CANVASSING AND TALKING: KEY DETECTIVE TASKS

Keeping in mind that the big secret of being a detective is “to get someone to tell you what happened”, then the investigative canvass is understood for the importance that it should hold.

Not merely an item on a checklist that needs to be checked off, the investigative canvass provides a real opportunity to obtain actionable intelligence, point an investigation in a direction of potential motive as well as assist in the ultimate goal of identifying the culprit.

When done properly, the canvass puts the detective in the position of talking to people to obtain information, as well as alerting people who/ how to call with information they may have. Every door of a potential witness that is not met with a person-to-person interview, with the canvass being one of these opportunities, is potentially a serious missed opportunity to reach success.

If there are twenty apartments that overlook a crime scene and you only had success on fifteen doors, you need to go back to the other five. Re-canvasses are critical tasks for the investigator. How often is our investigation stymied by the lack of a witness- yet we leave opportunities missed by an improper re-canvass effort?

Knocking on doors and talking to people- these are potential opportunities at discovering the needed witness.

Utilization of the canvass flyer is an advantageous manner of getting your message out. When time permits, a suitable flyer that identifies what you are looking for, and where someone can go to provide the information, is a critical part of the investigative process as well. While the immediate use of the "TIPS" cards at a scene is beneficial in that it provides the anonymous telephone tip line to a witness, the investigative flyer that adds the information regarding the incident concerned, a local contact and the brief message that "We need your help in solving this crime" has many advantages.

How many times have witnesses mistakenly believed that the Police had all the info they needed? That there was no reason for them to get involved or to call with info they may have because they believed that the Police already knew that. "If they're not asking, they must already know" may be a feeling the public has that is hampering your progress with potential witnesses.

Getting out and talking to people is what a detective does. Look at the investigative canvass as a real potential for success in your investigation, and not merely as a chores that needs to be "checked off".

Quality investigations include quality canvasses.



SOUTHLAND

A returning television cop- drama that has received very favorable reviews is the TNT show "Southland".

This year airing on the cable TNT channel, it premiered last season on network television before moving to its new home.

After all the favorable reviews I read I watched the seasons premiere show. All I can say is it was alright- not as god as Detroit 187 or Blue Bloods, but certainly better than The Cape, or even the new Hawaii Five-O. (More on that at a later time).

According to Bloomberg Media, “Southland” remains the most gripping police drama since the heyday of “Law & Order”, and may it live as long".

The show is a mix of Adam-12 and NYPD Blue, if Blue was based in Los Angeles and was named “LAPD Blue”.

We follow the patrol force as they answer radio runs in the Southland of LA, and we also encounter the detective squad as they go about the drama of their duties. What seems to bring it above the fray to the notoriety it is getting is "its effortless use of a traditional cop-show format to explore issues of race, gender and class in a powerful way". In other words, there is a good storyline at the root of the show and it’s not all gunfights and car chases and women in bikinis (not that there isn’t a place for that i.e Hawaii).

Or perhaps it's just the "straightforward, solidly crafted" stirrings that make it, according to Bloomberg Media, "one of the best shows on television".

Based on what else is airing on television these days, it's probably worth at least a DVR viewing to see if it catches your fancy.




HERE COME THE ANGELS

In the January 17 edition of CRAINS NY, the "New York New York" column led off with a crime story.

"Rapes, murders and robberies went up last year in the Big Apple. But citizens can rest easier knowing that crime-stopper extraordinaire Curtis Sliwa is on the case".

You can be sure that lead caught my attention!

So are we to believe that the citizens of NYC are comforted in knowing that Curtis Sliwa has doubled the number of his red-beret wearing volunteers, now to over 154 such volunteers, despite any rise in crime? Apparently Crains NY wants it's readers to feel that the increase to 24 Angels in Corona and Elmhurst, from the original 16 that were there, means more to those residents than the NYPD Impact and local patrol force?

The Guardian Angels founder, Curtis Sliwa, is referred in the article as a "media personality". Apparently his media efforts are pretty good based on the tone of this article in a respectable tabloid like Crains.

I guess the workplace restructuring of the Guardian Angels has a positive outlook?

While I don't in any way wish to mar the work that these volunteers do, I just have to question this outlook at good fortune. I've never encountered a bad contact with the Angels during my time on patrol. When I began patrolling the Subways in the early 80's, the Angels were at their most popular on the rails. I pretty much felt if they weren't against me then they were good for me; I treated them, when encountered, with respect that was returned by them and we all just got along. A volunteer citizen force to be eyes and ears can't be a bad thing in theory, as long as the practice doesn't get out of control.

But to attribute local resident’s fears now in check by the red berets, now that they are at a recent high of 154 such members, is a little much for me to follow.

If you are a viewer of TVs "The Office", you may be looking forward to Dwight Schrute bringing his Scranton "Knights of the Night" to New York next!


CORPORATE PHRASES

I've noted in this space previously how certain corporate catch-phrases take on a life into public service functions.

The phrase we've been hearing so often that it seems like we’re beating a dead horse has been "Doing more with less".

We all have to do more with less. Pretty much the corporate catch-phrase of the decade.

What we may soon begin hearing is the new phrase that's catching on in corporate boardrooms:

"We are /we have to undertake workplace restructuring".

A nice way of saying: "out with the old, in with the new"?



IN MEMORIAM: PTL ROBERT BOLDEN

Ptl. Robert Bolden, Sh# 20025, 75 Precinct

On January 22, 1971 while off duty and inside a neighborhood bar-grill in the 84 Precinct, Ptl. Bolden was confronted by a gunman who was using a pay telephone. Ptl Bolden had, at the request of the owner, just told the culprit that the grill would be closing soon and that he had to end his phone call. The gunman exited the phone booth shortly after and wantonly fired three shots from a handgun, killing Ptl Bolden before he had to react.

Ptl. Bolden was appointed to the department on July 1, 1955. He had 16 years on the job at the time he was killed; he was 45 years old.



IN MEMORIAM: PTL. GREGORY FOSTER AND PTL. ROCCO LAURIE

Ptl Gregory Foster, Sh# 13737 9 Precinct
Ptl Rocco Laurie, Sh# 11019 9 Precinct

On January 27, 1972 Patrolmen Foster and Laurie were walking a foot post in the 9 Precinct.

