ESTABLISHING THE NEW YORK CITY WATCH
The NYC Watch was established at 51 Water Street to police the City of New York.
It was created at sundown on the night of November 25, 1783 under the authority of the October 23, 1779 New York State Act, " To Provide for the Temporary Government of the Southern Parts of the State Whenever the Enemy Shall Abandon or be Disposed of the Same."
Up into this day, all law enforcements activities in North America were carried out by a foreign country.
The first "Superintendent" of the Watch", Aaron Gilbert, later submitted the formal proposal for the Watch's organization, along with its rules and regulations to police the city, to the Common Council on Feb. 24, 1784. His official title was Captain of Police. The ordinance was approved and the City Watch was formally responsible for maintaining law and order and policing New York City with various other city agencies for the next 62 years, until the establishment of New York City's 2nd Municipal Police Department, on August 1, 1845.
An earlier, or "first" NYC Municipal Police Department, was established and officially began policing NYC on January 20, 1845 along with the older established 'City Watch', 'Mayor's Marshals' and constables until July 31, 1845.
SHERLOCK CINEMA MOVIE PICKS
Sherlock Cinema was making plans to see the new release, �Annapolis�, even though it only received one and a half stars. �An Officer and a Gentleman without Debra Winger� is how it was described. It�s value as a movie, though, remains to be seen. Ed. Note: As this listing went to press, the movie review came in as a "thumbs-up". "A modern day version of "Officer and a Gentleman", only in the Navy. And without Debra Winger.
�Tristin & Isolde� was recently viewed, and was rated as a �decent movie� by Sherlock Cinema. �Worth seeing, but not real thrilled with it�. A timepiece movie, it takes place in an olden-day England and Ireland period � yet the actors had no accents? �Perhaps they forgot to do the accents, but I like my time-period movies to have the accents of the country�. I thought it took place in ancient Greece, that�s how much I know!
Sherlock Cinema rated �Queen Latifah�s Last Holiday� as a �predictable, but cute� movie. It was a �feel-good movie, entertaining and worth the money�.
Both Sherlock, and The Minister, enjoyed �Cinderella Man� (no, not together, separately � and about six months apart). If you like �Million Dollar Baby�, you�ll like this as well. Russell Crowe plays a good part � he�s not Deniro in �Raging Bull�, but the movies good all the same.
I guess I should add that Sherlock Cinema provides a movie review from a female perspective � so it�s not really Sherlock, but more like his sister, who�s reviewing the flicks.
When I explained this to a fellow gumshoe recently, he remarked �I guess that explains the �Bareback Mountain� review�. I guess so.
CELL PHONE INFORMATION ASSISTANCE
You probably already know that most major wireless companies charge between $1.25 and $1.50 to dial information.
There are two main options to avoid or reduce these costs.
If you�re looking for the general toll free number for a specific company, the easiest and cheapest option may be to call: 1-800-555-1212.
One all-purpose directory is: 1-800-Free411.
This is an ad-subsidized system that connects users to a desired number at no extra charge after playing a roughly 10-second commercial. This, however, also uses a speech recognition system; if it doesn�t recognize your request, a live operator will get on.
Another alternative that doesn�t use speech recognition, with NO ads, is available.
However, you�ll have to jot down the number � there is no direct connection available. (Imagine that: you call an operator, ask for a telephone number, and they read it back to you but you have to write it down yourself, and dial it yourself � that�s a novel idea!).
1-800-411METRO
Another alternative for information assistance on a cell phone is to simply dial
1-800-373-3411
You won�t incur any additional charges, only the minutes on your monthly usage.
BROOKLYN PRECINCTS
With a thank-you to Ret Det1 John Reilly, here�s a listing of old Brooklyn police precinct�s that you may find of interest. Initially police by the Metropolitan Police Department, the following is a breakdown of the Brooklyn Precinct�s along with their manpower.
Brooklyn Police Department: Location of Brooklyn Police Station Houses - 1874.
Pct: Location:
1st Washington St. near Johnson.
2nd York & Jay Sts.
3rd 19 Butler St. near Court St.
4th Corner of Myrtle & Vanderbilt Aves.
5th North 1st & 4th Sts.
6th Corner of Stagg & Morrell Sts.
6th-Sub. Flushing Ave.
7th Union & Greenpoint Aves.
8th 530 5th Ave. (between 13th & 14th Sts.)
