IN MEMORIAM: PO ANTHONY MCLEAN
Let us not forget the tragic death of hero PSA # 2 Police Officer Anthony McLean on April 13, 1988.
PO McLean was conducting a vertical patrol inside a housing development in the 73 Precinct, looking for a missing person, when he walked into the middle of a drug-deal on the stairway.
He was shot and killed interrupting an armed drug deal, which he came upon completely by surprise.
HISTORY OF SURVIVORS OF THE SHIELD
Survivors of the Shield was officially founded and incorporated in 1988 to provide, promote and support a program for the mutual assistance of the spouses and children of New York City Police Officers who have lost their lives in the performance of their duty.
SOS is a unique organization that came together through the efforts of three police widows: Mary Beth O'Neill, (P.O. Thomas Ruotolo), Kathleen Murray, (P.O. Brian Murray), and Susan McCormack , (P.O. Joseph P. McCormack).
The concept for their name came from Mary Beth O'Neill and lent itself to a meaningful acronym: SOS... the universal call of distress.
Two years prior to its formation, meetings between these three women produced the concept for this special self-support group. Questionnaires were mailed to the families in order to determine the social, economic and emotional needs of police survivors.
Then Governor of New York State, Mario Cuomo, was most receptive to their suggestions and immediately put together a benefits package that has greatly enhanced and benefited the families of all law enforcement officers and firefighters who have died in the line of duty throughout New York State.
This legislative package was aptly entitled Care for our Police and Survivors (COPS). In 1989, several bills were introduced and quickly signed into law by Governor Cuomo. These bills provided a New York State Memorial Scholarship for both spouses and children; payment for funeral expenses and psychological counseling by the Crime Victims Board; a lifetime guarantee of line-of-duty pension award and health benefits to
spouses; and continued pension and health benefits for children who are attending college, in the event the surviving spouse/parent should die before the child finishes college.
A special �Survivor of the Shield� license plate was also granted by the Governor. Likewise, both the Police Memorial in Albany (1991) and the NYPD monument in Battery Park City (1997) were also proposed by Governor Mario Cuomo.
Former President Phil Caruso of the Patrolman's Benevolent Association generously supported and endorsed SOS and enabled the groundwork for the organization to be set.
Past PBA Presidents Lou Matarazzo and James Savage and current President Patrick Lynch have continued the support in their endeavors. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani opened the eyes of New Yorkers to their cause and wholeheartedly endorsed their mission, not only to support the families but to always honor the fallen heroes of the NYPD. Former NYPD Deputy Commissioners Joseph Dunne and Patrick Kelleher also assisted in gaining departmental recognition for the SOS.
All of these people and others too numerous to mention stepped forward to be of assistance, and are part and parcel to the history, and support, of the Survivors of the Shield.
INTERESTING WEB SITE
GUNS: Everything you ever wanted to know about any kind of gun can be found here:
http://www.ameritech.net/users/colefirearms/cole_links_menu.htm
MARTINDALES REFERENCE DESK:
This is an interesting site that you will surely want to bookmark:
Find over 30,000 reference links on all topics including finance, countries, airlines, autos,
recreation, fashion, technology, engineering, ;science courses, tutorials, databases, net cams, Language Center, Computers, Internet, etc.
http://www.martindalecenter.com
YOU KNOW YOU�RE A HAIRBAG IF YOU REMEMBER�
Washing your sector car at the local bus garage.
Getting your 15 alarms before turning out.
Recording your Post Condition Cards on the back pages of your memo book.
Having to plug in patch cords on TS duty.
Bringing 15 cents to your swearing in-to pay for the shield pin. (I think it�s up to 25 cents now).
5 and a 56, 5 and a 56, 4 and 80 duty chart.
An offer to "buy a hat" or a "suit" and making the collar.
When RMPs had a telephone handset.
Getting your scratch the last hour of your tour because you didn't salute the sarge properly the day before.
Making your rings to the sergeant and they better be from boxes at opposite ends of your foot posts. (Some lucky fellows even carried their "call boxes" with wires and alligator clips in their pocket.)
The Sergeant manned the TS, to take your rings, and give out jobs over the call boxes.
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
January 27, 1908 Ptl John Loughman, 15 Pct, Shot-off duty incident
January 27, 1938 Ptl Edward Roos, 8 Sqd, Auto accident on patrol
January 27, 1943 Ptl Angelo Dimuro, 1 Pct, Line of duty incident
January 27, 1972 Ptl Gregory Foster, 9 Pct, Shot-assassination
January 27, 1972 Ptl Rocco Laurie, 9 Pct, Shot-assassination
January 28, 1938 Sgt David Kilpatrick, 40 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
January 28, 1980 PO Cecil Sledge, 69 Pct, Shot-car stop
January 30, 1930 Ptl Maurice O�Brien, 28 Pct, Shot-arrest
January 30, 1956 Ptl Benny Bruno, GCP Pct, Auto pursuit
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Friday, January 23, 2004
EXPANSION OF SCOOTER PATROL: 1968
In 1966 the department had 59 scooters on patrol. They were used primarily in parks and similar areas where it was not feasible for RMP�s or foot patrolman to travel because of terrain.
In 1968 the department purchased over 200 more of these two-wheel scooters, and another 300 were added in 1969, bringing the fleet to over 600 scooters.
The concept of scooter patrols in New York was made a reality through the efforts of a retired Inspector, Johannes Spreen, who later went on to become the Commissioner of the Detroit Police Department. It was the addition and expansion of police portable radio transceivers that assisted in broadening the use of scooters as a means of providing professional police services, adding the mobility of and responsiveness which foot patrol lacked.
It was in 1968 that each precinct was directed to establish motor scooter squads to perform duty on two tours, 8x4 and 4x12 (the �scooter chart�).
WHAT A BARGAIN!
A 1970 issue of SPRING 3100 reveals some interesting bargains in its Want Ads pages.
You could get a Lieutenant�s Overcoat with 2-winter blouses and 3-summer blouses all for the fantastic price of $25.
A 4 year old, 1966 Mustang Fastback was available for $1200.
You could also get yourself a Hair Piece, in excellent condition and only worn twice by a beautician, for the incredible price of $50. Bet there were a lot of bidders on that one!
AL CAPONE
"The income tax law is a lot of bunk. The government can't collect legal taxes from illegal money". Al Capone
On April 23, 1930, the Chicago Crime Commission issued its first Public Enemies List; there were 28 names on it, and Al Capone's was the first. Capone headed an enormous crime organization that netted huge profits from the illegal liquor trade and he became a legendary symbol of the violent gangsterism of the Prohibition era.
For years Capone remained immune to prosecution for his criminal activities. In June 1930, after an exhaustive investigation by the federal government, Capone was indicted for income tax evasion. One of the most notorious criminals of the 20th century--the man held most responsible for the bloody lawlessness of Prohibition-era Chicago--was imprisoned for tax evasion.
The trial was highly publicized. Hollywood celebrity Edward G. Robinson, who had portrayed a Capone-like character in the movie "Little Caesar," attended 1 day to observe the gangster role model, Capone. The names, addresses, and occupations of the 12 jurors who decided the case and signed this verdict were printed in Chicago newspapers. To reduce the chances of jury tampering, the judge tried to keep the trial as short as possible and confined the jury at night. During the trial, the prosecution documented Capone's lavish spending, evidence of a colossal income. The government also submitted proof that Capone was aware of his obligation to pay federal income tax but failed to do so. After nearly 9 hours of deliberation, the jurors found Capone guilty of three felonies and two misdemeanors, relating to his failure to pay and/or file his income taxes between 1925 and 1929. Judge Wilkerson sentenced Al Capone to serve 11 years in prison and to pay $80,000 in fines and court cost
IN MEMORIAM: DET. HAROLD JACOB, S,L&B SQUAD
On January 18, 1967 Det. Harold A. Jacob #180, assigned to the Safe Loft & Burglary Squad, died in the line of duty.
On that day, at about 1:40 pm, Det Jacob was on patrol in the garment area when he observed an armed man leaving the scene of an armed robbery that he had just committed at 235 West 35th St., Manhattan.
Det. Jacob identified himself as a police officer and ordered the man to drop his weapon. Instead, he fired at the officer who returned the fire and wounded the bandit who was disarmed and placed in custody. Det. Jacob suffered a fatal heart seizure after returning to the scene of the crime to interview the robbery victim.
Det. Jacob was appointed to the NYPD on November 1, 1933. On June 10, 1968, at the NYPD annual medal day ceremonies Det Jacob was posthumously awarded the NYPD Medal of Honor. Mayor John Lindsay presented the medal to his widow. Det. Jacob had 33 years on the job.
