SON OF SAM: THE LETTER TO BORELLI
A previously noted web site, "Crime Library", found at www.crimelibrary.com, has some interesting true crime stories. Among those is the story of the Son of Sam: David Berkowitz.
The origin of the "Son of Sam" name is noted as follows.
Captain Joseph Borrelli of the New York City Police Department was one of the key members of the Omega Group. Operation Omega was the task force headed by Deputy Inspector Timothy Dowd to find the psycho who was killing women in various parts of the city with a .44 caliber handgun.
The ".44 Caliber Killer" was getting a great deal of press and Borrelli's name had appeared frequently. Now on April 17, 1977, he was looking at a letter addressed to him that had been left at the scene of the latest in this series of murders: With misspellings, it read:
Dear Captain Joseph Borrelli,I am deeply hurt by your calling me a wemon hater. I am not. But I am a monster. I am the 'Son of Sam.' I am a little brat.When father Sam gets drunk he gets mean. He beats his family. Sometimes he ties me up to the back of the house. Other times he locks me in the garage. Sam loves to drink blood.'Go out and kill,' commands father Sam.'Behind our house some rest. Mostly young -- raped and slaughtered -- their blood drained -- just bones now.Papa Sam keeps me locked in the attic too. I can't get out but I look out the attic window and watch the world go by.I feel like an outsider. I am on a different wavelength then everybody else -- programmed too kill.However, to stop me you must kill me. Attention all police: Shoot me first -- shoot to kill or else keep out of my way or you will die!Papa Sam is old now. He needs some blood to preserve his youth. He has had too many heart attacks. 'Ugh, me hoot, it hurts, sonny boy.'I miss my pretty princess most of all. She's resting in our ladies house. But I'll see her soon.I am the 'Monster' -- 'Beelzebub' -- the chubby behemouth.I love to hunt. Prowling the streets looking for fair game -- tasty meat. The wemon of Queens are prettyist of all. It must be the water they drink. I live for the hunt -- my life. Blood for papa.Mr. Borrelli, sir, I don't want to kill anymore. No sur, no more but I must, 'honour thy father.'I want to make love to the world. I love people. I don't belong on earth. Return me to yahoos.To the people of Queens, I love you. And I want to wish all of you a happy Easter. MayGod bless you in this life and in the next.
The two page letter ended "Yours in murder, Mister Monster".
The letter did not have any useful fingerprints and the envelope had been handled by so many people that if there were any of the murderer's prints, they were lost. This letter was leaked to the press in early June and the world finally heard the name, "Son of Sam."
SOME MORE ON MONEY LAUNDERING
What is money laundering?
The goal of a large number of criminal acts is to generate a profit for the individual or group that carries out the act. Money laundering is the processing of these criminal proceeds to disguise their illegal origin.
This process is of critical importance, as it enables the criminal to enjoy these profits without jeopardising their source. Illegal arms sales, smuggling, and the activities of organised crime, including for example drug trafficking and prostitution rings, can generate huge sums. Embezzlement, insider trading, bribery and computer fraud schemes can also produce large profits and create the incentive to �legitimise� the ill-gotten gains through money laundering.
When a criminal activity generates substantial profits, the individual or group involved must find a way to control the funds without attracting attention to the underlying activity or the persons involved. Criminals do this by disguising the sources, changing the form, or moving the funds to a place where they are less likely to attract attention.
In response to mounting concern over money laundering, the Financial Action Task Force on money laundering (FATF) was established by the G-7 Summit in Paris in 1989 to develop a co-ordinated international response. One of the first tasks of the FATF was to develop Recommendations, 40 in all, which set out the measures national governments should take to implement effective anti-money laundering programmes.
Members of the FATF include 29 countries and jurisdictions � including the major financial centre countries of Europe, North and South America, and Asia � as well as the European Commission and the Gulf Co-operation Council.
The FATF works closely with other international bodies involved in combating money laundering. While its secretariat is housed by the OECD, the FATF is not part of the Organisation. However, where the efforts of the OECD and FATF complement each other, such as on bribery and corruption or the functioning of the international financial system, the two secretariats consult with each other and exchange information.
PASSING THE TORCH
This past week I had the honor to stand before an assembled group of detectives and associates, and take part in honoring the retirement of some very special people.
The Retirement Donner honoring Detecrtives Pete Sloan, Frankie Delouisa, Al Nesbot, Danny Carmosin, and Terry Murnane, all of Brooklyn North Homicide, was a time of happiness, and sadness all at once.
I had the honor to stand before this assembled group as the newly appointed Commanding Officer of Brooklyn North Homicide, as Joe Heffernan retired this past week as well. Joe, a true friend as well as a trusted colleague, leaves some very large shoes behind that I can only hope to fit into, let alone fill.
As I noted at the dinner, the experience this department has lost with these retirees cannot be easily filled. The reassurance felt by seeing one of them walk through the door to help out on "a fresh one" cannot adequately be expressed.
I can recall turning to Terry Murnane one cold winter morning, with a body sticking out of a suitcase found on the street, wondering where we'd go from here, but knowing with Terry there things would fall into place. Or seeing Pete Sloan walk in the door, crack a huge smile, and say "Don't worry Boss, we'll take care of it", and knowing full well that he would.
Not every case gets solved; there aren't always happy endings. But working with any of these detectives meant the chances were pretty good they would.
Thanks so much for all you have given; we can never say enough to truly express what you are each owed. Some received rings, some solid-gold shields, or gold cuff links. Mere trinkets to reward over 100 years of combined experience.
"Don't worry, we'll take care of it".
And you did! Thank you so much, and enjoy the retirement you so rightly deserve. God bless you all.
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Investigative Links
http://www.kompukirk.com/kk01053.html
Criminal Justice Research
http://www.kompukirk.com/kk01026.html
REMEMBER... TO CONTACT THE MINISTER
You can e-mail me at:
Ltjac77@yahoo.com
I encourage stories, suggestions, and comments on this site and look forward to hearing from you.
Sunday, May 12, 2002
Wednesday, May 08, 2002
FULL PAY ON SICK REPORT!
An October 1961 issue of SPRING 3100 reports on the recent change in the department�s policy regarding MOS on sick report.
According to the story, the first seven months of 1961 compared to that of 1960 showed a significant reduction in time lost due to sick report. Commissioner Michael Murphy then announced that, effective September 1, 1961, the procedure for deducting half-pay for the first three days of sick report would be discontinued, on an experimental basis.
Also effective that same September 5 was a 40 hour work week, replacing the 42 hour schedule.
To prevent diminishing essential police services, the PC was also authorized by the Board of estimate to order members to perform overtime work in excess of forty hours per week, at straight time compensation.
Just a little look at some of the things we take for granted.
POLICING THE COLONY
A very good, short but concise book titled �NYPD:AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY� has been added to the ever-growing crime library of The minister. This book, while appearing to be a �childrens� book, is nothing of the sort. It is most certainly available at the NYC Police Museum, well worth the purchase by any member or former member of this department.
Did you know that the first �crime wave� was experienced in New Amsterdam in 1638?
The population, around 400 people, consisted of a small majority of Dutch, but included English, french, German and Irish as well. Most of them were male, and were working as household servants, soldiers, or trade apprentices.
Runaway servants from nearby English colonies �swelled the restless�, and were known to become restless, unruly and rebellious (an early form of mayhem). In 1638 a soldier named Gerrit Jansen was stabbed to death in front of Fort Amsterdam, becoming New York�s first murder victim. In response, the colony�s directors passed the earliest city ordinances against intoxication and harboring sailors, who were �prone to carousing on shore leave�. Crime nevertheless increased, and New amsterdam earned a reputation as one of the most boisterous towns in North America.
This was the period of the �rattle-watch�, named for the wooden instrument carried to alert colonists in the event of fire or other danger in the night. In 1658, this rattle-watch consisted of eight men.
It should be noted that Jan Lampo was the first full-time law officer appointed in New York, then lnown as New Amsterdam, in 1626.
1PP PROPOSAL
Also noted in the October 1961 edition of SPRING3100 is the proposed new Police Headquarters on a two acre site at Madison and Pearl Streets in lower Manhattan, now known as 1 Police Plaza.
The plans for the new building are outlined, noting that the 15 story structure would cost an estimated $20,000,000.
At the time 240 Centre Street operated as the headquarters for the department. However, as this building had been outgrown by the department, it housed the Police Commissioner and some of his staff but many of the units of the department were far removed from Headquarters. The establishment of the building at 1PP was intended to centralize what were then scattered police commands. �The present headquarters at 240 Centre street has outlived its usefulness as the center of police administration�, it was noted.