Patrolman Rocco Laurie and Patrolman Gregory Foster were assassinated by members of the Black Liberation Army while walking their patrol beat on Avenue B and East 11th Street in the 9th Precinct. As they walked down the street, four suspects came out of a dark doorway behind them and opened fire, shooting them in the back. After the officers fell, the suspects took their handguns and shot them several more times.




“LEST WE FORGET…” THE NYPD MEMORIAL

January 22, 1971 Ptl Robert Bolden, 75 Pct, Shot-off duty altercation
January 23, 1934 Ptl Joseph Misichia, 114 Pct, Shot-arrest
January 23, 1943 Ptl Pasquale Venturelli, 45 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
January 23, 1987 PO Michael Reidy, 41 Pct, Shot-off duty robbery
January 24, 1967 Ptl John Barry, PA, Line of duty heart attack
January 24, 1975 Ptl John Scala, ApplicInv, Shot-off duty robbery
January 25, 1994 PO Nicholas DeMatiis, 106 Pct, Auto pursuit
January 27, 1908 Ptl John Loughman, 15 Pct, Shot-off duty incident
January 27, 1938 Ptl Edward Roos, 8 Sqd, Auto accident on patrol
January 27, 1943 Ptl Angelo Dimuro, 1 Pct, Line of duty incident
January 27, 1972 Ptl Gregory Foster, 9 Pct, Shot-assassination
January 27, 1972 Ptl Rocco Laurie, 9 Pct, Shot-assassination
January 28, 1938 Sgt David Kilpatrick, 40 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
January 28, 1980 PO Cecil Sledge, 69 Pct, Shot-car stop
January 30, 1930 Ptl Maurice O’Brien, 28 Pct, Shot-arrest
January 30, 1956 Ptl Benny Bruno, GCP Pct, Auto pursuit
January 31, 1901 Ptl Thomas Fitzpatrick, 29 Pct, Explosion-rescue
January 31, 1901 Ptl Edward Mullin, 29 Pct, Explosion-rescue
January 31, 1927 Ptl James Masterson, 18 Div, Shot-robbery in progress
January 31, 1928 Ptl Patrick Fahey, Traffic C, Fall from horse
January 31, 1928 Ptl William Kelly, 37 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
January 31, 1931 Ptl Harold Conway, 27 Pct, Drowned
January 31, 1959 Ptl Michael Talkowsky, 23 Pct, Shot-robbery
January 31, 1968 Ptl Stephen DellAquila, Safety B, Scooter accident on patrol
January 31, 1984 PO Angelo Brown, 84 Pct, Shot-robbery, off duty
January 31, 1992 PO Hilario Serrano, 43 Pct, Shot-robbery, off duty
January 31, 2004 Sgt Keith Ferguson, ESS7, LOD Heart attack

It is noted that the eleven line of duty deaths recorded on January 31 represent the date with the most line of duty deaths for members of this department with the exception of 9/11/01.

WAY TO GO, JOE!

In case you didn’t see the story in the recent Daily News, our own JOE HERBERT has been appointed to work on the US Congressional Committee on Homeland Security!

Joe is the first NYPD officer appointed to work on a congressional committee!

Inspector Joe Herbert most recently was assigned to the Intelligence Division’s Intelligence Operations and Analysis Section, and was before that part of the Joint Terrorist Task Force since 9-11. Many of us know Joe as a Brooklyn North Squad Commander, Supervisor and Detective- he was the Squad C.O. of the 75 Squad just prior to 9-11 and had been on special assignment to the First Deputy Commissioner’s Office for a special investigation when 9-11 hit. He attained the ranks of Captain and Deputy Inspector while at JTTF.

Joe’s career as a detective and detective supervisor is often highlighted in the media regarding his role in the arrest of the New York City copycat Zodiac killer when he recognized writing on a note written by an arrestee, Heriberto Seda, in 1996 as matching that of the Zodiac writings from the 1990-1993 shootings.

“The sharp-eyed Herbert matched the notes mailed by the serial killer to the handwriting in a confession penned by Seda in a previous case”, according to the Daily News.

While this act was no short of tremendous, it is only one small part of what Joe has already accomplished as a detective for this department.

Joe will now be working on the Congressional Homeland Security Committee that is chaired by Rep. Peter King of L.I. “He brings the expertise of the No. 1 counterterrorism police unit in the country. It gives us a tremendous source of knowledge”, King said.

Commissioner Kelly also noted that “he’s so uniquely skilled and qualified for the job,” and that “he’s very experienced and will be of great value to the committee.”

I will always think of Joe as the ultimate squad commander- the person who brings a little of everything to the table. Joe’s advice and guidance to fellow supervisors and detectives alike will always be missed here in Brooklyn North, as we know thankfully that Joe’s expertise is being put to great use- for everyone’s benefit!

Joe always says he values his past as a Brooklyn North detective- and I want to make sure knows we value him as well. Joe will always, in his heart and in ours, be a Brooklyn Detective! This has always been a true case of our loss in the Detective Bureau being for the greater gain of the department- and the City.

We wish you all the best, Joe, on your mission of keeping us safe. I know for myself that I sleep better knowing that Porkchop is looking out for us!

Best wishes, Joe!




PLAINCLOTHES

“Where does Joe work?” “He works in Plainclothes.”

Before there were police officers in precincts working in “Anti-Crime”, the department had police officers assigned to “Plainclothes”.

The Plainclothes officers were white shield police officers assigned to enforce public morals complaints. Gambling, vice enforcement and alcoholic beverage control violations were the area of enforcement that those assigned to “Plainclothes” enforced.

Up through the 1960’s, this was a specialized unit within the Precinct, the Division and the Borough. You would here members described as “being in plainclothes”, and you instantly understood what they were doing – enforcing the public morals complaints.

Historical reference: Frank Serpico worked in “Plainclothes”. (Ed Note: At the time of his shooting, he was assigned to Narcotics Unit 7).

Before there was an Organized Crime Control Bureau these violations came under those in Plainclothes. These Plainclothes officers and their case investigations were part of the Patrol Borough, and NOT the Detective Bureau (or the Detective Division, as it was known at that time). Narcotics investigations came under the Narcotics Division which was part of the Detective Bureau.