INTERESTING WEB SITE
The official site of the Retired Detectives Assoc. of the City of New York can be found at this web site. Please feel free to visit the site and also to forward the information to anyone that may want to visit as well.
www.RDNY.org
Here is a great site, which directs you to the appropriate federal investigative law enforcement agency by Type of Crime:
http://www.cybercrime.gov/reporting.htm
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
January 21, 1932 Ptl John Walsh, 17 Div, Shot-off duty robbery
January 21, 1941 Ptl Daniel Piselli, 88 Pct, Killed-line of duty incident
January 21, 1948 Ptl William Von Weisenstein, 101 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
January 21, 1958 Det Francis O�Rourke, 32 Sqd, Line of duty heart attack
January 21, 1986 Det Anthony Venditti, OCCB, Shot-investigation
January 21, 1995 Det Alfred Boesch, Housing SNEU, Line of duty incident
January 22, 1971 Ptl Robert Bolden, 75 Pct, Shot-off duty altercation
January 23, 1934 Ptl Joseph Misichia, 114 Pct, Shot-arrest
January 23, 1943 Ptl Pasquale Venturelli, 45 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
January 23, 1987 PO Michael Reidy, 41 Pct, Shot-off duty robbery
January 24, 1967 Ptl John Barry, PA, Line of duty heart attack
January 24, 1975 Ptl John Scala, ApplicInv, Shot-off duty robbery
January 25, 1994 PO Nicholas DeMatiis, 106 Pct, Auto pursuit
In 1966 the department had 59 scooters on patrol. They were used primarily in parks and similar areas where it was not feasible for RMP�s or foot patrolman to travel because of terrain.
In 1968 the department purchased over 200 more of these two-wheel scooters, and another 300 were added in 1969, bringing the fleet to over 600 scooters.
The concept of scooter patrols in New York was made a reality through the efforts of a retired Inspector, Johannes Spreen, who later went on to become the Commissioner of the Detroit Police Department. It was the addition and expansion of police portable radio transceivers that assisted in broadening the use of scooters as a means of providing professional police services, adding the mobility of and responsiveness which foot patrol lacked.
It was in 1968 that each precinct was directed to establish motor scooter squads to perform duty on two tours, 8x4 and 4x12 (the �scooter chart�).
WHAT A BARGAIN!
A 1970 issue of SPRING 3100 reveals some interesting bargains in its Want Ads pages.
You could get a Lieutenant�s Overcoat with 2-winter blouses and 3-summer blouses all for the fantastic price of $25.
A 4 year old, 1966 Mustang Fastback was available for $1200.
You could also get yourself a Hair Piece, in excellent condition and only worn twice by a beautician, for the incredible price of $50. Bet there were a lot of bidders on that one!
AL CAPONE
"The income tax law is a lot of bunk. The government can't collect legal taxes from illegal money". Al Capone
On April 23, 1930, the Chicago Crime Commission issued its first Public Enemies List; there were 28 names on it, and Al Capone's was the first. Capone headed an enormous crime organization that netted huge profits from the illegal liquor trade and he became a legendary symbol of the violent gangsterism of the Prohibition era.
For years Capone remained immune to prosecution for his criminal activities. In June 1930, after an exhaustive investigation by the federal government, Capone was indicted for income tax evasion. One of the most notorious criminals of the 20th century--the man held most responsible for the bloody lawlessness of Prohibition-era Chicago--was imprisoned for tax evasion.
The trial was highly publicized. Hollywood celebrity Edward G. Robinson, who had portrayed a Capone-like character in the movie "Little Caesar," attended 1 day to observe the gangster role model, Capone. The names, addresses, and occupations of the 12 jurors who decided the case and signed this verdict were printed in Chicago newspapers. To reduce the chances of jury tampering, the judge tried to keep the trial as short as possible and confined the jury at night. During the trial, the prosecution documented Capone's lavish spending, evidence of a colossal income. The government also submitted proof that Capone was aware of his obligation to pay federal income tax but failed to do so. After nearly 9 hours of deliberation, the jurors found Capone guilty of three felonies and two misdemeanors, relating to his failure to pay and/or file his income taxes between 1925 and 1929. Judge Wilkerson sentenced Al Capone to serve 11 years in prison and to pay $80,000 in fines and court cost
IN MEMORIAM: DET. HAROLD JACOB, S,L&B SQUAD
On January 18, 1967 Det. Harold A. Jacob #180, assigned to the Safe Loft & Burglary Squad, died in the line of duty.
On that day, at about 1:40 pm, Det Jacob was on patrol in the garment area when he observed an armed man leaving the scene of an armed robbery that he had just committed at 235 West 35th St., Manhattan.
Det. Jacob identified himself as a police officer and ordered the man to drop his weapon. Instead, he fired at the officer who returned the fire and wounded the bandit who was disarmed and placed in custody. Det. Jacob suffered a fatal heart seizure after returning to the scene of the crime to interview the robbery victim.
Det. Jacob was appointed to the NYPD on November 1, 1933. On June 10, 1968, at the NYPD annual medal day ceremonies Det Jacob was posthumously awarded the NYPD Medal of Honor. Mayor John Lindsay presented the medal to his widow. Det. Jacob had 33 years on the job.
INTERESTING WEB SITE
The official site of the Retired Detectives Assoc. of the City of New York can be found at this web site. Please feel free to visit the site and also to forward the information to anyone that may want to visit as well.
www.RDNY.org
Here is a great site, which directs you to the appropriate federal investigative law enforcement agency by Type of Crime:
http://www.cybercrime.gov/reporting.htm
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
January 21, 1932 Ptl John Walsh, 17 Div, Shot-off duty robbery
January 21, 1941 Ptl Daniel Piselli, 88 Pct, Killed-line of duty incident
January 21, 1948 Ptl William Von Weisenstein, 101 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
January 21, 1958 Det Francis O�Rourke, 32 Sqd, Line of duty heart attack
January 21, 1986 Det Anthony Venditti, OCCB, Shot-investigation
January 21, 1995 Det Alfred Boesch, Housing SNEU, Line of duty incident
January 22, 1971 Ptl Robert Bolden, 75 Pct, Shot-off duty altercation
January 23, 1934 Ptl Joseph Misichia, 114 Pct, Shot-arrest
January 23, 1943 Ptl Pasquale Venturelli, 45 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
January 23, 1987 PO Michael Reidy, 41 Pct, Shot-off duty robbery
January 24, 1967 Ptl John Barry, PA, Line of duty heart attack
January 24, 1975 Ptl John Scala, ApplicInv, Shot-off duty robbery
January 25, 1994 PO Nicholas DeMatiis, 106 Pct, Auto pursuit
Monday, January 19, 2004
TEDDY ROOSEVELT AWARD
"There are no better men anywhere than the men of the ... police force..."
Theodore Roosevelt, Autobiography (1913).
The Theodore Roosevelt Association established the Theodore Roosevelt Association Police Awards in honor of Roosevelt's distinguished service as President of the Board of Police Commissioners of New York City from May 6, 1895 to April 19, 1897, and in recognition of TR's lifelong admiration for the police.
The first TRA Police Award was given in 1983 in New York City, honoring the 125th anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt's birth. In 1991 a second TRA Police Award was established for the Western New York State region, in 1992 this award was started for the Boston Police Department and in 1995 awards were established for both Nassau and Suffolk Counties, Long Island, New York. In 1996 further awards were started in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Dallas, Texas. The TRA Police Awards are given annually and the list of departments continues to grow.
Awardees are police officers who have overcome an adversity whether injury, illness or other disability, as Theodore Roosevelt triumphed over the physical handicaps of his youth, and who have rendered, and continue to render, outstanding and praiseworthy service to their respective police department, as TR did in his years as President of the Board of Police Commissioners of New York City.
DNA-TESTING BACKLOG HELP IN SIGHT
It was reported recently that the House of Representatives has introduced a bill aimed at eliminating the national backlog of crime-scene DNA evidence.
The bill is aimed at providing $105 million over four years to test crime scene evidence in backlog.
In 1996, New York began storing DNA samples from convicted felons in databanks, and comparing them to samples taken from crime scenes. But for years, rape kits went untested, with approximately 16,000 of them held in police warehouses.
The city finished a three year program to eliminate the backlog this past year.
Officials estimate that there are as many as 350,000 still untested DNA evidence collection kits across the US.
FROM THE LAW DESK: A CASE FOLLOW-UP
As a follow-up to a recently posted item on this site, here is an excerpt found in a recent edition of the NY Times concerning police use of roadblocks.
The Supreme Court endorsed the use of police roadblocks as an investigational tool for finding witnesses to recent crimes.
The Supreme Court, in a case watched anxiously by law enforcement agencies across America, held Tuesday that police may set up roadblocks to collect tips about unsolved crimes
Overturning a ruling by the Illinois Supreme Court, which found the tactic unconstitutional in the absence of a reason to suspect a given motorist of involvement in a crime, the justices held that a properly established "information-seeking checkpoint" was a valid way for the police to enlist the public's assistance.
All nine justices agreed that the roadblocks could be constitutional, depending on the circumstances. They divided 6 to 3, though, in appraising the roadblock in this case.
The police in Lombard, Ill., a Chicago suburb, set it up on a highway where exactly one week earlier a hit-and-run driver killed a bicyclist. The police stopped drivers for 10 to 15 seconds each to ask if they had any knowledge of the accident. One man who was arrested at the roadblock for drunken driving brought the constitutional challenge that led to the Supreme Court case.