The building at 240 Centre Street has since been completely refurbished into condominiums, with the ornate woodwork totally restored, and now demands a price range for residents that far exceeds being affordable to any member of this department.
EAST AND WEST BECOME NORTH AND SOUTH
The department officially changed the borough commands from Brooklyn East and Brooklyn West to Brooklyn North and Brooklyn south in February 1961. Brooklyn East became Brooklyn North, and the West became the South.
This same General Order also noted that �a homicide squad and a burglary squad are attached to each detective borough command�. These squads assigned to Brooklyn North worked out of the building at 148 Vernon Avenue. The Borough Command for Brooklyn North was located at 179 Wilson Avenue - the same location presently, but in a much different looking building!
What is especially interesting to note is the distinction given to Brooklyn North even back then.
Many of the routine procedures noted in the Rules & Procedures (there was no Patrol Guide then) differentiate Brooklyn North. �Except that in Patrol Borough Brooklyn North...� is a common phrase of many of these procedures. In Brooklyn North, the borough commander was being given approval rights for many requests, reports, etc. prior to going up the chain of command that in other places was resting with the Division commander.
Even then Brooklyn North was worthy of a distinction.
COP KILLING ASSASIN UP FOR PAROLE
It was May 21, 1971, when NYPD police officers Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini were ambushed by Black Liberation Army (BLA) terrorists Anthony Bottom and Herman Bell as the officers answered a routine call to the Colonial Park Houses in Harlem.
According to reports at the time, police officer Waverly was "dead before he hit the sidewalk" from a fuselage of bullets to the back of his head. Officer Piagentini, also shot from behind, died on the way to the hospital with 22 bullet wounds in him. Officer Jones was 32 years of age. Officer Piagentini, only 27.
After assassinating these two police officers, Anthony Bottom fled to California where, along with other members of the BLA, tried to kill a San Francisco police sergeant. After a wild police chase, Anthony was arrested on August 27, 1971 and charged with attempted murder. However, he eventually was sent back to New York to stand trial for the murders of officers Jones and Piagentini.
On May 12, 1975, both Anthony Bottom and Herman Bell were sentenced to 25 years to life for the ambush killing of these two young police officers, the maximum allowed by New York State law at the time.
Officer Piagentini's widow, Diane, has received a letter from the New York State Division of Parole informing her and her daughter, Deborah, that her husband's killer, Anthony Bottom, is scheduled to appear before the Parole Board this coming July and is eligible for parole September 27, 2002.
Please write to Governor Pataki and the NYS Parole Board demanding that these cop-killers stay in prison for life. Also contact your state representatives asking them to write the parole board too.
The parole Board's address is:
STATE OF NEW YORK
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
DIVISION OF PAROLE
97 CENTRAL AVENUE
ALBANY, NY 12206
Governor Pataki's address is:
Gov. George Pataki
The State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
This is an important issue to all police officers, past and present. PLEASE take the time to draft a note to these people!
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Legal Experts: Has good articles on law and criminal justice:
http://www.hgexperts.com/
LEGAL UPDATES
I have on numerous occasions recommended the site of the John E. Reid and Associates to readers. Their Monthly Investigator Tips is a valuable reading item, and should be checked each month.
In addition, they provide a monthly �Legal Update�. While not always applicable to New York, and not intended to replace the absolute value of the Legal Bureau, it is nonetheless worth reviewing by an investigator to stay current with topics related to legal issues we deal with each day.
You can access this site at the: www.reid.com home page, or can do so at:
http://www.reid.com/legalupdates.html
This month�s Legal Updates contain two items of particular interest. Please check them out.
Attorney Issues
People v. Hurd, 719 N.Y.S. 2d 752 (N.Y. App. 2001)
While being questioned about alleged sex offenses, the suspect initially said that he did not know if he needed an attorney, and then later, during questioning, placed a one-minute cellular call to his attorney's office, but did not indicate that he wanted an attorney in subsequent calls to his wife and father. Since the suspect did not unequivocally invoke his right to counsel, his statements were held to be admissible.
People v. Chapman, 2000 Ill, LEXIS 1719 (Ill. 2000)
A homicide suspect was arrested and given his Miranda rights, which he waived. During the course of questioning the investigating officer received a telephone call from a male claiming to be the suspect's attorney. The officer refused to talk to the man without any verification of who he was. By the time the attorney arrived in person at the police station, the suspect had confessed. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that the suspect had already waived his right to counsel and that the police are not required to forward telephone messages from an attorney to their client. Accurate documentation of the time that the suspect waived his Miranda rights, the time of the phone call, the time of the confession and the time the attorney presented himself at the police station were important considerations in upholding this confession.
REMEMBER: These are provided for INFORMATION and BACKGROUND ONLY! It is NOT intended to provide legal counsel, nor are items noted to be construed as applicable in New York State. (You get the point, right?)!!
HOPE ALL ARE ENJOYING THE SPRING SEASON! Fishing poles and golf clubs should be getting prepared, and beach sand is sure to be felt in the near future.
An October 1961 issue of SPRING 3100 reports on the recent change in the department�s policy regarding MOS on sick report.
According to the story, the first seven months of 1961 compared to that of 1960 showed a significant reduction in time lost due to sick report. Commissioner Michael Murphy then announced that, effective September 1, 1961, the procedure for deducting half-pay for the first three days of sick report would be discontinued, on an experimental basis.
Also effective that same September 5 was a 40 hour work week, replacing the 42 hour schedule.
To prevent diminishing essential police services, the PC was also authorized by the Board of estimate to order members to perform overtime work in excess of forty hours per week, at straight time compensation.
Just a little look at some of the things we take for granted.
POLICING THE COLONY
A very good, short but concise book titled �NYPD:AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY� has been added to the ever-growing crime library of The minister. This book, while appearing to be a �childrens� book, is nothing of the sort. It is most certainly available at the NYC Police Museum, well worth the purchase by any member or former member of this department.
Did you know that the first �crime wave� was experienced in New Amsterdam in 1638?
The population, around 400 people, consisted of a small majority of Dutch, but included English, french, German and Irish as well. Most of them were male, and were working as household servants, soldiers, or trade apprentices.
Runaway servants from nearby English colonies �swelled the restless�, and were known to become restless, unruly and rebellious (an early form of mayhem). In 1638 a soldier named Gerrit Jansen was stabbed to death in front of Fort Amsterdam, becoming New York�s first murder victim. In response, the colony�s directors passed the earliest city ordinances against intoxication and harboring sailors, who were �prone to carousing on shore leave�. Crime nevertheless increased, and New amsterdam earned a reputation as one of the most boisterous towns in North America.
This was the period of the �rattle-watch�, named for the wooden instrument carried to alert colonists in the event of fire or other danger in the night. In 1658, this rattle-watch consisted of eight men.
It should be noted that Jan Lampo was the first full-time law officer appointed in New York, then lnown as New Amsterdam, in 1626.
1PP PROPOSAL
Also noted in the October 1961 edition of SPRING3100 is the proposed new Police Headquarters on a two acre site at Madison and Pearl Streets in lower Manhattan, now known as 1 Police Plaza.
The plans for the new building are outlined, noting that the 15 story structure would cost an estimated $20,000,000.
At the time 240 Centre Street operated as the headquarters for the department. However, as this building had been outgrown by the department, it housed the Police Commissioner and some of his staff but many of the units of the department were far removed from Headquarters. The establishment of the building at 1PP was intended to centralize what were then scattered police commands. �The present headquarters at 240 Centre street has outlived its usefulness as the center of police administration�, it was noted.
The building at 240 Centre Street has since been completely refurbished into condominiums, with the ornate woodwork totally restored, and now demands a price range for residents that far exceeds being affordable to any member of this department.
EAST AND WEST BECOME NORTH AND SOUTH
The department officially changed the borough commands from Brooklyn East and Brooklyn West to Brooklyn North and Brooklyn south in February 1961. Brooklyn East became Brooklyn North, and the West became the South.
This same General Order also noted that �a homicide squad and a burglary squad are attached to each detective borough command�. These squads assigned to Brooklyn North worked out of the building at 148 Vernon Avenue. The Borough Command for Brooklyn North was located at 179 Wilson Avenue - the same location presently, but in a much different looking building!
What is especially interesting to note is the distinction given to Brooklyn North even back then.
Many of the routine procedures noted in the Rules & Procedures (there was no Patrol Guide then) differentiate Brooklyn North. �Except that in Patrol Borough Brooklyn North...� is a common phrase of many of these procedures. In Brooklyn North, the borough commander was being given approval rights for many requests, reports, etc. prior to going up the chain of command that in other places was resting with the Division commander.
Even then Brooklyn North was worthy of a distinction.
