Friday, April 22, 2005

WHAT DO I TEST FOR FIRST?

When submitting items for lab analysis, follow this guideline.

Submit for hair & fiber analysis FIRST, then submit for DNA.

Be sure to label the Request For Laborator Analysis in this manner. Let them know clearly, on the form, what you are looking for. Hair & Fiber analysis will not damage the item for eventual DNA; be sure to indicate the request clearly.

In addition, Hair & Fiber can determine whether any hair collected is suitable for DNA typing, and is the first step in conducting a DNA exam.

Remember: Hair & Fiber goes to the PD Lab first. DNA testing is then conducted by the ME Forensic Biology Lab, after being forwarded there from the PD Lab.

Hint: Don�t wait for the messenger. If you have an item you want tested for DNA, continue to follow-up with phone calls to the PD Lab until the item is ready for transfer to the ME Lab; then take the time to go there and hand deliver to the ME yourself.



NEW YORK NOTORIOUS


The Weathermen Blow up West 11 Street

So, you go and leave your sweet, loving daughter home alone while you take off for a Caribbean vacation. In 1970, it seemed like the hip thing to do for James Wilkerson.

He should have asked more questions.

In March of 1970, James Wilkerson left his 25 year old daughter, Cathlyn, in his Village town house while he flew south for rest and relaxation. He knew that Cathlyn was a radical and that she had once clobbered a Chicago cop over the head with a billy club.

But explosives? Who was to know?

At just before noon on March 6, Cathlyn and a bunch of radical pals accidentally blew up her father�s handsome, brick-faced home at 18 West 11 Street while building bombs in the basement. The blast rattled store windows several blocks away and scorched walls of the two adjoining brownstones.

Living in one of those brownstones was Dustin Hoffman, at the time a young actor who had recently starred in a film called �The Graduate�. Moments after the explosion, Dustin was seen scampering from his building, a Tiffany lamp under his arm.

Cathlyn Wilkerson and her friends, all members of a militant antiwar faction known as the weathermen, were preparing to attack universities, corporations, police stations, and other government buildings. But they didn�t plan on thirty sticks of dynamite accidentally exploding. Three of Cathlyn�s confederates died in the blast.

At first, a gas leak was suspected as the reason for the explosion. Suspicions of foul play began when Cathlyn couldn�t be tracked down, along with another woman, Kathy Boudin. The women had apparently raced from the apartment naked and, after borrowing some clothing from a neighbor, vanished.

Wilkerson turned herself in ten years later and was sentenced to eleven months in prison for negligent homicide in connection with the explosion. Boudin wasn�t captured until 1981, when she participated in a Brinks armored truck holdup in which two cops and a security officer were killed. She was sentenced to a prison term of twenty years to life.



COPS JUST GOTTA HAVE FUN

The following story was related by Dave Schultheis, a Retired Lieutenant from ESU, going back to his rookie days in the summer of 1968 in the Rockaways.

He was assigned to the summer detail in Rockaway and had a foot post on the boardwalk. Remember, the Rockaway boardwalk back then was a bustling place, rivaling Coney Island. This was the summer of 1968 and before portable radios.

As required, he made a ring from the box and noticed three local home-boys eyeing him while they leaned on the railing on the beach side of the boardwalk.

A while later he returned to the box for his ring, and noticed the same home boys watching intently as he opened the call box. The hand set was missing and the wire was just hanging there.

Not missing a beat, he picked up the wire and held it to his mouth and spoke into it stating "This is Patrolman Schultheis making my ring". The home boys just looked at each other. I could hear one of they say to the others "I didn't know you could do that".

Dave Schultheis is a 1984 Medal of Honor recipient and a 1986 Combat Cross recipient. He is no relationship to the notorious Lieutenant Schultheis of the Midtown South (14th) Detective Squad.


IN MEMORIAM: DET SGT. JOHN DONOHUE, 1923

On February 16, 1923 Det. Sgt. John Donohue of the 38th Sqd (32nd Det. Sqd) died from injuries he sustained in the line of duty.

It was on October 1, 1922 that Det. Sgt. Donohue encountered Prob. Ptl. Thomas Mahoney waving a gun on 135th Street near Lenox Ave.

Donohue attempted to disarm Mahoney, but in a scuffle for the gun he was shot in the abdomen. At the same time Mahoney was also shot, and later died in a hospital.