The majority opinion by Justice Stephen G. Breyer held that given the "grave" public concern about a fatal accident, this roadblock was well planned, minimally intrusive and constitutionally reasonable. Three other justices, though, said they did not have enough information to draw that ultimate conclusion.
IN MEMORIAM: DET. ANTHONY VENDITTI
Det. Anthony Venditti, Shield #679, O.C.C.B. Joint Organized Crime Task Force
Killed in the Line of Duty on January 21, 1986
Detective Venditti was shot and killed during an investigation of organized crime he was conducting at the time.
Detective Venditti and his partner were conducting surveillance of known Mafia associates when they stopped at a local diner to use the restroom. The diner was located in the 104 Pct, just outside the confines of the 83 Pct, at Myrtle Avenue near Wyckoff. When Detective Venditti exited the car he was confronted by three suspects who began to push Detective Venditti against a wall. Detective Venditti�s partner exited her vehicle and drew her weapon, but was shot and wounded by one of the suspects. The suspect then shot and killed Detective Venditti before being wounding himself by Detective Venditti's partner.
All three suspects were apprehended but acquitted of murder. They were later convicted of racketeering and sentenced to prison.
Detective Venditti had been a member of the New York City Police Department for 14 years and was assigned to the Organized Crime Control Bureau Joint Organized Crime Task Force.
INTERESTING WEB SITES
National White Collar Crime Center
Check out the whole site, but do not miss their "research" link. It has a lot of papers & publications on several subjects including:
Check Fraud, Computer Crime, Credit Card Fraud & Cyberstalking.
http://www.nw3c.org/
NYPD RELATED NEWS
Another interesting NYPD News web site can be found at:
www.nypdnews.com
BASIC CRIME SCENE REMINDERS
Upon arrival at the scene, don�t touch anything.
Observe, Describe, and Record what you see. Your description should enable someone reading it months later to get the feel of what the scene looked like to the arriving investigator.
Remember such details as lighting, weather, smell, etc.
Be sure in recording your description of your observations at the scene that you are writing what you see, and not what you think you see (do NOT interpret).
AND Don�t forget, especially around this time of the year � ink pens tend to freeze. Sharpen those pencils, and take them along! You don�t want to find yourself without a writing utensil when you�re in the middle of taking a key statement!
"There are no better men anywhere than the men of the ... police force..."
Theodore Roosevelt, Autobiography (1913).
The Theodore Roosevelt Association established the Theodore Roosevelt Association Police Awards in honor of Roosevelt's distinguished service as President of the Board of Police Commissioners of New York City from May 6, 1895 to April 19, 1897, and in recognition of TR's lifelong admiration for the police.
The first TRA Police Award was given in 1983 in New York City, honoring the 125th anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt's birth. In 1991 a second TRA Police Award was established for the Western New York State region, in 1992 this award was started for the Boston Police Department and in 1995 awards were established for both Nassau and Suffolk Counties, Long Island, New York. In 1996 further awards were started in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Dallas, Texas. The TRA Police Awards are given annually and the list of departments continues to grow.
Awardees are police officers who have overcome an adversity whether injury, illness or other disability, as Theodore Roosevelt triumphed over the physical handicaps of his youth, and who have rendered, and continue to render, outstanding and praiseworthy service to their respective police department, as TR did in his years as President of the Board of Police Commissioners of New York City.
DNA-TESTING BACKLOG HELP IN SIGHT
It was reported recently that the House of Representatives has introduced a bill aimed at eliminating the national backlog of crime-scene DNA evidence.
The bill is aimed at providing $105 million over four years to test crime scene evidence in backlog.
In 1996, New York began storing DNA samples from convicted felons in databanks, and comparing them to samples taken from crime scenes. But for years, rape kits went untested, with approximately 16,000 of them held in police warehouses.
The city finished a three year program to eliminate the backlog this past year.
Officials estimate that there are as many as 350,000 still untested DNA evidence collection kits across the US.
FROM THE LAW DESK: A CASE FOLLOW-UP
As a follow-up to a recently posted item on this site, here is an excerpt found in a recent edition of the NY Times concerning police use of roadblocks.
The Supreme Court endorsed the use of police roadblocks as an investigational tool for finding witnesses to recent crimes.
The Supreme Court, in a case watched anxiously by law enforcement agencies across America, held Tuesday that police may set up roadblocks to collect tips about unsolved crimes
Overturning a ruling by the Illinois Supreme Court, which found the tactic unconstitutional in the absence of a reason to suspect a given motorist of involvement in a crime, the justices held that a properly established "information-seeking checkpoint" was a valid way for the police to enlist the public's assistance.
All nine justices agreed that the roadblocks could be constitutional, depending on the circumstances. They divided 6 to 3, though, in appraising the roadblock in this case.
The police in Lombard, Ill., a Chicago suburb, set it up on a highway where exactly one week earlier a hit-and-run driver killed a bicyclist. The police stopped drivers for 10 to 15 seconds each to ask if they had any knowledge of the accident. One man who was arrested at the roadblock for drunken driving brought the constitutional challenge that led to the Supreme Court case.
The majority opinion by Justice Stephen G. Breyer held that given the "grave" public concern about a fatal accident, this roadblock was well planned, minimally intrusive and constitutionally reasonable. Three other justices, though, said they did not have enough information to draw that ultimate conclusion.
IN MEMORIAM: DET. ANTHONY VENDITTI
Det. Anthony Venditti, Shield #679, O.C.C.B. Joint Organized Crime Task Force
Killed in the Line of Duty on January 21, 1986
Detective Venditti was shot and killed during an investigation of organized crime he was conducting at the time.
Detective Venditti and his partner were conducting surveillance of known Mafia associates when they stopped at a local diner to use the restroom. The diner was located in the 104 Pct, just outside the confines of the 83 Pct, at Myrtle Avenue near Wyckoff. When Detective Venditti exited the car he was confronted by three suspects who began to push Detective Venditti against a wall. Detective Venditti�s partner exited her vehicle and drew her weapon, but was shot and wounded by one of the suspects. The suspect then shot and killed Detective Venditti before being wounding himself by Detective Venditti's partner.
All three suspects were apprehended but acquitted of murder. They were later convicted of racketeering and sentenced to prison.
Detective Venditti had been a member of the New York City Police Department for 14 years and was assigned to the Organized Crime Control Bureau Joint Organized Crime Task Force.
INTERESTING WEB SITES
National White Collar Crime Center
Check out the whole site, but do not miss their "research" link. It has a lot of papers & publications on several subjects including:
Check Fraud, Computer Crime, Credit Card Fraud & Cyberstalking.
http://www.nw3c.org/
NYPD RELATED NEWS
Another interesting NYPD News web site can be found at:
www.nypdnews.com
BASIC CRIME SCENE REMINDERS
Upon arrival at the scene, don�t touch anything.
Observe, Describe, and Record what you see. Your description should enable someone reading it months later to get the feel of what the scene looked like to the arriving investigator.
Remember such details as lighting, weather, smell, etc.
Be sure in recording your description of your observations at the scene that you are writing what you see, and not what you think you see (do NOT interpret).
AND Don�t forget, especially around this time of the year � ink pens tend to freeze. Sharpen those pencils, and take them along! You don�t want to find yourself without a writing utensil when you�re in the middle of taking a key statement!
Friday, January 16, 2004
NEW YORK TERRORIZED AT FRAUNCES TAVERN
The members of the FALN, over a six-year period in the late 1970s and early 1980s, claimed responsibility for 130 bombings in the United States and Puerto Rico that took six lives and injured scores of people.
Among these bombings were the 1975 bombing of Fraunces Tavern in the Wall Street area of New York City, which killed four people; the 1983 bombing of NYPD Police Headquarters, in which three police officers who tried to defuse the bombs were maimed for life; the 1977 bombing of the Mobil Oil building in New York, which claimed another life; the 1979 bombing of the Naval Armory in Illinois; and the 1979 bombing of the Cook County building in Chicago.
It was noontime, Friday, January 24, l975. The tavern was filled with patrons. It was soon to be the scene of a bloodbath.
The explosive device had been placed near an unused exit door of the Angler's and Tarpon Club next to the historical Fraunces Tavern at the corner of Pearl Street and Broad Street. The famous tavern was built in 1719 as a private residence and converted into a tavern in 1762. It was a favorite of General George Washington. On December 4, 1783, Washington gave his farewell to the officers of the Continental Army in the tavern and then left for Annapolis to tender his resignation as Commander-in-Chief. It was and is an important historical building.
Police Officers George Toth and Henry Petersen, Truck One, Emergency Service, were patrolling near City Hall and the Brooklyn Bridge. They had just decided to get lunch when the call came over the First Division Radio. They always monitored Citywide Frequency and also the particular Patrol Division radio that they were patrolling.
"What car for a report of an explosion at Broad Street and Pearl Street in the First Precinct?" The voice of the dispatcher betrayed a sense of urgency.