Local numbers operations were subjected to arrests and summonses by the precinct plainclothes people, as was enforcement of prostitution and alcohol sales complaints.

The October 1961 SPRING 3100 includes what were recent amendments to the Rules & Procedure of the department (what most of us now know to be the Patrol Guide) pertaining to these plainclothes assignments.

Communications of complaints related to public morals, gambling or alcoholic beverage control would be forwarded through the Chief Inspector (Chief of Department) Office direct to the commanding officer of the division, except in the borough of Brooklyn North where it would be forwarded to the Borough Command.

“The division commander or, in Brooklyn North the borough commander, will see that the necessary investigation is conducted and appropriate action taken on each such communication.” It further outlined that in “Patrol Borough Brooklyn South, the division commander may forward the communication to the precinct concerned” for investigation.

Remember that at this time the patrol precincts did not regularly deploy MOS in any other plainclothes assignment- there was no “Anti-Crime” deployment at the precinct level until the early 1970’s.


HISTORICAL FORMS

The 1961 SPRING 3100 magazine also noted some amendments to department forms, specifically the:

DD52F – Known Gambler Card (a record filed at pct, division and borough level)
UF44 - Arresting Officers Report of Gambling Case
UF82 - Assignment of Patrolman to Raided Premises


BOROUGH ALIGNMENT

It was also in 1961 that department boroughs were reorganized.

Prior to February 15, 1961 Brooklyn had been separated into Brooklyn East and Brooklyn West, and Manhattan was separated into Manhattan East and Manhattan West.

After February 15, 1961 the boroughs went to a North and South separation in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Queens was still, at that time, one borough command and was not yet separated into North or South.


DET. FRANK MALERBA: "THEY DON’T MAKE DETECTIVES LIKE THEY USED TO”

Ed Note: The following is reprinted from an earlier posting on this blogsite; originally posted in 2001. History of the department never gets old! If you never read it, you’re sure to enjoy it; if you read it then, you’re sure to enjoy revisiting the story.

A Dec. 31, 2001 obituary in NEWSDAY noted an NYPD legend, Det. Frank Malerba, had died.

Malerba is noted as “the legendary police detective whose exploits in gunning down an infamous killer during a wild 1955 shootout in East Harlem was turned into a Hollywood movie. Malerba fatally shot murder suspect August Robles inside an East Harlem apartment, ending an hours-long confrontation that later inspired the film “Madigan” with Richard Widmark and Henry Fonda.

Malerba was 88 years old at the time of his death. He retired from the force in 1963, and jumped back into the headlines in 1989 when, at age 76, he shot a teenage mugger in the leg after the youth had just robbed a woman. He was a detective out of an old James Cagney movie!

He regaled detectives a third his age after the 1989 incident, telling stories about police work back in the 1940’s and 1950’s and marveling lightheartedly at how the Police Department had changed. “They don’t make detectives like they used to”, noted Malerba.

His status in Police Department lore began in 1955 when he fatally shot murder suspect August Robles inside an East Harlem apartment, ending an hours-long confrontation. Hundreds of officers were involved in the showdown with Robles, who was wanted in a Brooklyn murder. After his long time partner in the 23 Squad, Det. Vincent Heffernan, and the squad commander, Lt. Charles Dauner, were wounded trying to capture Robles, it came down to Malerba as more than a thousand area residents gathered in the streets.

“I remained hugging the ground” Malerba recounted in an interview after the incident. “I kept firing into the apartment and he fired back. I yelled to him, “Come out with your hands up and you’ll come out alive”. He yelled back “let me think it over.” Robles stuck to an earlier promise not to be taken alive and wouldn’t give in, which prompted ESU officers to bombard the apartment with tear gas. When the smoke cleared Malerba went in and found Robles lying on his back, with four guns - three of them taken from police officers - by his side. “I took no chances”, Malerba said. “He’s a tricky guy, so I pegged one more shot at him,” he recalled.

Malerba never let the fame go to his head. According to his partner Heffernen, he reveled in the everyday satisfaction of “going after guys who had taken advantage of others.” Malerba always talked fondly of the job, and was truly one of the department’s legends. “He was into the job,” said his partner Heffernen. He truly was!


MADIGAN

As noted above, the movie MADIGAN, with Richard Widmark playing the lead character, is based on this story of the shootout in East Harlem and the exploits of Frank Malerba.

MADIGAN is one of those movies that cop buffs probably have on DVD in their right bottom desk drawer (at least that’s where my copy is kept). Chief Materasso has a picture of the movie promo of MADIGAN in his office, and I am proud to say I have my own copy that was gifted to me from the Chief hanging prominently hanging in mine as well.

This 1968 film starred Richard Widmark as Madigan, and also starred Henry Fonda as the Police Commissioner.

Detective’s Rocco Bonaro, played by Harry Guardino, and Det Daniel Madigan (Richard Widmark) lose their guns to fugitive Barney Benesch when they go to arrest him in his hideout apartment. As one of the movies taglines tells it, "If Detective Madigan kept his eyes on the killer instead of the broad..."

On a quiet Spring morning in New York City Police Detectives Daniel Madigan (Richard Widmark) and Rocco Bonaro (Harry Guardino) attempt to bring in small-time hood Barney Benesch (Steve Ihnat) for questioning for the Brooklyn detectives division when the crook gets the drop on them stealing their guns and putting them in lots of trouble with the Police Commissioner Anthony X. Russell (Henry Fonda), who already holds the opinion that Detective Madigan is something of a loose cannon.

Madigan and Rocco are given 72 hours to track down their man and with the help of small-time bookie, "Midget" Castiglione (Michael Dunn), they corner the crook in a hotel and Madigan moves in to take him.

The secondary storyline follows a police academy graduation and some revealing issues brought to the attention of the PC regarding problems within the department. Combined with their own personal issues, we see Madigan and Bonaro performing as true dedicated detectives, and makes for one of the classic New York City Detective films.

If you get a chance to see the movie "Madigan", watch it. You won’t be disappointed.

WHAT IS THE SQUAD ROOM?