Det. Sgt. Donohue was taken to Harlem Hospital, treated for his wound, and after several months in the hospital discharged. Donohue returned to duty in January of 1923, but soon became sick again. Placed on sick leave early in February, he was being treated at his home, where he died on February 16, 1923.

On June 20, 1923, Commissioner Enright presented to Mrs. Loretta Donohue, the widow of Det. Sgt. Donohue, a check for $1,200.00, from money contributed by the Police Glee Club.



THOSE PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS

For everyone who has ever had an evaluation - just remember, it could havebeen worse. These are actual quotes taken from Federal Government employeeperformance evaluations.

"If you see two people talking and one looks bored, he's the other one.""A photographic memory but with the lens cover glued on."
"Gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming.""He's got two brain cells, one is lost and the other is out looking for it."
"If you give him a penny for his thoughts, you'd get change.""If you stand close enough to him, you can hear the ocean."
�He should stay home and his suit should come to work.�



INTERESTING WEB SITES

ww.utexas.edu/search/email.htmlPEOPLE
SEARCH LINKS - Provides many links for finding people.


PI Mall - Phone Number Lookup
www.pimall.com/nais/s-yhpn.html
PI MALL - Phone number lookup. Type in a phone number and get the person�s name and address.


�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL

April 21, 1934 Det James Garvey, 20 Sqd, Shot-investigation
April 23, 1977 PO Robert Mandel, 77 Pct, Shot- arrest
April 24, 1969 Det John Roth, DD, Auto accident on patrol
April 24, 1980 PO Robert Sorrentino, 101 Pct, Shot- robbery
April 25, 1955 Sgt Donald Wiseman, 107 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
April 25, 1874 Ptl John Gibney, 1 Pct, Shot
April 27, 1892 Ptl Adam Kane, Broadway Sqd, Assaulted by EDP
April 27, 1988 Sgt John McCormick, BxNarco, Shot- arrest
April 27, 1994 PO Jose Perez, BSTF, Auto accident on patrol
April 29, 1945 Ptl Jacob Szwedowski, 24 Pct, Shot

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

THE NEW KOJAK

Has anyone caught the new television series, KOJAK, on the USA Network? It airs at 10pm on Sundays.

My best assessment at this point is, the jury is still out on it.

I often wonder why TV and movie people feel the need to �remake� a classic series; probably do better just running the originals! This new series, while I am trying to like it, has some problems associated with it.

It is by far impossible to try and outperform Telly Savalas as the Greek-American Squad Commander from the original version. In trying to do so, the have casted Ving Rhames, a Black-Greek-American in the title role, and the cast includes a detective squad that also consists of a �Detective Crocker�. Somehow, the new series can�t replicate Telly Savalas� character barking to the squad room �CROCKER!�.

Some technical issues I found, make me wonder who � if anyone � the series has on their Technical Advisory staff. For example �

For authenticity purposes, the original Kojak replicated the squad room much better. The �new� Kojak works out of a �plasticized� squad room, in what is identified as the �Homicide Division�. No such command title, why use it? I liked Kojak�s more generic �from Manhattan South� myself.

While Ving Rhames plays Lieutenant Kojak, and he flashes a shield that resembles a Lieutenant�s shield, noticeable to me was the missing blue enamel in the shield. If you�re going to be an NYPD Lieutenant, how hard is it to use a replica shield?

Along the same lines, why do the uniform officers wear a patch that is similar, but distinctly different? Across the top, the TV patch states �New York City Police�, while the real patch states �Police Department� across the top. Everywhere else they can wear the real patch, why couldn�t this series use it? Was it a matter of copyright that they wished to avoid paying rights to? I don�t know, but it just smacks a realist in the face.

In the season premier, Chaz Palmintier played a Detective Captain, who Kojak goes to for help. Not a bad concept, but why, then, in one of the original episode scenes is the Captain displaying a Detective�s shield? And, yes, the detective shield was also missing the appropriate blue enamel in the center starburst.

Why didn�t they just visit United Insignia and get these minor details right?

I was also disappointed in the premier episode�s conclusion, where the appearance is that Kojak provides information to a victim�s father knowing that he would use it to murder a rogue detective, and then get away with it. Sorry, but I can�t fall for the authenticity in this. That�s one of the main reasons I have never seen an episode of another series, popular as it may be with the general public, �The Shield�.