The cops listened for the precinct sector cars to acknowledge as they flipped on their emergency lights and siren. The wail of the siren echoed off the buildings. Pedestrians barely cast a glance at the cops as they desperately drove the truck through the traffic. The blas� New Yorkers were used to the sight of police cars racing to calls. Toth and Petersen muttered and cursed to themselves as the reluctant drivers lazily pulled out of their way. The police radio was filled with static as multiple calls began to flood the frequency. As seasoned street cops, they knew what that meant. This was for real.
They were the first cops on the scene. These are the moments in the career of a cop that they find out that they are made of the "right stuff". For cops who work in the Emergency Service of the NYPD, there are many such moments.
It was later learned that the terrorist organization that has since become known as the FALN had claimed responsibility for planting the device. No one has ever been charged with the bombing.
THE FRAUD TRIANGLE: WHY GOOD PEOPLE STEAL
While we have what�s known as the Brooklyn North Triangle *, those involved I employee theft and embezzler/fraud investigations have what is referred to as the �Fraud Triangle�.
According to the fraud triangle, which derived from a study to find out why people with otherwise good jobs and who should no better, eventually are found to be stealing? Why is that casino employees commit thefts knowing full well that there are cameras all around them and security people constantly on the look out?
There are three factors present in these fraud cases. First, there exists a non-sharable problem. Second, you will find a means of rationalizing their actions. And third, there will be an opportunity to steal.
A non-sharable problem is also known as �pressure�. This pressure could be real or perceived, such as an overdue bill or feeling obligated to provide something of value.
Rationalization is a means of justifying the crime. Taking money from a company, a non-entity is sometimes explained by rationalizing that they need it more. Others blame the company for past inequities, and justify it as their way of getting even.
Opportunity means just that; the availability to commit the theft. Sometimes this opportunity is unexpected and sudden. On other occasions, the employee happened upon a weakness in the company�s internal control and did not report it, but took advantage of it for their own personal gain.
* The Brooklyn North Triangle. Don�t know what this is? Maybe for a later posting. Or drop me an e-mail for a better explanation.
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Here are some great sites for performing Reverse Lookup & other searches:
WhitePages.com "Reverse 800"
PhoneNumber.com "Reverse Address"
WhitePages.com "Reverse Address"
InfoSpace.com "Reverse Address"
PhoneNumber.com "Locations Lookup"
PhoneNumber.com "Reverse Zip"
SOME HARD-BOILED DETECTIVE FICTION
Another of the classic crime-noir detective lines from Philip Marlow, Private
Eye:
"She was waiting in the otherwise unpopulated cocktail lounge. She was a big blonde woman with more curves than the highway out front and just the right number
of hills and valleys. Wearing a clingy, summery white dress, she was seated on one of the bar stools, with her bare legs crossed; they weren't the best-looking-legs on the planet, necessarily. I just couldn't prove otherwise.
That good a detective I'm not."
The members of the FALN, over a six-year period in the late 1970s and early 1980s, claimed responsibility for 130 bombings in the United States and Puerto Rico that took six lives and injured scores of people.
Among these bombings were the 1975 bombing of Fraunces Tavern in the Wall Street area of New York City, which killed four people; the 1983 bombing of NYPD Police Headquarters, in which three police officers who tried to defuse the bombs were maimed for life; the 1977 bombing of the Mobil Oil building in New York, which claimed another life; the 1979 bombing of the Naval Armory in Illinois; and the 1979 bombing of the Cook County building in Chicago.
It was noontime, Friday, January 24, l975. The tavern was filled with patrons. It was soon to be the scene of a bloodbath.
The explosive device had been placed near an unused exit door of the Angler's and Tarpon Club next to the historical Fraunces Tavern at the corner of Pearl Street and Broad Street. The famous tavern was built in 1719 as a private residence and converted into a tavern in 1762. It was a favorite of General George Washington. On December 4, 1783, Washington gave his farewell to the officers of the Continental Army in the tavern and then left for Annapolis to tender his resignation as Commander-in-Chief. It was and is an important historical building.
Police Officers George Toth and Henry Petersen, Truck One, Emergency Service, were patrolling near City Hall and the Brooklyn Bridge. They had just decided to get lunch when the call came over the First Division Radio. They always monitored Citywide Frequency and also the particular Patrol Division radio that they were patrolling.
"What car for a report of an explosion at Broad Street and Pearl Street in the First Precinct?" The voice of the dispatcher betrayed a sense of urgency.
The cops listened for the precinct sector cars to acknowledge as they flipped on their emergency lights and siren. The wail of the siren echoed off the buildings. Pedestrians barely cast a glance at the cops as they desperately drove the truck through the traffic. The blas� New Yorkers were used to the sight of police cars racing to calls. Toth and Petersen muttered and cursed to themselves as the reluctant drivers lazily pulled out of their way. The police radio was filled with static as multiple calls began to flood the frequency. As seasoned street cops, they knew what that meant. This was for real.
They were the first cops on the scene. These are the moments in the career of a cop that they find out that they are made of the "right stuff". For cops who work in the Emergency Service of the NYPD, there are many such moments.
It was later learned that the terrorist organization that has since become known as the FALN had claimed responsibility for planting the device. No one has ever been charged with the bombing.
THE FRAUD TRIANGLE: WHY GOOD PEOPLE STEAL
While we have what�s known as the Brooklyn North Triangle *, those involved I employee theft and embezzler/fraud investigations have what is referred to as the �Fraud Triangle�.
According to the fraud triangle, which derived from a study to find out why people with otherwise good jobs and who should no better, eventually are found to be stealing? Why is that casino employees commit thefts knowing full well that there are cameras all around them and security people constantly on the look out?
There are three factors present in these fraud cases. First, there exists a non-sharable problem. Second, you will find a means of rationalizing their actions. And third, there will be an opportunity to steal.
A non-sharable problem is also known as �pressure�. This pressure could be real or perceived, such as an overdue bill or feeling obligated to provide something of value.
Rationalization is a means of justifying the crime. Taking money from a company, a non-entity is sometimes explained by rationalizing that they need it more. Others blame the company for past inequities, and justify it as their way of getting even.
Opportunity means just that; the availability to commit the theft. Sometimes this opportunity is unexpected and sudden. On other occasions, the employee happened upon a weakness in the company�s internal control and did not report it, but took advantage of it for their own personal gain.
* The Brooklyn North Triangle. Don�t know what this is? Maybe for a later posting. Or drop me an e-mail for a better explanation.
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Here are some great sites for performing Reverse Lookup & other searches:
WhitePages.com "Reverse 800"
PhoneNumber.com "Reverse Address"
WhitePages.com "Reverse Address"
InfoSpace.com "Reverse Address"
PhoneNumber.com "Locations Lookup"
PhoneNumber.com "Reverse Zip"
SOME HARD-BOILED DETECTIVE FICTION
Another of the classic crime-noir detective lines from Philip Marlow, Private
Eye:
"She was waiting in the otherwise unpopulated cocktail lounge. She was a big blonde woman with more curves than the highway out front and just the right number
of hills and valleys. Wearing a clingy, summery white dress, she was seated on one of the bar stools, with her bare legs crossed; they weren't the best-looking-legs on the planet, necessarily. I just couldn't prove otherwise.
That good a detective I'm not."
Monday, January 12, 2004
ANARCHIST ATTACK OF 1920
In the interest of accuracy, I must make mention of the following incident, which was brought to my attention by DI Vito Spano.
The largest loss of life in this city from a single terrorist incident, prior to the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Center, occurred on September 16, 1920.
At that time a bomb that was planted in a horse-drawn wagon exploded in front of 23 Wall Street, in front of the JP Morgan Company. That incident resulted in 33 people killed, and over 400 people being injured.
The lunchtime crowds on Wall Street bustled in the warm September air as the bells at historic Trinity Church tolled noon. Few pedestrians noticed a driverless, rickety wagon pulled by an old bay mare near the financial district's busiest corner. The horse paused outside the offices of J.P. Morgan & Co.
Suddenly, a puff of smoke, a flash and a "crash out of a blue sky," as one account put it. An automobile was hurled into the air, plate glass windows shattered for blocks, grotesquely wounded people writhed on the pavement. Others were reduced to "lifeless lumps of clay."
The ramshackle wagon held 100 pounds of dynamite packed with 500 pounds of fragmented steel window sashes. A remote control device detonated the load, driving thousands of jagged metal shards outward into the crowded sidewalks and streets. In an instant, 40 people were dead or dying. Over 400 others were injured.
Soon, word spread that another bomb was set to explode, causing "a mad panic in which men ruthlessly trampled women in an effort to escape," a reporter wrote.
It was Sept. 16, 1920. It was neither the first act of terror on American soil, nor the last. But the Wall Street bombing was different from previous attacks. The indiscriminate malevolence was a departure from earlier attacks that were more narrowly targeted. "There was no objective except general terrorism," The St. Louis Post-Dispatch observed. "The bomb was not directed against any particular person or property. It was directed against a public, anyone who happened to be near."