As I prepare writings for this site, and due to the time lapse between posting, I feel it a good time to review the objective of what is it that you can expect here on this site.

Our place as investigators is often thought of as a special calling.

Our Squad Room – wherever that may be – is a special place.

It’s where we spend a large part of our life. It’s a place where we feel comfortable enough to joke around with others, and then to have a serious discussion on an investigative objective. It’s the place where we learn to be a detective – we learn from others around us, we learn from those we deal with outside our commands, and we learn from ourselves. We grow in our role as a Detective – a professional investigator – ion our Squad Rooms.

Work should be fun, as a wise commander once said. This is no different today.

Heck, we probably spend more time in a given week in our Squad Room’s then we do in our own living rooms at home!

The Squad Room – this particular blog – is intended to be a place to share ideas on what detectives do, information on items of current interest, and a place to “learn how to be a Jedi”.

It’s important to understand your history- what went on “here”, in these Squad Rooms, years before. To understand where you are now and look at where you are going you have to know where you came from. History is often entertaining; as we look back at history as we know it, those who are just coming out of the Academy today and who will occupy our seats in these Squad Rooms ten, fifteen and twenty years from now will find what we are doing today to be “historical” interest. We live in history.

Entertain, pass along some ideas on what we do and how we may be able to do it better, to learn about our past with an insight on where we are going, that’s what I will try to continue to put together here, on this blog, in The Squad Room. Your Squad Room.

Travel anywhere in the world- guaranteed if you sit and talk with the local police detective you will find shared issues, shared interests, shared frustrations; perhaps in a different language, but I am sure you will find A Detective is a Detective no matter what country’s flag they fly.

Welcome to The Squad Room. Have a cup of coffee.



NEVER SAY, “NEVER” – NEVER SAY, “ALWAYS”

In life there are few positives and/or negatives. The investigator deals with the human element and should expect any type of behavior, rational or irrational, logical or illogical. If the investigator keeps this in mind, she/he will have the versatility of mind and spirit to break cases.

Many times in your investigative career you will ask yourself, “why did he do that?” “Whatever possessed him to go that way?” “Why didn’t he do it that way?” You may never get the answer but be prepared for the most unusual as well as the most common behavior.

There are thousands of instances to support the irrational acts of human beings.

Why would two middle-aged brothers keep the mummified corpse of their mother for years in their apartment and then finally decide to get rid of her? They took her body in a shopping cart to a vacant lot where they left her. Why did they pass several vacant lots on their mission? Wouldn’t it have been easier to dispose of her at the nearest lot?

Why do killers keep their weapons only to later find them to become evidence against them?

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A GROUNDER!

You hear the statement, “This one’s a ground ball”, and you should immediately cringe!

Every case demands a thorough investigation to insure a conviction. Do not take a case lightly or assume that it will stand on its own merit. You must see to it that the case offers an excellent package to present before a Grand Jury and at trial.

Uniformed officers arrive at a scene of a dispute in the street and observe a man rendering first aid and performing CPR on another. Witnesses tell the PO’s that the man applying CPR just stabbed the victim; this person makes a statement that he “just killed his brother”.

Apprehension is quickly effected and there are no outstanding perps.

Ground ball?

Well, if you think there is little work involved for the detectives you are very wrong.

Put the case together, collect statements from witnesses, corroborate statements. Provide the best possible case to the prosecutor for Grand Jury and trial. Be prepared for th presentation to the jury that will look to discredit your work: “You mean to tell me this person you call the killer was performing CPR on his brother when you got there?”

Detectives work to put a case together which includes corroborating statements, and discrediting alibis. When the perp provides an alibi it is your duty as the detective to either prove or disprove it!


THE ESSENTIAL PENCIL

As any detective who has ever tried to take notes at a winter crime scene realizes, an essential tool for the detective in this cold weather is THE PENCIL.

A good mechanical pencil in the pocket next to a fine writing instrument- the essential tools of the working detective!

While some try to rely on “memory”, the good detective understands the value of proper note-taking- and is prepared for the freezing weather with a good pencil!


THE FIVE FOLDERS

A piece of advise for response at a major incident scene is to have the information pertaining to the following five items readily available to the command staff in separate folders.

Video: Are there any video recordings of the incident? Where did we canvass for video, and what were the results? Are there any locations we need to go back to retrieve video from?

Statements: What statements were made by the perp? By the complainant? By any witnesses? Who received these statements, and how are they recorded?

Identification: You have a perp in handcuffs? How was he/she identified? Who has made an identification? How are we going to proceed with this suspect as a perp? Don’t forget basic identification issues- if the perp was apprehended at the scene by responding police officers, then what is the identification process that took place?

Physical Evidence: What physical evidence is being recovered? How does this evidence play into our scene? What are the identifiers of the evidence, and what are we looking to have done with this evidence? Where is it, and who is caring for it?

Time Line: Develop a time line that walks you through the incident- when was the first call received, when did officers arrive, what time was any movement from the scene made? Go back as far as necessary in your time line as is appropriate.


INTERESTING WEB SITE

Remember to bookmark this site- it is a wonderful tribute to all our brothers and sisters who have given themselves in the line of duty. It is a superbly managed site, and surely shows the respect these officers deserve.

http://www.nypdangels.com/

IN MEMORIAM: PO FRANCIS HENNESSY – 70 PCT

Police Officer Francis Hennessy, a 35-year-old Brooklyn cop collapsed while responding to an unfounded report of a man with a gun died of a brain aneurysm.

Francis Hennessy, an Irish national and an NYPD cop for eight years, died at Downstate Medical Center, less than 15 hours after he was hospitalized the previous night when responding to a call of an armed man in the Flatbush section.

A spokesman for the city's medical examiner said the cause of death was a "ruptured brain aneurysm," a genetic condition in which a bulge in a vessel creates intra-cranial pressure upon bursting. Hennessy, a scooter cop assigned to the 70th Precinct, had 75 arrests in his career. He became ill after responding with two other cops to a report at of a man with a gun, collapsing after emerging from a radio patrol car. Other officers tried to save his life, performing CPR upon him and he was taken to Kings County Hospital before being transferred to Downstate.