COP KILLING ASSASIN UP FOR PAROLE
It was May 21, 1971, when NYPD police officers Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini were ambushed by Black Liberation Army (BLA) terrorists Anthony Bottom and Herman Bell as the officers answered a routine call to the Colonial Park Houses in Harlem.
According to reports at the time, police officer Waverly was "dead before he hit the sidewalk" from a fuselage of bullets to the back of his head. Officer Piagentini, also shot from behind, died on the way to the hospital with 22 bullet wounds in him. Officer Jones was 32 years of age. Officer Piagentini, only 27.
After assassinating these two police officers, Anthony Bottom fled to California where, along with other members of the BLA, tried to kill a San Francisco police sergeant. After a wild police chase, Anthony was arrested on August 27, 1971 and charged with attempted murder. However, he eventually was sent back to New York to stand trial for the murders of officers Jones and Piagentini.
On May 12, 1975, both Anthony Bottom and Herman Bell were sentenced to 25 years to life for the ambush killing of these two young police officers, the maximum allowed by New York State law at the time.
Officer Piagentini's widow, Diane, has received a letter from the New York State Division of Parole informing her and her daughter, Deborah, that her husband's killer, Anthony Bottom, is scheduled to appear before the Parole Board this coming July and is eligible for parole September 27, 2002.
Please write to Governor Pataki and the NYS Parole Board demanding that these cop-killers stay in prison for life. Also contact your state representatives asking them to write the parole board too.
The parole Board's address is:
STATE OF NEW YORK
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
DIVISION OF PAROLE
97 CENTRAL AVENUE
ALBANY, NY 12206
Governor Pataki's address is:
Gov. George Pataki
The State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
This is an important issue to all police officers, past and present. PLEASE take the time to draft a note to these people!
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Legal Experts: Has good articles on law and criminal justice:
http://www.hgexperts.com/
LEGAL UPDATES
I have on numerous occasions recommended the site of the John E. Reid and Associates to readers. Their Monthly Investigator Tips is a valuable reading item, and should be checked each month.
In addition, they provide a monthly �Legal Update�. While not always applicable to New York, and not intended to replace the absolute value of the Legal Bureau, it is nonetheless worth reviewing by an investigator to stay current with topics related to legal issues we deal with each day.
You can access this site at the: www.reid.com home page, or can do so at:
http://www.reid.com/legalupdates.html
This month�s Legal Updates contain two items of particular interest. Please check them out.
Attorney Issues
People v. Hurd, 719 N.Y.S. 2d 752 (N.Y. App. 2001)
While being questioned about alleged sex offenses, the suspect initially said that he did not know if he needed an attorney, and then later, during questioning, placed a one-minute cellular call to his attorney's office, but did not indicate that he wanted an attorney in subsequent calls to his wife and father. Since the suspect did not unequivocally invoke his right to counsel, his statements were held to be admissible.
People v. Chapman, 2000 Ill, LEXIS 1719 (Ill. 2000)
A homicide suspect was arrested and given his Miranda rights, which he waived. During the course of questioning the investigating officer received a telephone call from a male claiming to be the suspect's attorney. The officer refused to talk to the man without any verification of who he was. By the time the attorney arrived in person at the police station, the suspect had confessed. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that the suspect had already waived his right to counsel and that the police are not required to forward telephone messages from an attorney to their client. Accurate documentation of the time that the suspect waived his Miranda rights, the time of the phone call, the time of the confession and the time the attorney presented himself at the police station were important considerations in upholding this confession.
REMEMBER: These are provided for INFORMATION and BACKGROUND ONLY! It is NOT intended to provide legal counsel, nor are items noted to be construed as applicable in New York State. (You get the point, right?)!!
HOPE ALL ARE ENJOYING THE SPRING SEASON! Fishing poles and golf clubs should be getting prepared, and beach sand is sure to be felt in the near future.
Tuesday, April 30, 2002
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
After a 35 year career, Joe Heffernan - Commanding Officer of Brooklyn North Homicide - is retiring!
An article in the Tuesday, April 30 edition of the NY Daily News, written by Michelle McPhee, tells it best.
�A tough veteran of one of the city's busiest homicide squads has decided to call it quits. Lt. Joseph Heffernan - the commanding officer of Brooklyn North Homicide who has investigated murder and mayhem for more than 35 years - will turn in his badge and gun to ease into retirement after finishing his last tour today. "Thirty-five years, that's a lot of murder," Heffernan mused yesterday, as the 56-year-old leafed through stacks of yellowing papers documenting some of the high-profile homicide cases he has worked on over the decades. "It's very, very hard. But everybody goes sometime. It's probably the most difficult thing to do to walk away from something that you do very well and you enjoy," Heffernan said. "But I figure, why wait until you are unhappy or hurt or old, and guys are saying, 'I remember the days when that guy was the best guy out there.'"
Known for his �nuggets of street-cop wisdom�, they include "Who speaks for the dead? We do." "Why are we detectives? As they say in the movies, 'This is the life we chose.'" "After being out here for so many years, you start to think you've seen it all. But in Brooklyn North, you've never seen it all."
Heffernan entered the Police Academy in 1966, when hippies began roaming Washington Square Park demonstrating for peace, love and happiness. Upon graduation, Heffernan hit the streets, working in a tactical patrol unit that rotated through the city's toughest precincts in the South Bronx, Harlem and Brooklyn. He earned his detective shield in 1973 and was promoted to sergeant in 1983. Eighteen years ago, he was transferred to the 90th Precinct detective squad. He's been in the Williamsburg building since, becoming the commanding officer of the homicide unit in 1995.
End of an Era But now, Heffernan will retire to Smithtown, L.I., and lead a quiet life caring for his elderly mother. Lt. John Cornicello, 75th Precinct commanding officer, replaces Heffernan. "Joe Heffernan is one of the last true dinosaurs left on the job. His experience was invaluable as he worked through the Knapp Commission, the layoffs, the crack epidemic, and the high-crime rate of the early 1990s," said Lt. Tommy Joyce, commanding officer of the 79th Precinct detective squad. "I will miss him as a mentor and as a friend."
Joe will be missed as a source of valuable information, but will hopefully continue to attend the monthly Squad Commanders Conference. Surely some grog will be flowing passed "The Loo's" lips this evening!
Joe: Thank you for everything! You leave behind some mighty big shoes to fill.
JARGON FROM THE PAST
A recent e-mail I received I found to be interesting, and thought you would too. Many of these items pre-date the Minister - and many of my readers, but are a good look into the past that is worth mentioning. See how many of these you remember from personal experience, and how many from stories passed down from the vets:
-Sunday day tour, washed and waxed the RMP in the days crews were permanently assigned.
-Washing your sector car at the local bus garage.
-The Rules and Procedures-before there was a Patrol Guide maintaining your assigned sector car-NEVER putting it out of service if you could help it.
-Getting your 15 alarms before turning out. (And for some, recording your "Post Condition Cards" on the back pages of your memo book).
-The desk officer marrying and divorcing couples to settle domestic disputes.
-Having to plug in patch cords on TS duty.
(How about the TS duty being assigned to a Sergeant, to make assignments to foot cops by calling them on the call boxes?)
-Outside station house security post and the desk lt. would have your ass if you let someone bother him.
-The most important form in the NYPD, a UF-33, (and if you don't know what that is, you're no hairbag.)
-Broome Street, the day after being sworn in, getting your equipment and gun.
-Bringing 50 cents to your swearing in-to pay for the shield pin.
-When you didn't need shoulder patches for people to know you were NYPD.
-5 and a 56, 5 and a 56, 4 and 80 duty chart.
Car seats made of gray alligator vinyl that never wore out but had a two craters.
-When you didn't see the inside of a sector car for at least two years. Maybe.
Getting your scratch the last hour of your tour because you didn't salute the sarge properly the day before
Your first time in a car and the hairbag saying "Sit down; don't DO anything; don't SAY anything; and don't TOUCH the damn radio without me telling you to. Clear?"
-Learning to spin your night stick without breaking either your kneecap or a store window.
-Nippers
-When real batons were made of wood-preferably cocobolo.
-Day sticks
-Slappers
Getting a few "sees' from the sarge before you got your "scratch."
-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.)
-Foot posts with NO portable radio. (There were no portable radios)
-The KG file.
-"Routes to Post" and "Post and Sector Relieving Points," and finding the shoofly waiting there for you.
-When you needed 5 years on the job before you could TAKE the sergeant's exam.
-When desk lieutenants were Godlike and precinct captains were only whispered about.
-"Hey kid, to you it's a homicide, to me it's an aided case."