"It was the equivalent of a Timothy McVeigh attack, a horse-drawn carriage [driven] up to a target," said Larry Taulbee, an Emory University political science professor who advised a committee studying security for the Olympics. "They're looking for absolute shock value. By attacking civilians, you're trying to generate fear. Things haven't changed much."
The 1920 bombing stunned an already jittery American public that had come through a world war and a flu pandemic and was wracked by fears of labor riots, Bolshevik infiltrators and bomb-throwing anarchists.
Believed to be intended to protest the indictment of Sacco and Vanzetti, the bomb on Wall Street not only left those dead and seriously injured, but also created a conflagration causing $2 million in property damage, including demolishing J.P. Morgan's office.
Before night fell, the search was on for the culprits. William J. Flynn, the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who had been involved in the antiradical Palmer Raids, arrived in New York. Eyewitnesses had reported seeing an Italian man fleeing from the scene; another saw an "East Side peddler." Suspicion naturally centered on anarchists, who had been behind an unsuccessful campaign of letter bombs that targeted Jack Morgan. A message was found in a nearby mailbox reading: "Free the political prisoners. Or it will be sure death for all of you. American Anarchist Fighters."
The previous day, anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti had been indicted for bank robbery and murder.
The next morning, Wall Street employees went back to work amid heightened security. They were defiant, patriotic and "determined to show the world that business will proceed as usual despite bombs," as the local newspapers put it. Volume on the stock exchange was relatively high, and the prices of many stocks rose.
During the next several weeks, the New York City police fanned out. Hundreds of detectives interviewed every ferrier and stablehand in the region in a vain effort to track down the owner of the horse and wagon. Carlo Tresca, a well-known anarchist, was hauled in for questioning. Police also detained Edward Fischer, a well-born eccentric and former New York City tennis champion. The mentally imbalanced Fischer had mailed postcards from Toronto to friends in New York, in which he had apparently predicted the bombings. He was ultimately sent to Bellevue Hospital.
Nobody ever credibly claimed responsibility for the attack. And no person was ever charged in the deadly bombing.
ANALYTICAL LINGUISTICS (WHAT DID HE SAY?)
A person who doesn�t have anything to conceal will generally recall events chronologically and in a concise manner.
Those who are involved in crimes often feel the need to justify their actions. Their statements won�t follow a logical, chronological time frame or may avoid what really happened. They may also include extraneous information in their statements, information that�s not necessary to tell the story.
And, yes, they�ll probably fall asleep when left alone in the holding cell.
IN MEMORIAM: PTL. GREGORY FOSTER & PTL ROCCO LAURIE
Ptl. Gregory Foster, # 13737, 9 Pct Date of Death: 01-27-1972
Ptl. Rocco Laurie, # 11019, 9 Pct Date of Death: 01-27-1972
Patrolman Rocco Laurie and Patrolman Gregory Foster were assassinated by members of the Black Liberation Army while walking their patrol beat on Avenue B and East 11th Street in the 9th Precinct, on January 27, 1972.
As they walked down the street, four suspects came out of a dark doorway behind them and opened fire, shooting them in the back. After the officers fell, the suspects took their handguns and shot them several more times.
FROM THE CRIME LIBRARY
For a fascinating look at some high-profile murders in the music business entitled Hip-Hop Homicide, and a look at who killed Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G and were they really the intended victims? You can check out the Crime Library at:
http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/celebrity/shakur_BIG/index.html
INTERESTING WEB SITE
Articles on Crime Scene Investigation:
http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/csi-articles.html
FOR THE TRUE CRIME LIBRARY
"Searching For Evil...and the Perfect Donut" is the title of a new book written by veteran police officer Richard Nable.
Once you get past the obvious problems with the title, you might actually enjoy the book. (You know how I feel about the generally degrading donut references).
As the publisher states, you can �Fasten your seatbelts for this roller-coaster ride
through gripping accounts of some extraordinary trials faced by an ordinary American street cop�. It is intended to give a glimpse into a world that few people outside the law enforcement profession really understand. The book combines a delightful mixture of intelligence, compassion, candid familiarity, and tongue in cheek humor.
The book may be ordered from any major book retailer, www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com or www.searchingforevil.com or by calling 888-280-7715.
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
January 11, 1908 Ptl Robert Fitzgerald, Bridge Pct, Drowned-Rescue
January 11, 1916 Ptl Joseph Gaffney, 26 Pct, Shot-arrest
January 11, 1929 Ptl Albert Bruden, Mcy Unit, Auto pursuit
January 11, 1941 Ptl Edward Maher, Traffic P, Shot-robbery
January 12, 1974 PO Timothy Murphy, 120 Pct, Shot-off duty incident
January 12, 1981 PO Robert Walsh, 7 Pct, Shot-off duty robbery
January 13, 1924 Ptl John Schneider, 3Div, Robbery investigation
January 13, 1950 Ptl Edward Carraher, 14 Pct, Injured on patrol
January 13, 1997 Det Kenny Fung, 72 Sqd, Heart attack during investigation
January 15, 1938 Ptl Frank Zaccor, 14 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
January 16, 1953 Ptl Thomas Sheehan, 10 Pct, Line of duty heart attack
January 17, 1947 Ptl Harry Schriffies, McyDist, Shot-investigation
January 18, 1935 Ptl James Killion, 17 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
January 18, 1960 Sgt Edward Johnson, 5 Pct, Stabbed by EDP
January 18, 1967 Det Harold Jacob, Safe Loft & Burg Sqd, Line of duty heart attack
January 18, 1979 PO Robert Manzione, 7 Pct, Line of duty heart attack
In the interest of accuracy, I must make mention of the following incident, which was brought to my attention by DI Vito Spano.
The largest loss of life in this city from a single terrorist incident, prior to the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Center, occurred on September 16, 1920.
At that time a bomb that was planted in a horse-drawn wagon exploded in front of 23 Wall Street, in front of the JP Morgan Company. That incident resulted in 33 people killed, and over 400 people being injured.
The lunchtime crowds on Wall Street bustled in the warm September air as the bells at historic Trinity Church tolled noon. Few pedestrians noticed a driverless, rickety wagon pulled by an old bay mare near the financial district's busiest corner. The horse paused outside the offices of J.P. Morgan & Co.
Suddenly, a puff of smoke, a flash and a "crash out of a blue sky," as one account put it. An automobile was hurled into the air, plate glass windows shattered for blocks, grotesquely wounded people writhed on the pavement. Others were reduced to "lifeless lumps of clay."
The ramshackle wagon held 100 pounds of dynamite packed with 500 pounds of fragmented steel window sashes. A remote control device detonated the load, driving thousands of jagged metal shards outward into the crowded sidewalks and streets. In an instant, 40 people were dead or dying. Over 400 others were injured.
Soon, word spread that another bomb was set to explode, causing "a mad panic in which men ruthlessly trampled women in an effort to escape," a reporter wrote.
It was Sept. 16, 1920. It was neither the first act of terror on American soil, nor the last. But the Wall Street bombing was different from previous attacks. The indiscriminate malevolence was a departure from earlier attacks that were more narrowly targeted. "There was no objective except general terrorism," The St. Louis Post-Dispatch observed. "The bomb was not directed against any particular person or property. It was directed against a public, anyone who happened to be near."
"It was the equivalent of a Timothy McVeigh attack, a horse-drawn carriage [driven] up to a target," said Larry Taulbee, an Emory University political science professor who advised a committee studying security for the Olympics. "They're looking for absolute shock value. By attacking civilians, you're trying to generate fear. Things haven't changed much."
The 1920 bombing stunned an already jittery American public that had come through a world war and a flu pandemic and was wracked by fears of labor riots, Bolshevik infiltrators and bomb-throwing anarchists.
Believed to be intended to protest the indictment of Sacco and Vanzetti, the bomb on Wall Street not only left those dead and seriously injured, but also created a conflagration causing $2 million in property damage, including demolishing J.P. Morgan's office.
Before night fell, the search was on for the culprits. William J. Flynn, the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who had been involved in the antiradical Palmer Raids, arrived in New York. Eyewitnesses had reported seeing an Italian man fleeing from the scene; another saw an "East Side peddler." Suspicion naturally centered on anarchists, who had been behind an unsuccessful campaign of letter bombs that targeted Jack Morgan. A message was found in a nearby mailbox reading: "Free the political prisoners. Or it will be sure death for all of you. American Anarchist Fighters."
The previous day, anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti had been indicted for bank robbery and murder.
The next morning, Wall Street employees went back to work amid heightened security. They were defiant, patriotic and "determined to show the world that business will proceed as usual despite bombs," as the local newspapers put it. Volume on the stock exchange was relatively high, and the prices of many stocks rose.
During the next several weeks, the New York City police fanned out. Hundreds of detectives interviewed every ferrier and stablehand in the region in a vain effort to track down the owner of the horse and wagon. Carlo Tresca, a well-known anarchist, was hauled in for questioning. Police also detained Edward Fischer, a well-born eccentric and former New York City tennis champion. The mentally imbalanced Fischer had mailed postcards from Toronto to friends in New York, in which he had apparently predicted the bombings. He was ultimately sent to Bellevue Hospital.