He was initially believed to have suffered two separate heart attacks. An eight-year veteran of the force, Hennessy received three departmental commendations for excellence on duty during his career, police said. He was married with two children. He joined the police force in 1997.



“LEST WE FORGET…” THE NYPD MEMORIAL

January 10, 1987 PO Francis LaSalla, ESS1, Fire rescue
January 10, 1998 PO Edward Ahrens, 28 Pct, Shot (5/5/75) narco invest
January 10, 2006 PO Francis Hennessy, 70 Pct, brain aneurysm
January 11, 1908 Ptl Robert Fitzgerald, Bridge Pct, Drowned-Rescue
January 11, 1916 Ptl Joseph Gaffney, 26 Pct, Shot-arrest
January 11, 1929 Ptl Albert Bruden, Mcy Unit, Auto pursuit
January 11, 1941 Ptl Edward Maher, Traffic P, Shot-robbery
January 12, 1974 PO Timothy Murphy, 120 Pct, Shot-off duty incident
January 12, 1981 PO Robert Walsh, 7 Pct, Shot-off duty robbery
January 13, 1924 Ptl John Schneider, 3Div, Robbery investigation
January 13, 1950 Ptl Edward Carraher, 14 Pct, Injured on patrol
January 13, 1997 Det Kenny Fung, 72 Sqd, Heart attack during investigation
January 15, 1938 Ptl Frank Zaccor, 14 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
January 16, 1953 Ptl Thomas Sheehan, 10 Pct, Line of duty heart attack
January 17, 1947 Ptl Harry Schriffies, McyDist, Shot-investigation
January 17, 2000 PO Benny Marciante, SITF, LOD Heart attack
January 18, 1935 Ptl James Killion, 17 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
January 18, 1960 Sgt Edward Johnson, 5 Pct, Stabbed by EDP
January 18, 1967 Det Harold Jacob, Safe Loft & Burg Sqd, Line of duty heart attack
January 18, 1979 PO Robert Manzione, 7 Pct, Line of duty heart attack
January 21, 1932 Ptl John Walsh, 17 Div, Shot-off duty robbery
January 21, 1941 Ptl Daniel Piselli, 88 Pct, Killed-line of duty incident
January 21, 1948 Ptl William Von Weisenstein, 101 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
January 21, 1958 Det Francis O’Rourke, 32 Sqd, Line of duty heart attack
January 21, 1986 Det Anthony Venditti, OCCB, Shot-investigation
January 21, 1995 Det Alfred Boesch, Housing SNEU, Line of duty incident

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.... TOO LONG!

Just to let any readers of The Squad Room who are still checking this site know, there will be NEW postings coming real, real soon!

A little sabatical was needed, but I am back with renewed interest and some good ideas for postings.

Armed with an iPad to help me easily make posts to the site, I expect to be back publishing real soon.

Thank you for checking back, and look for new stuff real soon.

The Minister of Investigation

Note: As always, I encourage input from the readers of this site. Maybe you have a tale you'd like to share, or information on some historic item that you think is interesting, please pass it along to me. I could use all the help I can get!

Ltjac77@yahoo.com

REMEMBERING JACK MAPLE

AUGUST 4, 2001

Jack Maple lost his battle with colon cancer on August 4, 2001.

The architect of the crime strategy that is best characterized by its forum – COMPSTAT – Jack died at 48 years young. Truly a tragic loss of a crime fighter.


Remembering Jack Maple- New York Magazine article
http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/crimelaw/features/5087/

Jack Stat – New York Magazine article
http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/anniversary/35th/n_8551/


1999 Article in Government Technology on the COMPSTAT process
http://www.govtech.com/gt/94865

THE 4-M’S OF THE INVESTIGATION

MEANS
METHOD
MOTIVE
MOVEMENT

MEANS: What was the weapon used in the incident. “The perp was armed with a 9mm handgun”.

METHOD: How was the victim killed? “The victim was shot one time in the head causing his death”.

MOTIVE: What has the investigation led us to conclude regarding the reason the incident occurred? This may evolve as the investigation progresses – the motive may at first appear to be drug related, but the investigation that evolves may determine that the motive was a dispute over a female. Motive may change as the investigation is conducted.

MOVEMENT: What do we know about our victims actions prior to the incident? Can we track where he was, where he was going, who was he seeing? Do we have corroborative evidence of these movements – eg video, telephone records, etc?

During your initial stages of the investigation, keep the 4-M’s in mind. Answer the questions, and allow it to aid your investigation.

Especially as it pertains to MOTIVE and MOVEMENT.

It is the MOVEMENT of the victim that needs to be carefully reviewed. Very often, if you can retrace the victims movements for the prior 24 hours of the incident, you will have a better understanding of what happened – and why it happened – and, ultimately, who is responsible for what happened.

The MOTIVE can often become apparent as you review the MOVEMENT of the victim.

Regarding the Motive – don’t be afraid to change your idea of motive as the case progresses.

Often, what appears to be the initial motive of the incident may change as the investigation progresses. It is important that you let the investigation lead you to your conclusion, and that you do NOT let your conclusion lead your investigation.



FOUND IN SPRING 3100: OVERTIME PAY

There is no better recounting of the history of this Police Department than the stories that can be found in Spring 3100 – “The Magazine for Policemen”.

The October 1961 issue of Spring 311 provided some very interesting information.

It was noted in the October 1961 edition that within the past two months “two additional job benefits have accrued to the police officer”.

The first concerned sick leave. It stated that starting October 1961, the MOS would NOT have to take “a salary reduction for the first three days of sick leave”. Apparently, prior to that time, you did NOT have full-pay for your first 3 sick days!

In regards to OVERTIME, I think many will find this interesting item.

Within the recent months of October 1961, job benefits accrued that now provided “overtime pay for hours in excess of the forty hour week”. YES – prior to that, there was NO Overtime pay. You made a collar, you went to court and sat there for the weekend waiting for arraignments – you received NO OVERTIME!

It was also noted that the annual salary of a first grade patrolman had broken the $7,000 per year mark!

The sick pay practice was outlined in greater detail, as follows. Prior to September 1, 1960, the procedure was to deduct half-pay for the first three days of sick report.