The author of this - and many more like them - asks if you have any recollections not mentioned, you can add them by sending them to Richard C. Wolowski at:
richwolo@ix.netcom.com
WORKING NARCOTICS: 1960'S STYLE
I am once again referring to Det.1(Ret.) John Reilly, who keeps this column up and running sometimes with his stories from the past.
He recounted life working Narcotics as it was in the 1960's when he first was assigned there.
The Narcotics Bureau was home to about 130 field investigators to cover the whole city. Most men were detectives, but you worked as a white shield for two or three years. When we would complain about the time it took to get the gold shield compared to men working in detective squads, the answer usually was yes but you have an expense account ($40 per month).
He started in Group No. 1, that had a total of 1 Lt; 1 Sgt and 16 men (within a few months down to 12) to cover all of Lower Manhattan from 42nd Street south to the Battery and Staten Island (no bridge then, take the ferry).
After making an arrest each individual detective had to take the narcotics evidence to the Police Lab, which was located on the top floor of the 84th Pct, Poplar St, Brooklyn (many know it as the former IAB site). For a short time there was an annex to the Lab located in 400 Broome St. This was closed down after the new lab opened in the Police Academy building, 20th St. As the police chemist had to testify before the Grand Jury in each felony narcotics case, the G/J only heard narcotics cases one morning a week. In Manhattan it was Tues morning from 10am to 1 pm. You had to hustle to get your cases in, or it was come back next week. In the Bronx narcotics cases were only heard on Monday morning, Queens was Weds day morning. Brooklyn was another day, but uncertain which one. In the 1960s after a Bronx Borough Detective Commander was appointed Chief of Detectives, he transferred a number of detectives from the Bronx to Midtown Squads in Manhattan. All of these men (about 8-10 men) had done good work in the Bronx and he told them " that they had worked in rag shops long enough�.
Thanks again to John for these great stories. John, a true police historian, values the past as much as many of us do. I�d like to get John together with Paddie Boyle - now that would be some conversation!!!
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Here is the homepage for the President's Office of Homeland Security. Provides current information and news from the Director, Gov. Tom Ridge.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/
HOMELAND SECURITY NEWSLETTER
A newsletter devoted to news and issues concerning Homeland Security.
http://www.homelandsecurity.org/bulletin/current_bulletin.cfm
PASSING THE TORCH: TALENT THAT CANNOT BE REPLACED
Each and every day brings another notice via department mail of a retirement dinner, luncheon, etc. The end seems to be nowhere in site, as talented investigators and supervisors move on to another stage of life.
A site could be devoted to this subject in total. Each review of the "Orders" listing retirements brings a new onslaught of stories and memories.
The 77 Squad recently got together to honor some of the retirements in that office. These retirees (and one soon to be, maybe, retiree) combined for over 100 years of experience, and thousands of hours of laughs and good memories.
People like John Barba, Brian Gundlach, Bobby Moore, Fred Neglia, Al Dieumegard, Andy Banahan (soon to be leaving) cannot walk out of the door and be replaced anytime soon. We wish them, and ALL retirees, the very best. You worked hard for many years, you know from experience what it is like to "do more with less", and you have led the way.
Let the torch, as it is being passed, reflect for just a moment longer on those in front. Thank you is not enough, but Thank You from our hearts is all we have.
Thank you!
After a 35 year career, Joe Heffernan - Commanding Officer of Brooklyn North Homicide - is retiring!
An article in the Tuesday, April 30 edition of the NY Daily News, written by Michelle McPhee, tells it best.
�A tough veteran of one of the city's busiest homicide squads has decided to call it quits. Lt. Joseph Heffernan - the commanding officer of Brooklyn North Homicide who has investigated murder and mayhem for more than 35 years - will turn in his badge and gun to ease into retirement after finishing his last tour today. "Thirty-five years, that's a lot of murder," Heffernan mused yesterday, as the 56-year-old leafed through stacks of yellowing papers documenting some of the high-profile homicide cases he has worked on over the decades. "It's very, very hard. But everybody goes sometime. It's probably the most difficult thing to do to walk away from something that you do very well and you enjoy," Heffernan said. "But I figure, why wait until you are unhappy or hurt or old, and guys are saying, 'I remember the days when that guy was the best guy out there.'"
Known for his �nuggets of street-cop wisdom�, they include "Who speaks for the dead? We do." "Why are we detectives? As they say in the movies, 'This is the life we chose.'" "After being out here for so many years, you start to think you've seen it all. But in Brooklyn North, you've never seen it all."
Heffernan entered the Police Academy in 1966, when hippies began roaming Washington Square Park demonstrating for peace, love and happiness. Upon graduation, Heffernan hit the streets, working in a tactical patrol unit that rotated through the city's toughest precincts in the South Bronx, Harlem and Brooklyn. He earned his detective shield in 1973 and was promoted to sergeant in 1983. Eighteen years ago, he was transferred to the 90th Precinct detective squad. He's been in the Williamsburg building since, becoming the commanding officer of the homicide unit in 1995.
End of an Era But now, Heffernan will retire to Smithtown, L.I., and lead a quiet life caring for his elderly mother. Lt. John Cornicello, 75th Precinct commanding officer, replaces Heffernan. "Joe Heffernan is one of the last true dinosaurs left on the job. His experience was invaluable as he worked through the Knapp Commission, the layoffs, the crack epidemic, and the high-crime rate of the early 1990s," said Lt. Tommy Joyce, commanding officer of the 79th Precinct detective squad. "I will miss him as a mentor and as a friend."
Joe will be missed as a source of valuable information, but will hopefully continue to attend the monthly Squad Commanders Conference. Surely some grog will be flowing passed "The Loo's" lips this evening!
Joe: Thank you for everything! You leave behind some mighty big shoes to fill.
JARGON FROM THE PAST
A recent e-mail I received I found to be interesting, and thought you would too. Many of these items pre-date the Minister - and many of my readers, but are a good look into the past that is worth mentioning. See how many of these you remember from personal experience, and how many from stories passed down from the vets:
-Sunday day tour, washed and waxed the RMP in the days crews were permanently assigned.
-Washing your sector car at the local bus garage.
-The Rules and Procedures-before there was a Patrol Guide maintaining your assigned sector car-NEVER putting it out of service if you could help it.
-Getting your 15 alarms before turning out. (And for some, recording your "Post Condition Cards" on the back pages of your memo book).
-The desk officer marrying and divorcing couples to settle domestic disputes.
-Having to plug in patch cords on TS duty.
(How about the TS duty being assigned to a Sergeant, to make assignments to foot cops by calling them on the call boxes?)
-Outside station house security post and the desk lt. would have your ass if you let someone bother him.
-The most important form in the NYPD, a UF-33, (and if you don't know what that is, you're no hairbag.)
-Broome Street, the day after being sworn in, getting your equipment and gun.
-Bringing 50 cents to your swearing in-to pay for the shield pin.
-When you didn't need shoulder patches for people to know you were NYPD.
-5 and a 56, 5 and a 56, 4 and 80 duty chart.
Car seats made of gray alligator vinyl that never wore out but had a two craters.
-When you didn't see the inside of a sector car for at least two years. Maybe.
Getting your scratch the last hour of your tour because you didn't salute the sarge properly the day before
Your first time in a car and the hairbag saying "Sit down; don't DO anything; don't SAY anything; and don't TOUCH the damn radio without me telling you to. Clear?"
-Learning to spin your night stick without breaking either your kneecap or a store window.
-Nippers
-When real batons were made of wood-preferably cocobolo.
-Day sticks
-Slappers
Getting a few "sees' from the sarge before you got your "scratch."
-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.)
-Foot posts with NO portable radio. (There were no portable radios)
-The KG file.
-"Routes to Post" and "Post and Sector Relieving Points," and finding the shoofly waiting there for you.
-When you needed 5 years on the job before you could TAKE the sergeant's exam.
-When desk lieutenants were Godlike and precinct captains were only whispered about.
-"Hey kid, to you it's a homicide, to me it's an aided case."
The author of this - and many more like them - asks if you have any recollections not mentioned, you can add them by sending them to Richard C. Wolowski at:
richwolo@ix.netcom.com
WORKING NARCOTICS: 1960'S STYLE
I am once again referring to Det.1(Ret.) John Reilly, who keeps this column up and running sometimes with his stories from the past.
He recounted life working Narcotics as it was in the 1960's when he first was assigned there.
The Narcotics Bureau was home to about 130 field investigators to cover the whole city. Most men were detectives, but you worked as a white shield for two or three years. When we would complain about the time it took to get the gold shield compared to men working in detective squads, the answer usually was yes but you have an expense account ($40 per month).