Nobody ever credibly claimed responsibility for the attack. And no person was ever charged in the deadly bombing.
ANALYTICAL LINGUISTICS (WHAT DID HE SAY?)
A person who doesn�t have anything to conceal will generally recall events chronologically and in a concise manner.
Those who are involved in crimes often feel the need to justify their actions. Their statements won�t follow a logical, chronological time frame or may avoid what really happened. They may also include extraneous information in their statements, information that�s not necessary to tell the story.
And, yes, they�ll probably fall asleep when left alone in the holding cell.
IN MEMORIAM: PTL. GREGORY FOSTER & PTL ROCCO LAURIE
Ptl. Gregory Foster, # 13737, 9 Pct Date of Death: 01-27-1972
Ptl. Rocco Laurie, # 11019, 9 Pct Date of Death: 01-27-1972
Patrolman Rocco Laurie and Patrolman Gregory Foster were assassinated by members of the Black Liberation Army while walking their patrol beat on Avenue B and East 11th Street in the 9th Precinct, on January 27, 1972.
As they walked down the street, four suspects came out of a dark doorway behind them and opened fire, shooting them in the back. After the officers fell, the suspects took their handguns and shot them several more times.
FROM THE CRIME LIBRARY
For a fascinating look at some high-profile murders in the music business entitled Hip-Hop Homicide, and a look at who killed Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G and were they really the intended victims? You can check out the Crime Library at:
http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/celebrity/shakur_BIG/index.html
INTERESTING WEB SITE
Articles on Crime Scene Investigation:
http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/csi-articles.html
FOR THE TRUE CRIME LIBRARY
"Searching For Evil...and the Perfect Donut" is the title of a new book written by veteran police officer Richard Nable.
Once you get past the obvious problems with the title, you might actually enjoy the book. (You know how I feel about the generally degrading donut references).
As the publisher states, you can �Fasten your seatbelts for this roller-coaster ride
through gripping accounts of some extraordinary trials faced by an ordinary American street cop�. It is intended to give a glimpse into a world that few people outside the law enforcement profession really understand. The book combines a delightful mixture of intelligence, compassion, candid familiarity, and tongue in cheek humor.
The book may be ordered from any major book retailer, www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com or www.searchingforevil.com or by calling 888-280-7715.
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
January 11, 1908 Ptl Robert Fitzgerald, Bridge Pct, Drowned-Rescue
January 11, 1916 Ptl Joseph Gaffney, 26 Pct, Shot-arrest
January 11, 1929 Ptl Albert Bruden, Mcy Unit, Auto pursuit
January 11, 1941 Ptl Edward Maher, Traffic P, Shot-robbery
January 12, 1974 PO Timothy Murphy, 120 Pct, Shot-off duty incident
January 12, 1981 PO Robert Walsh, 7 Pct, Shot-off duty robbery
January 13, 1924 Ptl John Schneider, 3Div, Robbery investigation
January 13, 1950 Ptl Edward Carraher, 14 Pct, Injured on patrol
January 13, 1997 Det Kenny Fung, 72 Sqd, Heart attack during investigation
January 15, 1938 Ptl Frank Zaccor, 14 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
January 16, 1953 Ptl Thomas Sheehan, 10 Pct, Line of duty heart attack
January 17, 1947 Ptl Harry Schriffies, McyDist, Shot-investigation
January 18, 1935 Ptl James Killion, 17 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
January 18, 1960 Sgt Edward Johnson, 5 Pct, Stabbed by EDP
January 18, 1967 Det Harold Jacob, Safe Loft & Burg Sqd, Line of duty heart attack
January 18, 1979 PO Robert Manzione, 7 Pct, Line of duty heart attack
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
LAGUARDIA AIRPORT BOMBING: UNSOLVED SINCE 1975
I have to thank (Ret.) Capt Frank Bolz for bringing this to my attention.
A story in the December 18 edition of the LONG ISLAND PRESS concerns the unsolved bomb that went off in LaGuardia Airport on December 29, 1975.
�In 1975, bombs were going off twice a month in the city. And it wasn't just one enemy behind the blasts. It seemed like everyone with a cause and a grudge had a bomb and was willing to use it. But when a bomb went off in a row of lockers at LaGuardia Airport on Dec. 29, and no note, no letter to the papers, no call to 911 followed�to claim the blast in the name of freedom for Puerto Rico, for Cuba, for Palestine, for American blacks or left-wing whites�the entire city was scared, confused and desperately searching for answers.�
�At the time, it was the bloodiest terrorist attack in the history of New York. Eleven dead, 75 injured. Its death toll remains higher than the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993, than all of the city's sporadic bombings of the 1970s put together.�
�Yet there are no more answers today than there were the second it happened. Flatlined leads, pointed fingers and frustrated cops? Yes, we have those. In bunches. Was the timer set wrong, as simple as mixing up 6:33 a.m., when the blast would have injured few, with 6:33 p.m., when hundreds of people were milling about the terminal? Did the ultrasonic frequencies of the airport set it off? Someone jostling a nearby locker? Or did whoever planted it want it to go off at that exact time, so as to do maximum damage to the city of New York?�
�Today, Danny Calemine, an NYPD detective and member of the FBI/NYPD Joint Terrorist Task Force, is in charge of the LaGuardia case. Calemine says he has resubmitted all available evidence of the bombing to be reanalyzed by the FBI labs, "just to take advantage of some of the new techniques and procedures that have been developed."
Calemine is combing through file after file of interviews and evidence once again.
"Part of the laboratory analysis will compare evidence from this to other bombings, to see if there are any similarities, whether it be the type of device used, or m.o. or how it would be put together."
The entire story, over five pages long, is certainly well worth the time to read. You may do so by accessing the Long Island Press at:
http://www.longislandpress.com/v01/i49031218/coverstory_01.asp
FROM THE LEGAL DESK
The state's highest court cautioned recently about the potential for police to violate suspects' rights when officers conduct so-called "inventory" searches of vehicles.
The Court of Appeals decided 6-0 that such a search by New York City police in 1999 was little more than an excuse by officers to get access to the glove compartment of the vehicle. The judges said a loaded handgun found by officers could not be admitted into evidence and they threw out the indictment of James Johnson on criminal possession of a weapon charges.
The inventory search is a warrantless search that should be invoked only when police have lawfully arrested a driver on a charge and intend to impound his vehicle. Police catalogue the objects in the car, both to ensure the possessions of the driver and to protect police from charges that things were taken when the car was towed away.
"An inventory search is exactly what its name suggests, a search designed to properly catalogue the contents of the item search," the court said in a decision written by Judge George Bundy Smith.
Quoting from a trial-court ruling, inventory searches "must not be a ruse for a general rummaging in order to discover incriminating evidence," the Court of Appeals said.
"While incriminating evidence may be a consequence of an inventory search, it should not be its purpose," Smith wrote.
The court said police agencies should have established procedures in place on how inventory searches are conducted, and agencies must train their personnel to follow the rules.
It was noted, in this case cited, that there was no NYPD policy presented by prosecutors concerning inventory searches. Even if such a policy exists, the judges said the search of the suspect vehicle couldn�t have been valid because the officer only searched the glove compartment and no other part of the vehicle. Also, there was apparently no written inventory of the objects in the vehicle.
According to court papers, the officers who pulled over Johnson's vehicle for reckless driving became suspicious when they saw him open the glove compartment, apparently place something inside and close the compartment as they approached the stopped SUV.
FROM THE CRIME LIBRARY
The Crime Library is publishing a colorful piece of American history on the Harlem gangs of the twenties and thirties:
Madame St. Clair, known as Queenie, ran the Harlem numbers business and an extortion gang known as The Forty Thieves. She was so tough that the white mobsters left her and her turf alone.
Read these stories the instant they are available by checking the Recent Features/What's New page:
http://www.crimelibrary.com/about/new.html
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Internet Fraud Complaint Center
The Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C).
IFCC's mission is to address fraud committed over the Internet. For victims of Internet fraud, IFCC provides a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of a suspected criminal or civil violation. For law enforcement and regulatory agencies at all levels, IFCC offers a central repository for complaints related to Internet fraud, works to quantify fraud patterns, and provides timely statistical data of current fraud trends.
http://www.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp
NY Times Archive 1851-Present: You won't use this one every day but when you need it, it's a potential great resource. Archives split from 1851-1995 and 1996 to the present day. Searching is free and individual articles can be bought for $2.99.
