the best you�ll have. If in the area, give it a try.
I also understand that the infamous Quentin Tarantino had a NYSID number generated for an incident right around here as well. That�s also from a good source of mine. (See, some of my sources actually do police work!)
Also receiving nomination for good pizza is the Patsy�s on 1st Avenue in the 25 Pct; up around 118th Street. Great pizza; with a historical setting as well. In the shadows of Rao�s, it serves one of the best pizza you�ll get in Manhattan North.
Maybe we should start gathering a list of good Chinese restaurants next?
Sunday, September 01, 2002
P.O. DALE ENTON
A Police Officer from the 113 Precinct, P.O. Dale Enton, 34 years old, who suffered a brain aneurysm two weeks ago while chasing a wife-beating suspect died last week.
Police Officer Dale Enton suffered a brain aneurysm while chasing a domestic violence suspect on foot and died at St. John�s Queens Hospital.
Officer Enton and his partner had respond to assist a detective who had spotted a suspect wanted on a domestic violence complaint. When they attempted to arrest the suspect he fled on foot. Officer Enton and his partner pursued the suspect on foot, jumping over fences and running through backyards. Officer Enton and his partner were unable to apprehended the suspect and started walking out of a backyard in Queens when Officer Enton fell to the ground.
After being removed to the hospital he was later declared brain dead. He was removed from life support four days later and his organs were donated for transplant.
Officer Enton, who worked out of the 113th Precinct, lived in Elmont. He was a pilot who worked nights in the 113. He had four years on the job. Officer Enton is survived by his fiancee and mother.
Details regarding his funeral were not available at the time of this posting.
BONNIE AND CLYDE
A wanted poster distributed by the U.S. Department of Justice, ID#1227, on May 21, 1934, concerns the notorious �Bonnie and Clyde�.
Mrs. Roy Thornton, aka Bonnie Barrow and Bonnie Parker, along with Clyde Champion Barrow aka Clyde Barrow and Roy Bailey, were wanted for the federal offense against the National Motor Vehicle Theft Act. �Transporting a stolen vehicle across state lines�.
It was noted that Bonnie, a 23 year old 5�5�, 100 pound slender build female with auburn hair that was originally blonde, also had a bullet wound scar on her left foot next to her little toe. She also had a bullet in her left knee, and a burn scar on her right leg from hip to knee. It was further noted that she �walks with both knees slightly buckled� � probably from those bullet wounds! Her husband, Roy Thornton, was an inmate in the Texas State Penitentiary.
Clyde, also 23 years old, was 5�7� in his �bare feet�, and weighed 150 pounds. His dark wavy hair was �reported dyed black�, and he had hazel eyes. Clyde also is noted as having a �shield and anchor with �USN� tattoo on right forearm�, and a girl�s bust on his left inner forearm. He also had a bullet wound through both legs just above the knees.
The complaint against them was filed in Dallas, TX on May 20, 1933 charging them with transporting a car stolen from Dr. E.L. Damron of Effingham, ILL from Dallas TX to Pawhuska, OK.
At the time the FBI was known as the Division of Investigation of the US Department of Justice. The wanted circular was signed by the Director, J. Edgar Hoover.
TITLE CHANGES
First, a little nitpicking.
Dec. 22, 1972, 32 male & 1 female were made Detective 3rd Grade. This is the last appointments made to the designation "Detective Third Grade".
Apr. 24, 1973, is the official date for the change from Patrolman/Policewoman to Police Officer.
MORE TELEPHONE TIPS
As previously mentioned on this site, the following are additional ANI numbers.
ANI stands for AUTOMATIC NUMBER IDENTIFICATION. (That�s the �ANI� part of a Sprint �ANI-ALI�).
Call one of these phone numbers and you�ll be read back the telephone number of the line you�re calling from:
888-324-8686
800-555-1160
800-532-7486 (then press 1)
Need the long distance carrier for any given phone line?
From that line call this number, and a computer will tell you:
700-555-4141
DET. ISADORE ASTEL
On Aug 11 1937, Det Isadore Astel #1461 of the 25th Pct, died as a result of a line of duty injury he suffered in 1936. The details of this incident follow.