With the 1961 year showing a significant reduction in time lost due to sick report by members of the department, and recognizing the hardship on the family of a member on sick report, the department was going to discontinue this practice of deducting half-pay “on an experimental basis”.

And it was effective September 5, 1961 that the forty-hour week for members of the force was established by Mayor Wagner and the Board of Estimate.

This change was reflected in the members receiving the same pay for the 40-hour week that they had been receiving for the schedules they had been working previously, which were for a 42-hour week.


ACADEMY GRADUATE- 1961

In September 1961 there were 451 graduates from the Police Academy.

Among the graduates, and the Chief Inspector’s Trophy Winner for the 3rd highest general average of the graduating class was DAVID SCOTT.

Scott would advance in his career to the level of Chief of Department, the highest uniform rank, and be appointed First Deputy Commissioner before his retirement from the Department.


ANTISOCIAL?

A study conducted by Dr. A. Abrahamsen, and published in 1960 as the PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIME”, made a valuable finding.

The doctor developed a “law of criminal behavior” – and like most academic laws, there was a formula:

Crime (C) is a function of criminal tendencies (T), plus
The total Situation (S), divided by
The persons Resistance (R)

The doctor’s formula looked something like this:

C = T + S
R

Now, I read this and tried to figure out how this could help us today. I was wondering how this might be used at a COMPSTAT meeting, and who would be the person to bring this formula up?

I think the following quote by Dr. Abrahamsen pretty much sums up the usefulness of his formula.

After discussing Murder Inc., and pointing out that these professional murderers brutally killed at least 63 men in the New York area alone, Dr. Abrahemsen scientifically concluded: “Very likely most or all were at least antisocial”. Well, Thank You Dr Abrahemsen for coming to that conclusion!

I just wonder if the good Doctore spent a lot of time working out his formula in order to make the conclusion about the murderers! Antisocial – you think maybe??


MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

The Want Ads in Spring 3100 serve as a good measure of the prevailing times.

The October 1961 want ads mentioned several items that, with the benefit of hindsight, would have provided some pretty good opportunities.

A duplex of 2 apartments in Miami Beach were being offered for sale at $13,500.

You could have picked up a house in Valley Stream for $17,500, or in Copiague for $4,000.

Need a car? A pretty new 1959 Impala was being offered for $1,695. Maybe you could have used the 12 year old 1949 Studebaker sedan, for $100.


GOYAKOD, GUMSHOE, AND MODERN BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY

A recent article in the Financial Times (March 9, 2010 by Stefan Stern) reviewed the advancements being made in the area of data management, and how it applies to the current corporation and corporate executive.

But what does that have to do with detective work?

There was something that Stefan Stern wrote concerning a business manager and their use of analytics that I found applicable to the investigator, and pretty much goes back to the detective creed “GOYAKOD”.

We are all aware of the advancements made in the past years as it concerns databases utilized by the investigator. Both databases we have direct access to, and the trove of information available from the Real Time Crime Center – all intended to provide the investigator with the information he / she needs at the precise moment they need it.

But this is what Mr. Stern added. “Even academic experts agree that, however sophisticated your approach to data, you still need judgment to make good decisions”.

That statement pretty much sums up a lot of what I present during the Criminal Investigation Course. The human element of the investigator – how important this is.

Databases can provide you with lots of paper, but it is the human element that must look it over and make decisions. A quote that I often use is “A Detective sometimes doesn’t know what he is looking for until he sees it”. That’s why the importance of the detective working the investigation looking over the printouts that are provided is so important.

You cannot expect a person at the other end of the telephone, that accesses a database for you and prints out pages of results, to be able to look over these same results that way you can.

What else, according to the Financial Times, is advocated for today’s business manager?

“Today it is almost too easy to accumulate data. Get away from your desk, and go and see for yourself”.

Isn’t this what we advocate to detectives?

This is the reason why detectives respond to the scene, for the first hand observation.

Which leads us to GOYAKOD.

The creed of the detective, that reminds the investigator that sometimes what you need to do is “GET OFF YOUR ASS AND KNOCK ON DOORS”.

Talking to people in the street, asking questions and finding out what’s going on. Field investigative work – this is what solves cases.

The Financial Times says that sometimes managers need to “wear rubber soles” – so they can get around, visit and observe. Just like detectives, right?

After all, the affectionate term for detectives – Gumshoe – derived from the rubber soles a detective would wear as they made their way around, surreptitiously and effectively!

GOYAKOD!


"LEST WE FORGET..." THE NYPD MEMORIAL

May 8, 2000 PO David Regan, 62 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
May 9, 1939 Ptl William Holstein, Mcy2, Motorcycle accident
May 10, 1922 Ptl Henry Pohndorf, 38 Pct, Shot- robbery arrest
May 10, 1979 PO Robert Soldo, 108 Pct, Shot- off duty incident
May 11, 1959 Ptl Harry Hafner, Hwy3, Motorcycle accident
May 12, 1925 Ptl Charles Godfrey, 16 Pct, Shot- arrest
May 12, 1932 Sgt Theodore Werdann, 87 Pct, Injured on patrol
May 12, 1944 Ptl Joseph Curtis, Mtd, Line of duty injury
May 12, 1951 Ptl Harold Randolph, 75 Pct, shot- off duty incident
May 13, 1913 Ptl Charles Teare, 12 Pct, Shot- arrest
May 15, 1934 Ptl John Morrissey, Telegrph Bur, Injured- assaulted
May 16, 1864 Ptl George Duryea, 19 Pct, Arrest-robbery
May 16, 1947 Ptl Frank Golden, 108 Pct, Shot- accidental discharge
May 17, 1927 Det Morris Borkin, DetDiv, Shot- burglary arrest
May 17, 1930 Ptl William Duncan, 18 Pct, Shot- GLA arrest
May 18, 1922 Ptl Douglas Hay, 49 Pct, Assaulted
May 18, 1962 Det Luke Fallon & Det John Finnegan, 70 Sqd – Shot-robbery
May 19, 1931 Ptl William O’Connor, Mtd, Shot
May 19, 1997 PO Anthony Sanchez, 13 Pct, Shot- robbery
May 20, 1920 Ptl John Fitzpatrick, DetDiv, Shot-GLA arrest
May 21, 1968 Det Richard Rolanz, 103 Pct, Line of duty heart attack
May 21, 1971 Ptl Joseph Piagentini & Ptl Waverly Jones, 32 Pct – Assasinated
May 21, 1996 PO Vincent Guidice, 50 Pct, Arrest- Cut by glass, assaulted
May 23, 1919 Ptl Emil Carbonell, Mcy, Auto accident on patrol
May 23, 1927 Ptl Walter Wahl, 7 Pct, Fire rescue
May 23, 1939 Ptl Nicholas Moreno, 87 Pct, Shot- investigation
May 25, 1970 PO Miguiel Sirvent, 71 Pct, Shot- robbery
May 26, 1924 Det Bernardino Grottano, DetDiv, Shot- burglary in progress
May 26, 1947 Ptl Phillip Fitzpatrick, Mtd, Shot- robbery
May 26, 1998 PO Anthony Mosomillo, 67 Pct, Shot- arrest, warrant
May 28, 1948 Ptl Charles Meyer, Hwy3, LOD injury
May 28, 1966 Ptl John Bannon, 110 Pct, Shot- off duty incident
May 28, 1970 Ptl Lawrence Stefane, 9 Pct, Stabbed by EDP
May 28, 2000 PO David Regan, 62 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
May 29, 1963 Ptl George Crane, 23 Pct, Shot- burglary in progress
May 29, 1978 PO James Washington, HPD, Struck by elevator in rescue
May 30, 1916 Ptl Henry Schwartz, 15 Pct, Shot- investigation
May 31, 1938 Ptl Melvin Williams, Mcy Unit, Motorcycle accident on patrol