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/nytimes/advancedsearch.html
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
January 2, 1932 Ptl John Kranz, Det Sqd, Shot
January 3, 1975 PO Michael McConnon, 13 Pct, Shot-robbery
January 3, 1978 PO Ronald Stapleton, 77 Pct, Shot, off duty incident
January 5, 1922 Det William Miller, 38 Sqd(32 Sq), Shot-arrest
January 5, 1922 Det Francis Buckley, Det Div, Shot-arrest
January 5, 1944 Ptl Patrick Malone, Traffic I, Auto accident on patrol
January 7, 1930 Ptl Paul Schafer, 19 Pct, Motorcycle accident on patrol
January 7, 1933 Ptl Walter Murphy, 14 Div (13 Div), Shot-pursuit
January 7, 1934 Ptl Ernest McCarron, 68 Pct, Fire rescue
January 8, 1946 Ptl Benjamin Wallace, 32 Pct, Shot-Investigation
January 9, 1938 Ptl Anthony Tornatore, 52 Pct, Shot-investigation
January 9, 1973 Ptl Stephen Gilroy, ESS8, Shot-robbery / hostages
January 10, 1987 PO Francis LaSalla, ESS1, Fire rescue
I have to thank (Ret.) Capt Frank Bolz for bringing this to my attention.
A story in the December 18 edition of the LONG ISLAND PRESS concerns the unsolved bomb that went off in LaGuardia Airport on December 29, 1975.
�In 1975, bombs were going off twice a month in the city. And it wasn't just one enemy behind the blasts. It seemed like everyone with a cause and a grudge had a bomb and was willing to use it. But when a bomb went off in a row of lockers at LaGuardia Airport on Dec. 29, and no note, no letter to the papers, no call to 911 followed�to claim the blast in the name of freedom for Puerto Rico, for Cuba, for Palestine, for American blacks or left-wing whites�the entire city was scared, confused and desperately searching for answers.�
�At the time, it was the bloodiest terrorist attack in the history of New York. Eleven dead, 75 injured. Its death toll remains higher than the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993, than all of the city's sporadic bombings of the 1970s put together.�
�Yet there are no more answers today than there were the second it happened. Flatlined leads, pointed fingers and frustrated cops? Yes, we have those. In bunches. Was the timer set wrong, as simple as mixing up 6:33 a.m., when the blast would have injured few, with 6:33 p.m., when hundreds of people were milling about the terminal? Did the ultrasonic frequencies of the airport set it off? Someone jostling a nearby locker? Or did whoever planted it want it to go off at that exact time, so as to do maximum damage to the city of New York?�
�Today, Danny Calemine, an NYPD detective and member of the FBI/NYPD Joint Terrorist Task Force, is in charge of the LaGuardia case. Calemine says he has resubmitted all available evidence of the bombing to be reanalyzed by the FBI labs, "just to take advantage of some of the new techniques and procedures that have been developed."
Calemine is combing through file after file of interviews and evidence once again.
"Part of the laboratory analysis will compare evidence from this to other bombings, to see if there are any similarities, whether it be the type of device used, or m.o. or how it would be put together."
The entire story, over five pages long, is certainly well worth the time to read. You may do so by accessing the Long Island Press at:
http://www.longislandpress.com/v01/i49031218/coverstory_01.asp
FROM THE LEGAL DESK
The state's highest court cautioned recently about the potential for police to violate suspects' rights when officers conduct so-called "inventory" searches of vehicles.
The Court of Appeals decided 6-0 that such a search by New York City police in 1999 was little more than an excuse by officers to get access to the glove compartment of the vehicle. The judges said a loaded handgun found by officers could not be admitted into evidence and they threw out the indictment of James Johnson on criminal possession of a weapon charges.
The inventory search is a warrantless search that should be invoked only when police have lawfully arrested a driver on a charge and intend to impound his vehicle. Police catalogue the objects in the car, both to ensure the possessions of the driver and to protect police from charges that things were taken when the car was towed away.
"An inventory search is exactly what its name suggests, a search designed to properly catalogue the contents of the item search," the court said in a decision written by Judge George Bundy Smith.
Quoting from a trial-court ruling, inventory searches "must not be a ruse for a general rummaging in order to discover incriminating evidence," the Court of Appeals said.
"While incriminating evidence may be a consequence of an inventory search, it should not be its purpose," Smith wrote.
The court said police agencies should have established procedures in place on how inventory searches are conducted, and agencies must train their personnel to follow the rules.
It was noted, in this case cited, that there was no NYPD policy presented by prosecutors concerning inventory searches. Even if such a policy exists, the judges said the search of the suspect vehicle couldn�t have been valid because the officer only searched the glove compartment and no other part of the vehicle. Also, there was apparently no written inventory of the objects in the vehicle.
According to court papers, the officers who pulled over Johnson's vehicle for reckless driving became suspicious when they saw him open the glove compartment, apparently place something inside and close the compartment as they approached the stopped SUV.
FROM THE CRIME LIBRARY
The Crime Library is publishing a colorful piece of American history on the Harlem gangs of the twenties and thirties:
Madame St. Clair, known as Queenie, ran the Harlem numbers business and an extortion gang known as The Forty Thieves. She was so tough that the white mobsters left her and her turf alone.
Read these stories the instant they are available by checking the Recent Features/What's New page:
http://www.crimelibrary.com/about/new.html
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Internet Fraud Complaint Center
The Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C).
IFCC's mission is to address fraud committed over the Internet. For victims of Internet fraud, IFCC provides a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of a suspected criminal or civil violation. For law enforcement and regulatory agencies at all levels, IFCC offers a central repository for complaints related to Internet fraud, works to quantify fraud patterns, and provides timely statistical data of current fraud trends.
http://www.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp
NY Times Archive 1851-Present: You won't use this one every day but when you need it, it's a potential great resource. Archives split from 1851-1995 and 1996 to the present day. Searching is free and individual articles can be bought for $2.99.
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/nytimes/advancedsearch.html
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
January 2, 1932 Ptl John Kranz, Det Sqd, Shot
January 3, 1975 PO Michael McConnon, 13 Pct, Shot-robbery
January 3, 1978 PO Ronald Stapleton, 77 Pct, Shot, off duty incident
January 5, 1922 Det William Miller, 38 Sqd(32 Sq), Shot-arrest
January 5, 1922 Det Francis Buckley, Det Div, Shot-arrest
January 5, 1944 Ptl Patrick Malone, Traffic I, Auto accident on patrol
January 7, 1930 Ptl Paul Schafer, 19 Pct, Motorcycle accident on patrol
January 7, 1933 Ptl Walter Murphy, 14 Div (13 Div), Shot-pursuit
January 7, 1934 Ptl Ernest McCarron, 68 Pct, Fire rescue
January 8, 1946 Ptl Benjamin Wallace, 32 Pct, Shot-Investigation
January 9, 1938 Ptl Anthony Tornatore, 52 Pct, Shot-investigation
January 9, 1973 Ptl Stephen Gilroy, ESS8, Shot-robbery / hostages
January 10, 1987 PO Francis LaSalla, ESS1, Fire rescue
Friday, January 02, 2004
"I felt a little nauseated myself as I crossed the street. I didn't like murder. It could be messy. For the victim. For the murderer.�
�For the detective."
(Yet another classic Phillip Marlowe, PI line)
HAPPY NEW YEAR, FROM THE FALN
The members of the FALN, over a six-year period in the late 1970s and early 1980s, claimed responsibility for 130 bombings in the United States and Puerto Rico that took six lives and injured scores of people. Among these bombings were the 1975 bombing of Fraunces Tavern in the Wall Street area of New York City, which killed four people; the 1983 bombing of NYPD Police Headquarters, in which three police officers who tried to defuse the bombs were maimed for life; the 1977 bombing of the Mobil Oil building in New York, which claimed another life; the 1979 bombing of the Naval Armory in Illinois; and the 1979 bombing of the Cook County building in Chicago.
On New Year's Eve, December 31, 1982, Police Officer Rocco Pascarella was assigned to the Headquarters Security Detail at One Police Plaza. All hell broke loose that night. An explosion rocked 26 Federal Plaza a short distance from Police Headquarters. No one was injured in that first explosion. Detectives Richie Pastorella and Tony Senft of the NYPD bomb squad responded to that scene and were beginning to piece together the crime scene when they heard the sound of another explosion at One Police Plaza. When they hurried over to the second bombing, they found Officer Pascarella was seriously injured by the second explosive device. Officer Pascarella subsequently lost one of his legs as a result of his injuries.
A few minutes later, a third bomb damaged the Federal Courthouse in Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn. WCBS radio received an anonymous call stating: "This is the FALN. We're responsible for the bombings in New York City tonight. Free Puerto Rico. Free all political prisoners and all prisoners of war."
A short time later, two suspicious boxes were found by police at St.Andrew's Plaza near the federal courthouse in Foley Square. That is very near One Police Plaza.
An NYPD canine responded and an explosive was confirmed by the dog. The device consisted of four sticks of dynamite. Wrapped in newspaper, the sticks were attached to a nine-volt battery and a pocket watch detonator. All this was stuffed into a fast-food box. Detectives Pastorella and Senft safeguarded the devices by placing a ballistics blanket over them and ordered the area to be cleared. The device exploded just as the two men were preparing to disarm it. Despite the heavy protective kevlar bomb suits, the force of the explosion resulted in severe injuries to both officers. Detective Pastorella lost both eyes, the fingers on his right hand and most of his hearing. Chunks of concrete punctured his body. Detective Senft was blinded and every bone in his face smashed. His hip was broken, and most his body bruised and torn. The doctors were able to restore sight to his left eye. The doctors were unable to remove many tiny bits of concrete, wire, and bomb parts from his riddled body. Both men have endured multiple surgical operations over the years. It is likely that they will require more such procedures in the future.