He started in Group No. 1, that had a total of 1 Lt; 1 Sgt and 16 men (within a few months down to 12) to cover all of Lower Manhattan from 42nd Street south to the Battery and Staten Island (no bridge then, take the ferry).
After making an arrest each individual detective had to take the narcotics evidence to the Police Lab, which was located on the top floor of the 84th Pct, Poplar St, Brooklyn (many know it as the former IAB site). For a short time there was an annex to the Lab located in 400 Broome St. This was closed down after the new lab opened in the Police Academy building, 20th St. As the police chemist had to testify before the Grand Jury in each felony narcotics case, the G/J only heard narcotics cases one morning a week. In Manhattan it was Tues morning from 10am to 1 pm. You had to hustle to get your cases in, or it was come back next week. In the Bronx narcotics cases were only heard on Monday morning, Queens was Weds day morning. Brooklyn was another day, but uncertain which one. In the 1960s after a Bronx Borough Detective Commander was appointed Chief of Detectives, he transferred a number of detectives from the Bronx to Midtown Squads in Manhattan. All of these men (about 8-10 men) had done good work in the Bronx and he told them " that they had worked in rag shops long enough�.
Thanks again to John for these great stories. John, a true police historian, values the past as much as many of us do. I�d like to get John together with Paddie Boyle - now that would be some conversation!!!
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Here is the homepage for the President's Office of Homeland Security. Provides current information and news from the Director, Gov. Tom Ridge.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/
HOMELAND SECURITY NEWSLETTER
A newsletter devoted to news and issues concerning Homeland Security.
http://www.homelandsecurity.org/bulletin/current_bulletin.cfm
PASSING THE TORCH: TALENT THAT CANNOT BE REPLACED
Each and every day brings another notice via department mail of a retirement dinner, luncheon, etc. The end seems to be nowhere in site, as talented investigators and supervisors move on to another stage of life.
A site could be devoted to this subject in total. Each review of the "Orders" listing retirements brings a new onslaught of stories and memories.
The 77 Squad recently got together to honor some of the retirements in that office. These retirees (and one soon to be, maybe, retiree) combined for over 100 years of experience, and thousands of hours of laughs and good memories.
People like John Barba, Brian Gundlach, Bobby Moore, Fred Neglia, Al Dieumegard, Andy Banahan (soon to be leaving) cannot walk out of the door and be replaced anytime soon. We wish them, and ALL retirees, the very best. You worked hard for many years, you know from experience what it is like to "do more with less", and you have led the way.
Let the torch, as it is being passed, reflect for just a moment longer on those in front. Thank you is not enough, but Thank You from our hearts is all we have.
Thank you!
Monday, April 22, 2002
THE FIRST FOR THE FIFTH
�Taking the fifth� is such a common occurrence these days, that it�s interesting to find out when it was first invoked.
The Outfit � the organized crime entity that controlled Chicago and points west, was the originator in the invoking of the Fifth Amendment when called to testify.
Curly Humphreys, taken under Al Capone�s wing, was the brains behind the Outfit and the Capone gang. He was the legal tactician that developed some novel defense strategies, and was better known �to negotiate with cash than muscle�.
In 1951, acting on Humphrey�s advice, Outfit bosses befuddled a Senate panel led by Estes Kefauver that was looking into organized crime. Citing their Fifth Amendment privilege, they refused to answer investigators questions. This tactic sent the Senators in a spin.
Although the refusal had been voiced in criminal courts earlier, Congress had not experienced this tactic, and believed it could not be used in their venue. They cited the bosses for contempt of Congress, but much to their consternation the committee learned that Humphrey�s precedent-setting ploy was in fact legal!
It was earlier, in November 1940, that the Fifth Amendment was brought forth b y the Outfit during a criminal trial. Curly Humphreys, the consigliere for the Outfit, devised a plan for a trial regarding the strong-arm tactics used over the takeover of the bartenders union. This resulted in the dismissal of the case against the Outfit bosses, including Frank Nitti. As the only witness the state had was disqualified, the case fell apart; due to the �double jeopardy� standard, the case was lost for good. A double win for Humphreys, and a setback for the state.
ARTICHOKES ILLEGAL?
Did you know that at one time, in an effort to fight organized crime, artichokes were actually illegal in New York City?
Ciro ��The Artichoke King�� Terranova was born 1889. He died February 20, 1938. Ciro was known as �Artichoke King� because he controlled this Italian delicacy as a front to his organized crime work. The mayor of New York made the sale of artichokes illegal
inside the city limits in an effort to rid the city of Ciro. He and his brother-in-law, Lupo the Wolf, and half brothers, the Morellos, were NYC powers at various times of the first thirty years of the century.
Lupo The Wolf, The Artichoke King, Neil the Hat, Three-Fingers Brown... You gotta love it!
HIDTA
The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program was created by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. This act authorized the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to designate regions within the United States that face drug
trafficking threats affecting other areas of the nation as HIDTAs.
The HIDTA Program's mission is to enhance and coordinate America's drug-control
efforts among federal, state and local agencies in order to eliminate or reduce drug trafficking (including the production, manufacture, transportation, distribution and chronic use of illegal drugs and money laundering) and its harmful consequences in critical regions of the United States.
The HIDTA focuses its efforts on reducing the number of drug- and firearms-trafficking organizations through intelligence-driven law enforcement operations, while assisting local governments in implementing effective drug treatment programs for hard-core offenders. It also promotes innovative prevention programs involving partnerships between law enforcement agencies, community organizations and local government in an effort to reduce the levels of drug-related violence and crime within the HIDTA region.
The HIDTA Program provides resources to assist each HIDTA in developing and implementing a strategy to address its regional drug threat. Each HIDTA strives
to create partnerships between Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and promote a coordinated, intelligence driven response to its drug trafficking problems.
We are most familiar with the Intelligence Center that HIDTA operates here in the New York City area.
The National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) is responsible for supporting Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies with intelligence reports and technical assistance and developing national, regional and state drug threat assessments
Here in New York City, in addition to operating the Intelligence Center, HIDTA operates a Fugitive Task Force. Comprised of members of NYPD, US Marshal�s, and other US Department of Justice agencies, the Fugitive Task Force acts as a coordinated fugitive
apprehension team for federal warrants and other high-risk local warrants.
OOPS�
My last posting to this site made reference to the Chicago Crime Commission�s Chief Investigator, Wayne Johnson. Anyone who visited their web site learned, as I did, that Wayne is no longer their Chief Investigator. The position is �Open�, (they�re accepting resumes, if interested). How many readers caught this faux pas?
THE 3RD PCT
Mentioned in the book �Memoirs of a Murder Man�, it was brought to my attention by Det.1 (Ret) John Reilly that the 3rd Precinct Station House was located at 160 Chambers Street. It was originally built as a three story dwelling, and later made into a police station house. In 1867 the building was remodeled by adding another story, the cells were rebuilt, and the interior layout was changed.
In April of 1875 the 3rd Pct. was abolished. The area was merged into the 5th Pct, located at Leonard St. and the 27th Pct, located at Liberty St.After the building was closed it was made into a fire house. It remained a fire house for many years, then the fire house closed and the building was sold by city. The building is still standing on Chambers
St., and is a religious goods store.
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Here's an EXCELLENT site dedicated to the MOS who were killed in the WTC attack.
http://www.the23.com
CRIMETIME.COM - Site for private investigators offering numerous
records searches, most of which are free (phone directories,
criminal records, death records, real estate holdings, etc.).
http://www.crimetime.com/online.htm
Heres another good site with multiple links for all kinds of investigative resources:
http://www.cactive.com/bookmarks.htm
�Taking the fifth� is such a common occurrence these days, that it�s interesting to find out when it was first invoked.
The Outfit � the organized crime entity that controlled Chicago and points west, was the originator in the invoking of the Fifth Amendment when called to testify.
Curly Humphreys, taken under Al Capone�s wing, was the brains behind the Outfit and the Capone gang. He was the legal tactician that developed some novel defense strategies, and was better known �to negotiate with cash than muscle�.
In 1951, acting on Humphrey�s advice, Outfit bosses befuddled a Senate panel led by Estes Kefauver that was looking into organized crime. Citing their Fifth Amendment privilege, they refused to answer investigators questions. This tactic sent the Senators in a spin.
Although the refusal had been voiced in criminal courts earlier, Congress had not experienced this tactic, and believed it could not be used in their venue. They cited the bosses for contempt of Congress, but much to their consternation the committee learned that Humphrey�s precedent-setting ploy was in fact legal!