FROM THE INVESTIGATOR’S TOOLBOX

GO BACK!

One of the most important pieces of advice that any senior investigator can offer another investigator is simple direction: GO BACK!!

Go back over the months. Go back over the years. You will never know when a witness will turn around or a perpetrator will “Give it up”. Over time the perpetrator may have confided his story of the deed and then later have a falling out with that person. The motives of revenge, jealousy, greed and hate often cause the confidant to inform on the perpetrator and become a witness. There are times when a perpetrator suffers from remorse, or has pent up feelings of guilt – and is just waiting for the police to come knock on his door.

“We’re ‘gonna eat this one”

A professional investigator will never accept the above statement as it surrenders to the felon, and from that point on the investigation goes downhill.

The professional accepts the challenge and does his/her best to bring the case to a successful conclusion. Many cases will at first appear to be obvious and easy and, as the case develops, original opinions and hopes for an easy solution become frustrated and thwarted by a lack of evidence or corroboration.

At the same time, cases that appear to offer no means of solution may turn out to be one of the easiest cases in the squad’s caseload.

I recall a homicide several years ago where a decomposed body was found buried under the basement of a newly purchases building by the new owner. Deciding to refurbish the basement, he began digging – and came across the skeleton.

“You’re gonna have to eat this one” was a common theme of the thoughts the catching detective heard from around the squad room. It didn’t help that this was his first homicide case, either.

Going back to basics, the detective followed the trail backwards. “Who did you buy the house from”; then from the previous owner, “Who lived in the basement”. By the second day it was learned the basement had been rented to a parolee and his friend. The parolee suddenly disappeared, and had been listed as a parole absconder – and never found. A few more phone calls and some knocking on doors, and the detective found the prior roommate of the missing parolee. “I figured you be here one day” is how the detective was met at the door. Statement of admission, written and on video – before we even had the body positively identified! Not bad for the first homicide he caught.

Arrests were made – within 3 days – and no one had to “eat the case”.

NEVER SAY NEVER, NEVER SAY ALWAYS

There are very few positives and/or negatives in life.

The investigator deals with the human element, and should be prepared to accept anything!

Rational, irrational, logical and illogical – behavior that will often puzzle and confuse.

Many times you will ask yourself, and someone else will ask you, “why did he do that?”, or “why would someone act like that?”

You may never be able to figure out the answer, as people’s actions may be dependent on irrational and illogical thinking and decisions.

“Why would he point an imitation pistol at a police officer?” Trying to determine a logical response to an illogical and unreasonable person’s thought process may be impossible. There are thousands of instances of irrational acts performed by human beings – who really knows why?

Why would two brothers keep a mummified corpse of their mother for years in their apartment, and then finally decide to bury her? And then why would they pass several vacant lots and try to bury the body next to an occupied apartment building?

Why do killers return to the scene of the crime? Why?

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A GROUND BALL

One of the worst statements for me to hear upon arrival at a crime scene is the phrase: “This one’s a ground ball, boss.”

That’s pretty much the same as using the “Q” word while sitting around the squad room (“It sure is QUIET around here tonight”). Do you believe in jinxes?

Every case demands a thorough investigation to insure a conviction. Detectives know that their job doesn’t stop once probable cause is established and an arrest is made – making sure that the case will stand up at trial should be the goal of the professional investigator. Putting the time and effort into the investigation to corroborate witnesses statements, and to refute a perpetrators alibi, are all important investigative tasks that need to be performed on every case – even on the seemingly “ground ball” case.

TAKE YOUR TIME

Be careful and concise in your actions.

You’ve responded to the scene of the crime, after the crime has been committed.

Your job, as a professional investigator, is a thinking job; rushing and charging into things can cause you to overlook the obvious and miss the hidden. You can destroy a good investigation by not getting the required documents needed for corroboration, or by trying to bypass a warrant that will cause you to lose your evidence.

Few cases are wrapped up in a day, and generally good investigations may take weeks – and sometimes months – to be put together. It would be a shame to lose the case because you tried to cut corners and missed that important piece of evidence.

Not every case can be solved within a 28 day period. It is the perseverance of the good detective, persistence and attention, that help move an investigation to its conclusion. Trying to rush things doesn’t work.

Time is on your side.

Just because a case isn’t solved in the first 72 hours doesn’t mean you won’t have any success.

One of the principles of homicide investigation is that you follow 2 sets of numbers:
24 & 72

24 meaning you want to go back over your victims actions for the 24 hours prior to his/her death. Very often this will provide insight into why the victim was killed, which often will lead to who did it.