As I said, I haven�t safely been able to conclude whether I like this new series or not.

For now, I�ll just pass the time enjoying the newly released boxed DVD set of the first year�s episodes of the �Original� Kojak. Great gift for the buff in your life, for sure!



FOR THE INVESTIGATORS NOTEBOOK:

GARMENT MANUFACTURERS LABELING AS AN INVESTIGATORS TOOL

The labels found on most garments can be reviewed by an expert to determine valuable information for an investigator.

Garment manufacturers information can be retrieved from a labelin identifier, known as an �RN NUMBER�.

This label identification can help to identify the manufacturer, who is not necessarily the clothing label name. For example, Ralph Lauren clothing licenses the manufacture of their products; although the label says �Ralph Lauren�, there is no �Ralph Lauren� factory.

The label can help locate the manufacturer, location made, and the dates manufactured. This can be extremely valuable with skeletal remains found, with only strands of clothing remaining. Hopefully, the label remains.

For help in this area, contact the Lab�s Hair & Fiber Unit for more information.



NYPD ANCESTORS?

Did you know that the New York City Police Museum is now offering a Genealogy Research service?

If you have an ancestor who was a member of the NYPD between 1898 and 1970, the museum may have family and employment information available on hat person.

Further information about this research service, fees and a request form are available at the Police Museum�s web site, which can be accessed at:
www.nycpolicemuseum.org

This is also an excellent site on the museum�s exhibits, and you can sign up to be notified about upcoming special events.


A NOTE ON THE MEMORIAM POSTING OF PTL. GEORGE MEYERS

A recent listing in the �Lest We Forget� section noted the line of duty death of Ptl. George Meyers in 1932. Ret Det1 John Reilly was able to provide some more accurate information.

Ptl. George L. Meyers was assigned to Traffic I, and was killed by an auto while directing traffic at Flatbush Ave. Extension & Myrtle Ave.

Ptl. Meyers was struck by an auto at 10.15 am March 22, 1932, and he died at Cumberland Hospital the same day.


THE FIGHTING NINTH AND CAL�S BAR � AN UPDATE

Some recent e-mails from MOS of the Fighting Ninth provided some update information on the notorious neighbor to the stationhouse, Cal�s Bar.

It seems that Cal's Bar continued as a bar up to 1992, after which it closed up. Today, the space that was once Cal,s is now an art gallery. �If those walls could talk��



POLICE WOMEN, BEANTOWN, AND NYC POLICING HISTORY

The International Association of Women Police conference is scheduled for September 12th - 16th in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

The Boston 2004 conference will be hosted by the Boston Police Department, whichis celebrating 150 years of policing in the United States of America.

Established in 1854, the Boston Police Department is proud of its "First in theNation" status. This is the IAWP's first ever conference in the New England area.Yes, the Boston P.D. is absolutely the oldest police department in the UnitedStates.

Notes police historian and Retired MOS Mike Bosak, we here in New York City were apparently �hoodwinked� in 1995 when the NYPD claimed that year as its 150th Anniversary.

Despite what the department may say or claim, the NYPD was not established in 1845.

Today's department is the fifth codified department to police the city. While organized policing in the geographic area may date further back, the NYPD as we know it onlydates back to April 5, 1870.


INTERESTING WEB SITE: FORENSIC SCIENCE

The April 2005 issue of Forensic Science Communications has beenposted online, and certainly worth looking at.

The April 2005 issue of Forensic Science Communications has been posted on the FBI web site.

Forensic Science Communications is a quarterly journal published by FBI Laboratory personnel.

To link to the current issue, please click on:
www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/current/index.htm



CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER

The department�s recent promotion ceremony saw some notable increases in rank.

Among them was the promotion to Assistant Chief of Albert Girimonte. Chief Girimonte most recently served as the XO of PBBN, having served in that post when it was still SATCOM Brooklyn North. He was previously the XO of Detective Borough Brooklyn. The Chief has been appointed the Borough Commander of Staten Island. Best of luck, Chief!

The other DBB promotions were as follows.

Detective First Grade promotions went to Darrell Grant of the 71 Squad.