8th-Sub. Corner of 3rd Ave. & 42nd St.
9th Gates Ave. near Marcy Ave.
9th-Sub. Green Ave. & Broadway.
10th Bergen St. & 6th Ave.
Note that in July 1874, a mounted force of 1 Sgt. & 12 Ptl., was established to patrol suburban areas of Bklyn, at the 10th Pct. A new stable, with 13 horse stalls, a saddle & feed room, was built adjoining the 10th Pct. S.H.
11th Corner of Van Brunt & Seibert Sts.
12th Fulton St. & Schenectady Ave.
SPEAKING OF MOVIES� BULLITT
Here�s some movie trivia about the 1968 movie, BULLITT, that starred Steve McQueen in his only role he ever played as a cop. He plays a San Francisco detective, and the movie � which I�ve written about on this site previously � is famous for it�s car chase scene that seems to never end.
Well, here�s some trivia on the movie.
Two Mustangs and two Dodge Chargers were used for the famous chase scene.
Both Mustangs were owned by the Ford Motor Company and part of a promotional loan agreement with Warner Brothers. Both of the Dodges were junked after the filming, as was one of the Mustangs. The other less banged-up Mustang was purchased by a WB employee after all production and post-production was completed. The car ended up in New Jersey a few years later, where McSteve Queen attempted to buy it. The owner refused to sell, and the car now sits in a barn and has not been driven in many years.
The director called for speeds of about 75-80 mph, but the cars (including the ones containing the cameras) reached speeds of over 110 mph. Filming of the chase scene took three weeks, resulting in 9 minutes and 42 seconds of footage. They were denied permission to film on the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Mustang's interior mirror goes up and down depending who is driving it - Steve McQueen (up, visible) or Bud Ekins, the stunt driver, down, not visible.
This film is edited entirely by cuts except in two instances.
The first occurs when the jazz club scene dissolves to a shot of Steve McQueen lying in bed. The second occurs after the Dodge crashes into the gas station and burns, when the shot of the two dead villains dissolves to a scene at the police station.
This was the first mainstream Hollywood film to use the expletive "Bullshit!" in its script.
Steve McQueen based his character on San Francisco Homicide Inspector Dave Toschi, made famous for his work on the Zodiac killings.
McQueen had a copy made of Toschi's custom fast-draw shoulder holster. (Ed. Note: IN San Francisco, an Inspector is equivalent to a Detective.)
Justin Tarr, who plays Eddy (the informer who meets Bullitt at Enricos), is later shown as a passenger at the airport boarding the flight to Rome.
I ASKED FOR IT: �REMEMBER WHEN�
The following is an e-mail making its way around the retired members of the NYPD. As I noted in a prior posting, some of these terms are referred to here. You may enjoy this, or at least walk away scratching your head.Hey officer, do you remember�
-Sunday day tour, washed and waxed the RMP in the days when RMP crews were permanently assigned.
-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. (Editors Note: It wasn�t that long ago that Transit District�s still kept to this practice. When I came on the job in 1981, in Transit, there were only two RMP�s assigned to each District. If the RMP went down, there were very few spares; if your car was out of service, you found yourself on foot. �Keep the car running� anyway you could!)
-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.)
-The day after being sworn in, getting your equipment- including your gun and shield.
-When you didn't need shoulder patches for people to know you were NYPD.
-Patrol cars with push button transmissions that got stuck.
-Milk crates holding the backrest of seats from collapsing. (Once again, common in the Transit RMPs as recent as the late-1980's, until Chief Bill Bratton took over as the Transit Police Chief and began assigning more than 2 RMP's to a District).
-When you didn't see the inside of a sector car for at least two years. Maybe.
-Bubblegum machine roof lights.2 red, 1 white, and 1 yellow.
-Hiding from the shoofly at the end of the tour.
-When you dreamed of the day you'd have the time in to be called a hairbag.
-When cops were called patrolman and were all men.
-Getting the Lt. his flute.
-Long winter overcoats (horse blankets)-all 15 lbs. of it, pre-"reefer coats."
-"Print and photo' in the basement of 240 Centre St.-When Yellow Sheets were yellow
-A Smith and Wesson M&P service revolver cost $42 bucks and a Chief's Special off duty revolver cost $52 bucks.
-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 &*-@!&% radio without me telling you to. Clear?"
-Learning to spin your night stick without breaking either your kneecap or a store window.