It was earlier, in November 1940, that the Fifth Amendment was brought forth b y the Outfit during a criminal trial. Curly Humphreys, the consigliere for the Outfit, devised a plan for a trial regarding the strong-arm tactics used over the takeover of the bartenders union. This resulted in the dismissal of the case against the Outfit bosses, including Frank Nitti. As the only witness the state had was disqualified, the case fell apart; due to the �double jeopardy� standard, the case was lost for good. A double win for Humphreys, and a setback for the state.
ARTICHOKES ILLEGAL?
Did you know that at one time, in an effort to fight organized crime, artichokes were actually illegal in New York City?
Ciro ��The Artichoke King�� Terranova was born 1889. He died February 20, 1938. Ciro was known as �Artichoke King� because he controlled this Italian delicacy as a front to his organized crime work. The mayor of New York made the sale of artichokes illegal
inside the city limits in an effort to rid the city of Ciro. He and his brother-in-law, Lupo the Wolf, and half brothers, the Morellos, were NYC powers at various times of the first thirty years of the century.
Lupo The Wolf, The Artichoke King, Neil the Hat, Three-Fingers Brown... You gotta love it!
HIDTA
The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program was created by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. This act authorized the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to designate regions within the United States that face drug
trafficking threats affecting other areas of the nation as HIDTAs.
The HIDTA Program's mission is to enhance and coordinate America's drug-control
efforts among federal, state and local agencies in order to eliminate or reduce drug trafficking (including the production, manufacture, transportation, distribution and chronic use of illegal drugs and money laundering) and its harmful consequences in critical regions of the United States.
The HIDTA focuses its efforts on reducing the number of drug- and firearms-trafficking organizations through intelligence-driven law enforcement operations, while assisting local governments in implementing effective drug treatment programs for hard-core offenders. It also promotes innovative prevention programs involving partnerships between law enforcement agencies, community organizations and local government in an effort to reduce the levels of drug-related violence and crime within the HIDTA region.
The HIDTA Program provides resources to assist each HIDTA in developing and implementing a strategy to address its regional drug threat. Each HIDTA strives
to create partnerships between Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and promote a coordinated, intelligence driven response to its drug trafficking problems.
We are most familiar with the Intelligence Center that HIDTA operates here in the New York City area.
The National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) is responsible for supporting Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies with intelligence reports and technical assistance and developing national, regional and state drug threat assessments
Here in New York City, in addition to operating the Intelligence Center, HIDTA operates a Fugitive Task Force. Comprised of members of NYPD, US Marshal�s, and other US Department of Justice agencies, the Fugitive Task Force acts as a coordinated fugitive
apprehension team for federal warrants and other high-risk local warrants.
OOPS�
My last posting to this site made reference to the Chicago Crime Commission�s Chief Investigator, Wayne Johnson. Anyone who visited their web site learned, as I did, that Wayne is no longer their Chief Investigator. The position is �Open�, (they�re accepting resumes, if interested). How many readers caught this faux pas?
THE 3RD PCT
Mentioned in the book �Memoirs of a Murder Man�, it was brought to my attention by Det.1 (Ret) John Reilly that the 3rd Precinct Station House was located at 160 Chambers Street. It was originally built as a three story dwelling, and later made into a police station house. In 1867 the building was remodeled by adding another story, the cells were rebuilt, and the interior layout was changed.
In April of 1875 the 3rd Pct. was abolished. The area was merged into the 5th Pct, located at Leonard St. and the 27th Pct, located at Liberty St.After the building was closed it was made into a fire house. It remained a fire house for many years, then the fire house closed and the building was sold by city. The building is still standing on Chambers
St., and is a religious goods store.
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Here's an EXCELLENT site dedicated to the MOS who were killed in the WTC attack.
http://www.the23.com
CRIMETIME.COM - Site for private investigators offering numerous
records searches, most of which are free (phone directories,
criminal records, death records, real estate holdings, etc.).
http://www.crimetime.com/online.htm
Heres another good site with multiple links for all kinds of investigative resources:
http://www.cactive.com/bookmarks.htm
Tuesday, April 16, 2002
THE OUTFIT
Organized crime goes by many different names: The Mob, Mafia, La Cosa Nostra to name a few. In Chicago, it�s known as The Outfit.
The Outfit is the secretive organized crime cartel that began its reign in Prohibition-era Chicago, then moved on to become the real puppet-master of Hollywood, Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C. The gang pioneered many diversions now taken for granted: off track betting, casino gambling, Top Forty record listings, and music videos. They also helped make block-buster movies and elect presidents.
A recently released book on the subject, THE OUTFIT, by Gus Russo, gives the �never before told story of the great Chicago crime family known as the Outfit�.
Different somewhat from the New York Mob, their invisibility was their strength and what kept their leader from ever spending a single night in jail. It �moved effortlessly with upperworld corporate leaders, Hollywood moguls, and national political icons�. It was only after a fifty-year run that their world started to crumble in the 1970�s.
This 500-plus page text is providing some very interesting reading, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Organized Crime and its effect on modern day America.
The Outfit, by Gus Russo.
THE CHICAGO CRIME COMMISSION
Readers may recall an earlier posting to the site on the Chicago Crime Commission, and its fight against organized crime.
In the book THE OUTFIT, some of the efforts of the Chicago Crime Commission are recounted, including some attributed to its Chief Investigator, Wayne Johnson. Wayne was profiled in ESQUIRE magazine approximately a year ago, and has corresponded with The Minister since.
Hats off once again to Chief Johnson, and the Chicago Crime Commission. If you�d like, you can read more about the CCC at its web site:
www.chicagocrimecommission.org
SEXUAL ASSAULT INTERVIEWS
This month�s �Investigators Tip� from the John Reid Company deals with the interview of the sexual assault complainant. �Evaluating the Truthfulness of a Reported Sexual Assault� contains some very valuable suggestions for interviewing these complainants.
Check out the text of this on the John Reid web-site at:
http://www.reid.com/investigatortips.html
BURIED IN BROOKLYN
Did you know you could find some famous people buried here in Brooklyn? Some notorious New Yorker�s are lying at rest here in Brooklyn.
At Holy Cross Cemetery, located at Tilden Ave and Brooklyn Ave:
Willie Sutton: This famed bank robber who explained why he robbed banks because �that�s where the money is��. When he was turned in on February 18, 1952 by Arnold Schuster, who had spotted him on the street and followed him, Albert Anastasia became so angry that he had the man killed.( Incidentally, the arresting officer was none other than Donald Shea, then a Patrolman who couldn�t believe who he collared. Donald, a friend of The Minister, went on to get his gold shield, working in the 73 Squad and later making grade and retiring from the Joint Bank Robbery Task Force. Another example of how all roads lead to Brooklyn North).
At Greenwood Cemetery, located at 25 Stret and 5th Avenue, could be found:
Albert Anastasia Born 1902; Died 10/25/1957. He was murdered while sitting in a barber chair in 1957.
Joey �Crazy Joey� Gallo Born 1929; Died 4/7/1972. He was famous for being murdered at Umbertos at 129 Mulberry Street, NYC. He was dining on a late-night plate of
linguine with clam sauce during the tumultuous time of New York gangsters.
Evergreen Cemetery at Bushwick Ave and Conway Street is the resting spot for:
Sai Wing Mock aka MOCK DUCK Born 1879; Died July 24, 1941. Mock Duck showed up around the turn of the century and became leader of the Hip Sing Tong. Known to carry a pair of 45 revolvers, a hatchet and wear chain mail armor. Famous for his favorite
fighting stance, squatting in the street, eyes closed and twirling with his blazing guns. Sometime after 1912, when he was finally convicted on a gambling charge, he moved to Brooklyn and came to Chinatown in his limousine only during peaceful times.
FROM THE MINISTER...
I have been trying to replace the twice-weekly postings to this site with a once-a-week posting that contains more items. It just seems to work out time-wise that way.
I am always interested in any anecdotes or other tales, suggestions, etc. from readers, who can contact me at:
LTJAC77@yahoo.com
Organized crime goes by many different names: The Mob, Mafia, La Cosa Nostra to name a few. In Chicago, it�s known as The Outfit.
The Outfit is the secretive organized crime cartel that began its reign in Prohibition-era Chicago, then moved on to become the real puppet-master of Hollywood, Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C. The gang pioneered many diversions now taken for granted: off track betting, casino gambling, Top Forty record listings, and music videos. They also helped make block-buster movies and elect presidents.
A recently released book on the subject, THE OUTFIT, by Gus Russo, gives the �never before told story of the great Chicago crime family known as the Outfit�.
Different somewhat from the New York Mob, their invisibility was their strength and what kept their leader from ever spending a single night in jail. It �moved effortlessly with upperworld corporate leaders, Hollywood moguls, and national political icons�. It was only after a fifty-year run that their world started to crumble in the 1970�s.