Detective Pastorella has gone on to found the Police Survivors Self-Support Group, and his continued work in this area has proven to be extremely valuable to so many fellow officers.
IDENTITY THEFT INVESTIGATIONS
The John E. Reid & Associates web site has an interesting �Monthly Investigators Tip� that deals with Interrogating a Person on Identity Theft Crimes.
http://www.reid.com/investigatortips.html
This site has provided some very good information in the past, and should be part of your bookmarked sites.
FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY
The Crime Library presents a story on the science of detecting poisons, the favorite weapon of Black Widows and women who kill. Dr. Katherine Ramsland presents the history of this science and the major cases it solved.
http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/forensics/toxicology/index.html
HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED
When I came out of the Academy and went to my first command on patrol (Transit District 33, the old building) we were regularly visited by a vendor selling all sorts of �buff� items � shirts, hats, leather goods, etc. You name it, he�d put a shield or patch on it and it was for sale.
Retired MOS Bill Murphy would like to relate the following story.
His first assignment after the Academy, coming out in 1955, was to the 16 Pct. That command ran from the river to 5th Avenue, north side of 42nd St. to south side 52nd St. The station house was located on W47th St. midway between 8th & 9th Aves.
One night, in the muster room, preparing to turn out for a Midnight to 8AM tour, he noticed a civilian, a late middle aged male, being the center of some activity. You have to remember that at this point, they were still using fountain pens. It turns out the guy would fit a nice, new nib into your pen in exchange for the old worn and maybe bent one it replaced. Why? The original points were gold-plated and this fellow must have accumulated a ton of them from every precinct in the job not to mention all the other potential sources! Entrepeneurship, at its best. Always looking for an angle.
ONLY IN NEW YORK
Another New York moment.
Waiting in a restaurant for a table was a couple that had just learned they could not be seated this evening without a reservation. It was much too busy, being a holiday, and the restaurant just could not offer them a seat. At the same time an EMS crew from Lenox Hill Hospital pulled up in front, lights flashing, and the crew came walking into this same restaurant. An elderly patron had begun to suffer from chest pains, and with as little fanfare as possible, the EMS crew assisted the woman and her family from the restaurant, to the waiting ambulance, to transport her to the hospital. As they were leaving, the couple that had just been turned down for a table came walking back up to the hostess; �Could we have their table?� he asked.
Another restaurant-related story worth noting.
The famed Rao�s Restaurant of Manhattan North notoriety was the scene of a recent murder that could not have been scripted any better for a movie scene if you tried.
A patron at the bar took exception to some mocking that another patron was making over a female guest who got up to sing from her table. Singing from the table is apparently a routine event, as Seamus McHugh noted to his fellow Brooklyn North associates. Well, this chivalrous patron thought the mocking was too much, and decided to shoot to defend her honor. When asked why he was carrying a gun to begin with, the 67 year old knight replied �We�re at Orange alert, don�t you know?� On any given night this restaurant is a virtual who�s-who of celebrities (and apparently of a good number of �wanna-be�s as well). Watch for a version of this incident on Law & Order, or maybe NYPD Blue. It�s just too good to pass up!
�For the detective."
(Yet another classic Phillip Marlowe, PI line)
HAPPY NEW YEAR, FROM THE FALN
The members of the FALN, over a six-year period in the late 1970s and early 1980s, claimed responsibility for 130 bombings in the United States and Puerto Rico that took six lives and injured scores of people. Among these bombings were the 1975 bombing of Fraunces Tavern in the Wall Street area of New York City, which killed four people; the 1983 bombing of NYPD Police Headquarters, in which three police officers who tried to defuse the bombs were maimed for life; the 1977 bombing of the Mobil Oil building in New York, which claimed another life; the 1979 bombing of the Naval Armory in Illinois; and the 1979 bombing of the Cook County building in Chicago.
On New Year's Eve, December 31, 1982, Police Officer Rocco Pascarella was assigned to the Headquarters Security Detail at One Police Plaza. All hell broke loose that night. An explosion rocked 26 Federal Plaza a short distance from Police Headquarters. No one was injured in that first explosion. Detectives Richie Pastorella and Tony Senft of the NYPD bomb squad responded to that scene and were beginning to piece together the crime scene when they heard the sound of another explosion at One Police Plaza. When they hurried over to the second bombing, they found Officer Pascarella was seriously injured by the second explosive device. Officer Pascarella subsequently lost one of his legs as a result of his injuries.
A few minutes later, a third bomb damaged the Federal Courthouse in Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn. WCBS radio received an anonymous call stating: "This is the FALN. We're responsible for the bombings in New York City tonight. Free Puerto Rico. Free all political prisoners and all prisoners of war."
A short time later, two suspicious boxes were found by police at St.Andrew's Plaza near the federal courthouse in Foley Square. That is very near One Police Plaza.
An NYPD canine responded and an explosive was confirmed by the dog. The device consisted of four sticks of dynamite. Wrapped in newspaper, the sticks were attached to a nine-volt battery and a pocket watch detonator. All this was stuffed into a fast-food box. Detectives Pastorella and Senft safeguarded the devices by placing a ballistics blanket over them and ordered the area to be cleared. The device exploded just as the two men were preparing to disarm it. Despite the heavy protective kevlar bomb suits, the force of the explosion resulted in severe injuries to both officers. Detective Pastorella lost both eyes, the fingers on his right hand and most of his hearing. Chunks of concrete punctured his body. Detective Senft was blinded and every bone in his face smashed. His hip was broken, and most his body bruised and torn. The doctors were able to restore sight to his left eye. The doctors were unable to remove many tiny bits of concrete, wire, and bomb parts from his riddled body. Both men have endured multiple surgical operations over the years. It is likely that they will require more such procedures in the future.
Detective Pastorella has gone on to found the Police Survivors Self-Support Group, and his continued work in this area has proven to be extremely valuable to so many fellow officers.
IDENTITY THEFT INVESTIGATIONS
The John E. Reid & Associates web site has an interesting �Monthly Investigators Tip� that deals with Interrogating a Person on Identity Theft Crimes.
http://www.reid.com/investigatortips.html
This site has provided some very good information in the past, and should be part of your bookmarked sites.
FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY
The Crime Library presents a story on the science of detecting poisons, the favorite weapon of Black Widows and women who kill. Dr. Katherine Ramsland presents the history of this science and the major cases it solved.
http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/forensics/toxicology/index.html
HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED
When I came out of the Academy and went to my first command on patrol (Transit District 33, the old building) we were regularly visited by a vendor selling all sorts of �buff� items � shirts, hats, leather goods, etc. You name it, he�d put a shield or patch on it and it was for sale.
Retired MOS Bill Murphy would like to relate the following story.
His first assignment after the Academy, coming out in 1955, was to the 16 Pct. That command ran from the river to 5th Avenue, north side of 42nd St. to south side 52nd St. The station house was located on W47th St. midway between 8th & 9th Aves.
One night, in the muster room, preparing to turn out for a Midnight to 8AM tour, he noticed a civilian, a late middle aged male, being the center of some activity. You have to remember that at this point, they were still using fountain pens. It turns out the guy would fit a nice, new nib into your pen in exchange for the old worn and maybe bent one it replaced. Why? The original points were gold-plated and this fellow must have accumulated a ton of them from every precinct in the job not to mention all the other potential sources! Entrepeneurship, at its best. Always looking for an angle.
ONLY IN NEW YORK
Another New York moment.
Waiting in a restaurant for a table was a couple that had just learned they could not be seated this evening without a reservation. It was much too busy, being a holiday, and the restaurant just could not offer them a seat. At the same time an EMS crew from Lenox Hill Hospital pulled up in front, lights flashing, and the crew came walking into this same restaurant. An elderly patron had begun to suffer from chest pains, and with as little fanfare as possible, the EMS crew assisted the woman and her family from the restaurant, to the waiting ambulance, to transport her to the hospital. As they were leaving, the couple that had just been turned down for a table came walking back up to the hostess; �Could we have their table?� he asked.
Another restaurant-related story worth noting.
The famed Rao�s Restaurant of Manhattan North notoriety was the scene of a recent murder that could not have been scripted any better for a movie scene if you tried.
A patron at the bar took exception to some mocking that another patron was making over a female guest who got up to sing from her table. Singing from the table is apparently a routine event, as Seamus McHugh noted to his fellow Brooklyn North associates. Well, this chivalrous patron thought the mocking was too much, and decided to shoot to defend her honor. When asked why he was carrying a gun to begin with, the 67 year old knight replied �We�re at Orange alert, don�t you know?� On any given night this restaurant is a virtual who�s-who of celebrities (and apparently of a good number of �wanna-be�s as well). Watch for a version of this incident on Law & Order, or maybe NYPD Blue. It�s just too good to pass up!