On Dec. 26, 1936, then Ptl. Astel interrupted a hold-up at an A & P store, 2058 Madison Ave., Manhattan. In a gun fight with three stick-up men he was shot and wounded twice in the abdomen. He was able to return fire, and he shot his assailant. He was removed to a hospital where he was to remain for almost eight months.
On June 2, 1937 at a bedside ceremony Isadore Astel was awarded Combat Cross. Later on June 17, 1937 at a bedside ceremony he was promoted to Det. 3rd Grade.
Det. Astel died as a result of his wounds on Aug. 11, 1937 while still at the Hospital for Joint Diseases. Det. Astel was appt to the NYPD on Sep. 04, 1928. He was born on July 28, 1905, was married with one child.
FROM THE HUMIDOR
Thanks to Cigar Afficionado on this bit for the cigar-smoking detective.
Q. I watched a movie where a cigar smoker wet the head of his cigar with his mouth before clipping and lighting it. Is this necessary or correct?
A: It's not really necessary, but it's not incorrect, either.
Cigar smoking is a multi-sensory experience with a healthy dose of ritual and anticipation. Some people like to moisten the tip prior to clipping in order to taste the wrapper leaf by itself. It's just one more piece of information about the cigar. For instance, if your tongue tingles after moistening the tip, you can probably expect a spicy smoke; if the wrapper tastes neutral, the cigar is likely to be mild.
There's also a more practical reason to moisten the tip. If a cigar is slightly dry, moistening the tip lessens the chance of cracking the wrapper when the cigar is cut. However, if a cigar is very dry, no amount of moistening will prevent wrapper breakage.
STAYING IN FOR NOW:
One of the assassins of P.O.s JOSEPH PIAGENTINI and WAVERLY JONES (May 21st 1971), Anthony Bottom (AKA Jalil Muntaqim) was denied parole and will remain in jail until at least his next parole hearing in July 2004. Thanks to all of you who wrote letters to the Parole Board and Governor Pataki recommending no parole for this cop killer.
HOPE ALL HAVE HAD A GOOD SUMMER!
IT�S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SUMMER IS OVER, BUT THE WEST INDIAN DAY PARADE IS MONDAY, AND THAT CAN ONLY MEAN ONE THING� THE END OF SUMMER!
And the return of the �Back to School� traffic on the parkways!
Best wishes to all! From The Minister
A Police Officer from the 113 Precinct, P.O. Dale Enton, 34 years old, who suffered a brain aneurysm two weeks ago while chasing a wife-beating suspect died last week.
Police Officer Dale Enton suffered a brain aneurysm while chasing a domestic violence suspect on foot and died at St. John�s Queens Hospital.
Officer Enton and his partner had respond to assist a detective who had spotted a suspect wanted on a domestic violence complaint. When they attempted to arrest the suspect he fled on foot. Officer Enton and his partner pursued the suspect on foot, jumping over fences and running through backyards. Officer Enton and his partner were unable to apprehended the suspect and started walking out of a backyard in Queens when Officer Enton fell to the ground.
After being removed to the hospital he was later declared brain dead. He was removed from life support four days later and his organs were donated for transplant.
Officer Enton, who worked out of the 113th Precinct, lived in Elmont. He was a pilot who worked nights in the 113. He had four years on the job. Officer Enton is survived by his fiancee and mother.
Details regarding his funeral were not available at the time of this posting.
BONNIE AND CLYDE
A wanted poster distributed by the U.S. Department of Justice, ID#1227, on May 21, 1934, concerns the notorious �Bonnie and Clyde�.
Mrs. Roy Thornton, aka Bonnie Barrow and Bonnie Parker, along with Clyde Champion Barrow aka Clyde Barrow and Roy Bailey, were wanted for the federal offense against the National Motor Vehicle Theft Act. �Transporting a stolen vehicle across state lines�.
It was noted that Bonnie, a 23 year old 5�5�, 100 pound slender build female with auburn hair that was originally blonde, also had a bullet wound scar on her left foot next to her little toe. She also had a bullet in her left knee, and a burn scar on her right leg from hip to knee. It was further noted that she �walks with both knees slightly buckled� � probably from those bullet wounds! Her husband, Roy Thornton, was an inmate in the Texas State Penitentiary.