This 500-plus page text is providing some very interesting reading, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Organized Crime and its effect on modern day America.
The Outfit, by Gus Russo.
THE CHICAGO CRIME COMMISSION
Readers may recall an earlier posting to the site on the Chicago Crime Commission, and its fight against organized crime.
In the book THE OUTFIT, some of the efforts of the Chicago Crime Commission are recounted, including some attributed to its Chief Investigator, Wayne Johnson. Wayne was profiled in ESQUIRE magazine approximately a year ago, and has corresponded with The Minister since.
Hats off once again to Chief Johnson, and the Chicago Crime Commission. If you�d like, you can read more about the CCC at its web site:
www.chicagocrimecommission.org
SEXUAL ASSAULT INTERVIEWS
This month�s �Investigators Tip� from the John Reid Company deals with the interview of the sexual assault complainant. �Evaluating the Truthfulness of a Reported Sexual Assault� contains some very valuable suggestions for interviewing these complainants.
Check out the text of this on the John Reid web-site at:
http://www.reid.com/investigatortips.html
BURIED IN BROOKLYN
Did you know you could find some famous people buried here in Brooklyn? Some notorious New Yorker�s are lying at rest here in Brooklyn.
At Holy Cross Cemetery, located at Tilden Ave and Brooklyn Ave:
Willie Sutton: This famed bank robber who explained why he robbed banks because �that�s where the money is��. When he was turned in on February 18, 1952 by Arnold Schuster, who had spotted him on the street and followed him, Albert Anastasia became so angry that he had the man killed.( Incidentally, the arresting officer was none other than Donald Shea, then a Patrolman who couldn�t believe who he collared. Donald, a friend of The Minister, went on to get his gold shield, working in the 73 Squad and later making grade and retiring from the Joint Bank Robbery Task Force. Another example of how all roads lead to Brooklyn North).
At Greenwood Cemetery, located at 25 Stret and 5th Avenue, could be found:
Albert Anastasia Born 1902; Died 10/25/1957. He was murdered while sitting in a barber chair in 1957.
Joey �Crazy Joey� Gallo Born 1929; Died 4/7/1972. He was famous for being murdered at Umbertos at 129 Mulberry Street, NYC. He was dining on a late-night plate of
linguine with clam sauce during the tumultuous time of New York gangsters.
Evergreen Cemetery at Bushwick Ave and Conway Street is the resting spot for:
Sai Wing Mock aka MOCK DUCK Born 1879; Died July 24, 1941. Mock Duck showed up around the turn of the century and became leader of the Hip Sing Tong. Known to carry a pair of 45 revolvers, a hatchet and wear chain mail armor. Famous for his favorite
fighting stance, squatting in the street, eyes closed and twirling with his blazing guns. Sometime after 1912, when he was finally convicted on a gambling charge, he moved to Brooklyn and came to Chinatown in his limousine only during peaceful times.
FROM THE MINISTER...
I have been trying to replace the twice-weekly postings to this site with a once-a-week posting that contains more items. It just seems to work out time-wise that way.
I am always interested in any anecdotes or other tales, suggestions, etc. from readers, who can contact me at:
LTJAC77@yahoo.com
Tuesday, April 09, 2002
THE FORGOTTEN ART�S OF THE DETECTIVE
John Reilly, a Ret. Det.1st, provides the following information on some of the forgotten arts of the detective.
Back when I came into the job and until the early 1970s all persons arrested for a felony or certain misdemeanors had to be fingerprinted by a detective. The detective was also responsible for completing all the required information on the fingerprint cards. Uniform officers were not permitted to fingerprint anyone. As a uniform officer he can remember what a problem it was if an arrest was made at 3am or 4am and you had to get a detective to fingerprint a prisoner.(They were probably all out on night surveillance duties).
A greater problem for a detective was if the fingerprints were rejected as unclassifiable by BCI. A letter was sent to the Squad Commander ordering the detective to report to BCI for retraining. If there were any further instances of rejected prints the detective was in danger of being sent back to the bag!
Detectives were required to fingerprint their own prisoners, but some were unable to do it. As a young detective in the 14th Squad he recalls two 1st Grade Dets from the Pickpocket Squad who whenever they brought in a collar having to beg someone in the squad to print their prisoner as they could not do it themselves.
Another forgotten requirement for detective was that of attending the lineup. Every morning in the 4th floor lineup room at 240 Center Street, a lineup of prisoners arrested the previous day or night took place. Every morning 2 detectives from various squad had to send men to the lineup. Attendance was checked and anyone who missed the lineup was in big trouble. The object of the lineup was for detectives to become familiar with the city's criminals. In the early days of the lineup detectives wore masks so that the criminals would not be able to recognize them at a later date. The lineup was ended in the mid 1960s.
MEMORIAL TO THE FIRST OFFICER...
The first law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty was Isaac Smith, who was killed on May 17, 1792. and in the Bronx too!!
At the time, the Bronx was Westchester County. He was a Westchester County Deputy Sheriff, and was placed on the National Law Enforcement Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. two years ago, after proper documentation was provided.
My thanks to Mike Bosak for this info!
NOT YOUR TYPICAL SKETCH ARTIST...
This site was found as a link to some obscure search, but was found to be pretty enjoyable. I�m certainly not advocating the replacement of sketch artists, but found this site to be quite interesting. I recall several years ago field testing a computerized version of this process - the recreating of a face by computer. It doesn�t have the touch of an artist-investigator, but the possibilities are astounding. Check it out and have some fun!
You can re-create a person's face on the Internet. Kind of limited on options, especially ears, but this site can be useful or entertaining depending on what you are looking for. http://flashface.flashmaster.ru/
MORE INTERESTING WEB SITES
Largest FREE Public Records Database Collection. Too many Categories to list - Check It Out
http://www.pac-info.com
IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION AND SURVIVAL - Offers a guide to pre- venting personal identity fraud. Find suggested readings, a photographic gallery and links to professional services.
http://www.identitytheft.org/
Here is an excellent site for a wide variety of crime topics. It includes a good forensic link which can provide helpful information to the investigator. It has been mentioned here before, but is worth doing so again. Bookmark this site!
http://www.crimelibrary.com
MORE IDENTITY THEFT ISSUES
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has an excellent site devoted to the issue of Identity Theft. In addition to providing good information they have a downloadable Identity Theft Affidavit - a document which can act as an excellent tool for the investigator to provide to a complainant. While the limitations we have investigating these crimes may not be properly understood by a person who has been so victimized, the assistance we can provide them in helping them get their life back together will surely be appreciated. I have downloaded copies of this affidavit and made copies available to my detectives, and suggest you take a look at the site and consider the same. My feeling is that any help we can provide will go a long way.
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/
UNDER OATH
These are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters who had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.
Q: What is your date of birth?
A: July fifteenth.
Q: What year?
A. Every year.
Q: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
A: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
Q: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
A: Yes.
Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
A: I forget.
Q: You forget. Can you give us an example of something that you've
forgotten?
Q: How old is your son, the one living with you?
A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.
Q: How long has he lived with you?
A: Forty-five years.
Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke
that morning?
A: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"
Q: And why did that upset you?
A: My name is Susan.
ADDED TO THE MINISTER�S BOOKSHELF
The Minister has added some new books to the shelf, and I�d like to share this with you.
Thanks to a good friend who is retired in Florida (along with just about every other retired MOS over the age of 60?) I have added another copy of the book �CHIEF�. This book, written in 1974 by Al Seedman, the retired Chief of Detectives, are the memoirs of this legendary detective commander.
This book was already included in my collection, and the cover photo of Seedman is also framed and on the wall over my dest.
This newer copy, though, has the autograph of the Chief, inscribed to me, wishing me � continued success�. What a fantastic addition!
HEARD IN FLORIDA
I heard that a certain RAM Sergeant spent a recent week in Florida, at Disney.
No, I mean I actually HEARD him. While visiting Miami myself this past weekend, I actually heard a certain RAM Sergeant (guess who!) discussing the lines he was waiting on while at Disney, some 200 miles away! Guess the wind was blowing right.
(They don�t call him Loud for nothing!!!)
Is it true Jimmy Leake tried to stowaway in a suitcase?
I also heard that you flew to Florida. I guess you decided against the Nicky Dimonda "drive-for-life" trip to Florida!
John Reilly, a Ret. Det.1st, provides the following information on some of the forgotten arts of the detective.
Back when I came into the job and until the early 1970s all persons arrested for a felony or certain misdemeanors had to be fingerprinted by a detective. The detective was also responsible for completing all the required information on the fingerprint cards. Uniform officers were not permitted to fingerprint anyone. As a uniform officer he can remember what a problem it was if an arrest was made at 3am or 4am and you had to get a detective to fingerprint a prisoner.(They were probably all out on night surveillance duties).