The 72 refers to the first 72 hours of the investigation. This is the time that the foundation of a good investigation is laid – the first 72 hours. You may not have the case wrapped up in 72 hours, but the efforts and work you put in during the first 72 hours should provide you with an insight into what happened, and several theories about why and who. You can’t make up for these early hours right after an investigation begins – capitalize on the crime scene forensic evidence, and on interviews of interested parties while the event is still fresh in their mind – and while it still means something to them.

The other way that time is on your side is with the addition of the human element.

Often, your perpetrator will tell someone about what happened. This provides a pool of potential witnesses – you just need to find the right one.

If the crime isn’t solved quickly, time becomes a friend and may eventually bring the killer to justice. But you have to work at it!

LUCK

You will often hear that a case was broken because someone “got lucky”.

In most cases where “Luck” is attributed to solving the case, the investigator made his/her own luck. They got off the chair and into the field and knocked on doors. They handed out flyers, the canvasses and re-canvassed. Finally something happens that pays off. “Luck” solved the case? Or the hard work they put in over weeks of “no results” paid off finally.

GOYAKOD

You create your own luck by getting into the street and asking questions.

You knock on peoples doors and you ask them questions.

You don’t wait for the phone to ring – witnesses won’t be tracking you down, you have to track them down.

“Get Off You’re A** and Knock On Doors” – GOYAKOD

There comes a time when all the research and background has been done – get out into the street and do what detectives do. Talk to people. Ask questions. And follow up on leads.

Forensics doesn’t solve homicides – detectives do. Forensics provide the corroboration, the support, and often the valuable lead – which the detective needs to act on to build a case. Without the work of the detective, the case does not get “solved”.

Create your own “luck” – a recipe for success as a Detective.


BARNEY MILLER

Having said all that regarding the professional detective investigator - is there anyone there who has ever seen an episode of BARNEY MILLER that doesn't think that show is one of the most realistic detective shows ever to air on televsion??

Think about - every squad room has the same cast of characters that occupied Barney's squad room. A classic show if there ever was one!

More on Barney Miller's cast of characters to come.


FINEST OF THE SCREEN??

Being released this weekend is a new movie, "BROOKLYN'S FINEST".

Is it really?

Another movie depicting corrupt cops and disgruntled police in operation. It seems to have received some mixed reviews, as the Daily News gave it 3-Stars, while the NY Post pretty much canned it.

The NY Post described the movie as "tale of demoralized cops who turn a blind eye to crime, grab every chance to rip off drug dealers, and befriend the gangs who are ostensibly running the neighborhoods".

Retired Det First Grade Louis Savarese, retired from Brooklyn North Homicide Squad, is quoted in the NY Post article about the movie.

"I just wish once they would do a story about a guy who comes in and does an honest day's work, but that would never sell," fumed retired homicide detective Louis Savarese, who spent 33 years in the Brooklyn neighborhoods featured in the film.

You can read the entire NY Post article on this link:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/nypd_wood_kdPMl7Gr85OM0Z53CJHGZP#ixzz0hLRI0nnJ

Starring Richard Gere and Ethan Hawke, they certainly added some pretty well known names to the cast.

What you probably didn't know, though, was they also had a contingent of people from the streets of Brownsville - they filmed a lot of their scenes in Brownsville, and put some local talent to work.

All well and good, except one of their talent pool was none other than the person we arrested for a Homicide last year.

A convicted murderer and overall crook received several thousand dollars for his work as an "extra", and for providing the "technical advice" on what people would do if a drive-by shooter approached. (He told them they wouldn't run away; someone would be running after the car shooting back. They apparently took his advice, and reshot the scene).

In real life this "advisor" shoots and kills one person in the middle of the afternoon in what was termed the "Cake To Die For" homicide (the victim stopped at a local bakery for a piece of cake, where the perp found him and ran up on him shooting) - while firing shots into a salon as the victim ran, striki ng an off-duty MOS in the foot, and a second Non-Fatal Victim multiple times.

Makes you want to see the picture even more?

I thought it was interesting that the cast and staff of the film had a "New York Opening" of this film - "Brooklyn's Finest" - recently.

Where was the party held?

You guessed it - MANHATTAN!



“LEST WE FORGET…” THE NYPD MEMORIAL

March 1, 1945 PO Albert Black, Traffic F, Fire rescue
March 1, 1970 PO Joseph Mariconda, Aviation and
PO Patrick Harrington, Aviation
Helicopter Accident
March 2, 1924 PO Thomas Gaffney, 26 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
March 3, 1989 PO Robert Machate, BSTF, Shot-car stop
March 4, 1927 PO Henry Farrell, 3A Pct, Fire rescue
March 5, 1973 PO Irving Wright, 20 Pct, Shot-arrest
March 5, 1975 PO Robert Rogerson, Div.Licenses, Auto accident
March 9, 1948 PO Julius Mirell, 34 Pct, Shot-burglary
March 9, 1974 PO Timothy Hurley, 103 Pct, Shot-robbery
March 10, 1917 Ptl Deforest Fredenburg & Ptl John Lober, No information available
March 10, 1994 PO Sean McDonald, 44 Pct, Shot-Robbery
March 10, 2003 Det Rodney Andrews, OCCB Firearms, Shot-UC gun buy
March 10, 2003 Det James Nemorin, OCCB-Firearms, Shot-UC gun buy
March 11, 1930 Ptl Joseph Scott, 32 Pct, auto accident on patrol
March 11, 1947 Ptl Winthrop Paris, 30 Pct, Shot-Investigation, off duty
March 11, 1959 Ptl Robert Forrest, 24 Pct, Off duty LOD heart attack
March 11, 1987 Det Louis Miller, FTU10, Shot-Burglary in progress
March 12, 1909 Lt Joseph Petrosino, Det Div; Shot – Investigation in Italy
March 12, 1931 Ptl James Flanagan, 25 Pct, Shot- off duty investigation
March 14, 1872 Det Phillip Lambreck, 19 Pct, Assaulted
March 14, 1967 Det John Pollins, Narc, Arrest- narcotics buy/bust
March 14, 1996 PO Kevin Gillespie, SCU, Shot – investigation