Clyde, also 23 years old, was 5�7� in his �bare feet�, and weighed 150 pounds. His dark wavy hair was �reported dyed black�, and he had hazel eyes. Clyde also is noted as having a �shield and anchor with �USN� tattoo on right forearm�, and a girl�s bust on his left inner forearm. He also had a bullet wound through both legs just above the knees.
The complaint against them was filed in Dallas, TX on May 20, 1933 charging them with transporting a car stolen from Dr. E.L. Damron of Effingham, ILL from Dallas TX to Pawhuska, OK.
At the time the FBI was known as the Division of Investigation of the US Department of Justice. The wanted circular was signed by the Director, J. Edgar Hoover.
TITLE CHANGES
First, a little nitpicking.
Dec. 22, 1972, 32 male & 1 female were made Detective 3rd Grade. This is the last appointments made to the designation "Detective Third Grade".
Apr. 24, 1973, is the official date for the change from Patrolman/Policewoman to Police Officer.
MORE TELEPHONE TIPS
As previously mentioned on this site, the following are additional ANI numbers.
ANI stands for AUTOMATIC NUMBER IDENTIFICATION. (That�s the �ANI� part of a Sprint �ANI-ALI�).
Call one of these phone numbers and you�ll be read back the telephone number of the line you�re calling from:
888-324-8686
800-555-1160
800-532-7486 (then press 1)
Need the long distance carrier for any given phone line?
From that line call this number, and a computer will tell you:
700-555-4141
DET. ISADORE ASTEL
On Aug 11 1937, Det Isadore Astel #1461 of the 25th Pct, died as a result of a line of duty injury he suffered in 1936. The details of this incident follow.
On Dec. 26, 1936, then Ptl. Astel interrupted a hold-up at an A & P store, 2058 Madison Ave., Manhattan. In a gun fight with three stick-up men he was shot and wounded twice in the abdomen. He was able to return fire, and he shot his assailant. He was removed to a hospital where he was to remain for almost eight months.
On June 2, 1937 at a bedside ceremony Isadore Astel was awarded Combat Cross. Later on June 17, 1937 at a bedside ceremony he was promoted to Det. 3rd Grade.
Det. Astel died as a result of his wounds on Aug. 11, 1937 while still at the Hospital for Joint Diseases. Det. Astel was appt to the NYPD on Sep. 04, 1928. He was born on July 28, 1905, was married with one child.
FROM THE HUMIDOR
Thanks to Cigar Afficionado on this bit for the cigar-smoking detective.
Q. I watched a movie where a cigar smoker wet the head of his cigar with his mouth before clipping and lighting it. Is this necessary or correct?
A: It's not really necessary, but it's not incorrect, either.
Cigar smoking is a multi-sensory experience with a healthy dose of ritual and anticipation. Some people like to moisten the tip prior to clipping in order to taste the wrapper leaf by itself. It's just one more piece of information about the cigar. For instance, if your tongue tingles after moistening the tip, you can probably expect a spicy smoke; if the wrapper tastes neutral, the cigar is likely to be mild.
There's also a more practical reason to moisten the tip. If a cigar is slightly dry, moistening the tip lessens the chance of cracking the wrapper when the cigar is cut. However, if a cigar is very dry, no amount of moistening will prevent wrapper breakage.
STAYING IN FOR NOW:
One of the assassins of P.O.s JOSEPH PIAGENTINI and WAVERLY JONES (May 21st 1971), Anthony Bottom (AKA Jalil Muntaqim) was denied parole and will remain in jail until at least his next parole hearing in July 2004. Thanks to all of you who wrote letters to the Parole Board and Governor Pataki recommending no parole for this cop killer.
HOPE ALL HAVE HAD A GOOD SUMMER!
IT�S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SUMMER IS OVER, BUT THE WEST INDIAN DAY PARADE IS MONDAY, AND THAT CAN ONLY MEAN ONE THING� THE END OF SUMMER!
And the return of the �Back to School� traffic on the parkways!
Best wishes to all! From The Minister