Detective Second Grade went to Robert Reedy of the 67 Squad.

Congratulations to all!



OFFICER ASSISTANCE REQUESTED

A 10-13 event has been planned to offset catastrophic medical bills for the 1 year old son of PO Tiffany Guy-Barnes of the 60 Precinct, Logan Barnes.

Logan Barnes suffers from a rare form of cancer to his throat, known as Juvenile Xanthro Granuloma.

A $30.00 donation will include a cash bar, DJ and live music by �The Dirty Stayouts�.

The event will take place on Thursday, April 21, 2005, starting at 7PM, at the Bay Ridge Manor.

Please try to come out and support Tiffany and her family in their time of need.

For further information you can contact John West at:
JJPW818@aol.com


19 Precinct Smoker:

The 2005 edition of the 19th Precinct Smoker is scheduled for June 16, 2005, beginning at 2000 hours.

It will take place at the Seventh Regiment Armory, 643 Park Avenue, NYC, NY.

Admission is $25.00.

The event consists of New York cops volunteering their time, boxing to raise money for worthy charities.

This year's Smoker has two beneficiaries.

The first beneficiary is a fund created to benefit families of fallen soldiers from the United States Army's fabled "Fighting 69th" Infantry Brigade. These soldiers continue their fighting tradition today, in Iraq, with numerous casualties noted recently in local media.

The second beneficiary will be the family of an NYPD Police Officer who is suffering from kidney disease. There are no prospective matches for transplant within his family. His medical expenses have far exceeded what his insurance will cover and his family is in dire financial straits.

An evening of boxing, celebrities, ring-card girls, food and beverages an appearance by The Pipes and Drums of the NYPD Emerald Society and perhaps even the odd cigar or two!
A webpage has been set up at

http://hometown.aol.com/the19thsmoker/

and will be periodically updated as information becomes available.

For further information, telephone P.O. Dowd or P.O. Swenson at the 19 Precinct, or you can email Detective Griffin at:

http://us.f524.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=The19thSmoker@aol.com.



�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL

April 3, 1953 Ptl John Pendegrass, 32 Pct, Shot-robbery
April 3, 1972 Ptl Phillip Cardillo, 28 Pct, Shot-investigation *
April 4, 1947 Ptl Jack Chason, 79 Pct, Shot-robbery
April 5, 1926 Ptl Charles Reilly, 13 Pct, Shot-Robbery arrest
April 5, 1952 Insp Thomas Boylan, Airplane struck auto
April 6, 1937 Ptl Daniel Sullivan, Mcy Unit, motorcycle accident
April 6, 1953 Ptl Sam Katz, 32 Pct, Shot-investigation
April 6, 1955 Ptl John Conlon, 28 Pct, Injuries sustained on patrol
April 10, 1937 Det Michael Foley, 9 Sq, Shot-robbery arrest
April 10, 1950 Ptl Louis Balzano, line of duty incident
April 10, 1960 Ptl Vito Valenzano, 20 Pct, LOD heart attack


My Note: The killing of Ptl. Phillip Cardillo of the 28 Precinct on April 3, 1972, has been written about in a fabulous book by Sonny Grosso, �Murder at the Harlem Mosque�. This incident should be thoroughly familiar to EVERY member of this department. Several inquiries to me regarding this text has been made; I urge you, if you are looking for a copy, to try and find it on one of the used book web sites. I can recommend using a site such as: http://www.abebooks.com/ to search for it.

I understand also that a new book is soon to be published by Randy Jurgensen detailing this incident as well. I look forward to this book very much! Sonny Grosso and Randy Jurgensen were Detectives in the 28 Squad at the time. I can guarantee you that if you pick this book up you will NOT be able to put it down until you are finished.

(BTW: If you are reading this, and you borrowed one of my copies of this book, perhaps you can consider returning it to me?)

We should all, every day, take a moment in our way to remember our fallen brothers and sisters who have given their lives to protect others � of all races � in this city. Police officers everywhere deserve that remembrance; their families that they leave behind are our families � please remember them in your prayers.

We have all heard the saying �When you�re here you�re the best�� � these officers are ALWAYS here. Please remember them.


SURVIVORS OF THE SHIELD
PO Box 100177
Staten Island, NY 10310

www.nypdsos.com

email: staff@nypdsos.com