A greater problem for a detective was if the fingerprints were rejected as unclassifiable by BCI. A letter was sent to the Squad Commander ordering the detective to report to BCI for retraining. If there were any further instances of rejected prints the detective was in danger of being sent back to the bag!
Detectives were required to fingerprint their own prisoners, but some were unable to do it. As a young detective in the 14th Squad he recalls two 1st Grade Dets from the Pickpocket Squad who whenever they brought in a collar having to beg someone in the squad to print their prisoner as they could not do it themselves.
Another forgotten requirement for detective was that of attending the lineup. Every morning in the 4th floor lineup room at 240 Center Street, a lineup of prisoners arrested the previous day or night took place. Every morning 2 detectives from various squad had to send men to the lineup. Attendance was checked and anyone who missed the lineup was in big trouble. The object of the lineup was for detectives to become familiar with the city's criminals. In the early days of the lineup detectives wore masks so that the criminals would not be able to recognize them at a later date. The lineup was ended in the mid 1960s.
MEMORIAL TO THE FIRST OFFICER...
The first law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty was Isaac Smith, who was killed on May 17, 1792. and in the Bronx too!!
At the time, the Bronx was Westchester County. He was a Westchester County Deputy Sheriff, and was placed on the National Law Enforcement Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. two years ago, after proper documentation was provided.
My thanks to Mike Bosak for this info!
NOT YOUR TYPICAL SKETCH ARTIST...
This site was found as a link to some obscure search, but was found to be pretty enjoyable. I�m certainly not advocating the replacement of sketch artists, but found this site to be quite interesting. I recall several years ago field testing a computerized version of this process - the recreating of a face by computer. It doesn�t have the touch of an artist-investigator, but the possibilities are astounding. Check it out and have some fun!
You can re-create a person's face on the Internet. Kind of limited on options, especially ears, but this site can be useful or entertaining depending on what you are looking for. http://flashface.flashmaster.ru/
MORE INTERESTING WEB SITES
Largest FREE Public Records Database Collection. Too many Categories to list - Check It Out
http://www.pac-info.com
IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION AND SURVIVAL - Offers a guide to pre- venting personal identity fraud. Find suggested readings, a photographic gallery and links to professional services.
http://www.identitytheft.org/
Here is an excellent site for a wide variety of crime topics. It includes a good forensic link which can provide helpful information to the investigator. It has been mentioned here before, but is worth doing so again. Bookmark this site!
http://www.crimelibrary.com
MORE IDENTITY THEFT ISSUES
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has an excellent site devoted to the issue of Identity Theft. In addition to providing good information they have a downloadable Identity Theft Affidavit - a document which can act as an excellent tool for the investigator to provide to a complainant. While the limitations we have investigating these crimes may not be properly understood by a person who has been so victimized, the assistance we can provide them in helping them get their life back together will surely be appreciated. I have downloaded copies of this affidavit and made copies available to my detectives, and suggest you take a look at the site and consider the same. My feeling is that any help we can provide will go a long way.
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/
UNDER OATH
These are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters who had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.
Q: What is your date of birth?
A: July fifteenth.
Q: What year?
A. Every year.
Q: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
A: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
Q: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
A: Yes.
Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
A: I forget.
Q: You forget. Can you give us an example of something that you've
forgotten?
Q: How old is your son, the one living with you?
A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.
Q: How long has he lived with you?
A: Forty-five years.
Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke
that morning?
A: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"
Q: And why did that upset you?
A: My name is Susan.
ADDED TO THE MINISTER�S BOOKSHELF
The Minister has added some new books to the shelf, and I�d like to share this with you.
Thanks to a good friend who is retired in Florida (along with just about every other retired MOS over the age of 60?) I have added another copy of the book �CHIEF�. This book, written in 1974 by Al Seedman, the retired Chief of Detectives, are the memoirs of this legendary detective commander.
This book was already included in my collection, and the cover photo of Seedman is also framed and on the wall over my dest.
This newer copy, though, has the autograph of the Chief, inscribed to me, wishing me � continued success�. What a fantastic addition!
HEARD IN FLORIDA
I heard that a certain RAM Sergeant spent a recent week in Florida, at Disney.
No, I mean I actually HEARD him. While visiting Miami myself this past weekend, I actually heard a certain RAM Sergeant (guess who!) discussing the lines he was waiting on while at Disney, some 200 miles away! Guess the wind was blowing right.
(They don�t call him Loud for nothing!!!)
Is it true Jimmy Leake tried to stowaway in a suitcase?
I also heard that you flew to Florida. I guess you decided against the Nicky Dimonda "drive-for-life" trip to Florida!
Monday, April 01, 2002
OH WHAT A SITE
It was on a Sunday morning, March 25th 1990. The emergency message that went out from the Operations Unit was that over 80 people had died in a Social Club fire in The Bronx. As hard as it could be to imagine such a sight, it was accurate. Many calls came in to verify the info, which, unfortunately, was entirely accurate. So started the investigation of the 87 people killed at the Happy Land Social Club on Southern Boulevard in The Bronx. (Ironically, the worst previous fire in New York City was also on March 25th. The year was 1911 and the fire was at the Triangle Shirt Factory where 146 people perished.) Julio Gonzalez was convicted of setting the Happy Land Social Club fire and sentenced to 3000 years in jail.
To learn more about this tragic incident you can check out the following web site. It�s set up by author MARK GADO, and is titled �A River of Tears:Happy Land�
(www.crimelibrary.com/classics3/happyland/index.htm)
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Great site for learning how to find company information.
http://www.virtualchase.com/coinfo/index.htm
The following site, �Lawyers Weekly�, has links to news items of interest to lawyers, including topics on criminal law.
http://www.lawyersweekly.com/resources/topwebpicks.cfm
Security Weekly News:
Want a quick, easy way to keep up with the news specific to corporate, commercial, industrial and government security executives? SECURITY Magazine's Web site at:
http://www.securitymagazine.com
They have a DAILY NEWS service that's run in conjunction with the recognized LexisNexis information service. Nearly 100 full-text articles are posted daily in topics ranging from Fighting Terrorism to Life Safety and New Security Technology.
Bookmark the best DAILY NEWS at:
http://www.securitymagazine.com/FILES/HTML/Security_Daily_News_Service/1,5438,00.html
�HECK OF A COUGH YOU�VE GOT THERE�
The Malaysian Police are �mystified� over a recent burglary, as reported recently on many of the news wires.
A burglary of a large warehouse was discovered, and a search of the premises revealed the following. It seems the only property taken was $526,000. worth of �Fisherman�s Friend Cough Drops�.
Go figure!
It was on a Sunday morning, March 25th 1990. The emergency message that went out from the Operations Unit was that over 80 people had died in a Social Club fire in The Bronx. As hard as it could be to imagine such a sight, it was accurate. Many calls came in to verify the info, which, unfortunately, was entirely accurate. So started the investigation of the 87 people killed at the Happy Land Social Club on Southern Boulevard in The Bronx. (Ironically, the worst previous fire in New York City was also on March 25th. The year was 1911 and the fire was at the Triangle Shirt Factory where 146 people perished.) Julio Gonzalez was convicted of setting the Happy Land Social Club fire and sentenced to 3000 years in jail.
To learn more about this tragic incident you can check out the following web site. It�s set up by author MARK GADO, and is titled �A River of Tears:Happy Land�
(www.crimelibrary.com/classics3/happyland/index.htm)
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Great site for learning how to find company information.
http://www.virtualchase.com/coinfo/index.htm
The following site, �Lawyers Weekly�, has links to news items of interest to lawyers, including topics on criminal law.
http://www.lawyersweekly.com/resources/topwebpicks.cfm
Security Weekly News:
Want a quick, easy way to keep up with the news specific to corporate, commercial, industrial and government security executives? SECURITY Magazine's Web site at:
http://www.securitymagazine.com
They have a DAILY NEWS service that's run in conjunction with the recognized LexisNexis information service. Nearly 100 full-text articles are posted daily in topics ranging from Fighting Terrorism to Life Safety and New Security Technology.
Bookmark the best DAILY NEWS at:
http://www.securitymagazine.com/FILES/HTML/Security_Daily_News_Service/1,5438,00.html
�HECK OF A COUGH YOU�VE GOT THERE�
The Malaysian Police are �mystified� over a recent burglary, as reported recently on many of the news wires.
A burglary of a large warehouse was discovered, and a search of the premises revealed the following. It seems the only property taken was $526,000. worth of �Fisherman�s Friend Cough Drops�.
Go figure!