-"Don't worry, kid. You'll grow into it after the Academy."
-When real batons were made of wood-preferably cocobolo.
-Slappers
-Getting a few "sees' from the sarge before you got your "scratch."
-Foot posts with NO portable radio. (There were no portable radios)
-When Desk Lieutenants were Godlike and precinct captains were only whispered about.
-Capes for rain worn as a badge of honor to impress rookies no matter how badly worn-out.
-The window shade covering the pictures of the KGs (Known Gamblers � the first �Crime Information Center� in a station house.
-The PCCIU (Police Commissioner�s Confidential Investigating Unit)
-The broom shaving the beard (breaking down the teletype).
-"Hey kid, to you it's a homicide, to me it's an aided case."
-"He'd take a hot stove and come back for the ashes."
-Six inch long memo books, buff and green tags
-Straight pins instead of paper clips-Relieving points for foot posts and RMP's
-Having the RMP fire extinguisher filled at the Motor Transport (MTMD) shop....-
-Having the precinct numerals, shield and tie clasp plated..
-Taking the bus or train to post or to handle a job from the T.S...
-Growing a beard in the snow while waiting for the Sgt. to answer the T.S....
-U.F.120's prepared by the patrol sgt. for store burglaries on the late tour...
-All Details of Plainclothes arrests entered in the blotter and Arrest Record....
-Meals not permitted in the station house
IN MEMORIAM: PO KEVIN LEE JANUARY 27, 2006
Please take a moment to remember our brother officer, P.O. KEVIN LEE of the Manhattan North Anti-Crime Unit, who died in the line of duty this past week.
Services will be held at the R.G. Ortiz Funeral Home at 4425 Broadway, Bronx on Tuesday 1/31/06 and Wednesday 2/1/06. The funeral will be on Thursday, February 2 at 1000 hours, at St. Athanasius Church, 2154 61 Street, Brooklyn.
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
February 1, 1935 Sgt George Nadler, ESU, Explosion-investigation
February 2, 1975 PO Frank Bugdin, Midtown North, Shot-investigation
February 4, 1933 Sgt Eugene Monahan, 34 Pct, Shot: Robbery pursuit
February 6, 1864 Ptl John Hoffman, 25 Pct � Accident, runaway horse
February 6, 1914 Ptl Edward Murtha, 147 Pct, Shot-Robbery investigation
February 6, 1944 Ptl Eugene Mahoney, 5 Det Sq, Auto accident on patrol
Monday, January 30, 2006
Friday, January 27, 2006
SHORT, BALD AND FAT: A LEGENDARY CHICAGO DETECTIVE
I came across this article recently while doing some research on the Chicago Police Department that I thought would be of interest to readers on this site.
While most of the stories here pertain to New York detective�s, a story like this is certainly worth relating. The �heroic� detective is more often than not the person who would blend into a crowd, not an outwardly flashy person, but a gutsy cop, whose heroics are not exhibited with flair and bravado, but with a lot of hard work and dedication.
Detective Moon, from the Chicago Police Department, was one of these heroic detectives.
The story, written by Mark Brown and published in the Chicago Sun-Times on April 27, 2005, stands as an obituary to a dedicated detective. It is subtitled as a �nice home spun story about the Chicago PD � FBI Joint �Operation Family Secrets� investigation�.
I am reprinting most of that article here.
�Secret Weapon in War on Mob: Short, Bald, Fat Detective�
�Robert Moon's been dead from cancer nearly five months and retired from the Chicago Police Department for three years. Even several months before that, he'd been reassigned away from his longtime position with the FBI's Organized Crime Task Force.
So what was it then about this veteran detective, dubbed "Moon Man" by a mob loan shark, that caused his former FBI colleagues to single him out above all others for recognition on the day they went public with Operation Family Secrets, their big new case against the Chicago Outfit?
Let me try to answer that by first telling you what Robert Moon wasn't.
Moon wasn't a flashy guy. "Short, bald and fat" was his own oft-used description.
He wasn't the type to look for the limelight, never worried about getting credit.
He never made money writing a book on the mob. As best as I can tell, he never got quoted in the papers.
Moon wasn't one to boast, not even to embellish.
But Robert Moon had the respect of his peers, which is no small thing in this world.
"Bob was the most knowledgeable person about the LCN (La Cosa Nostra � in New York, known as the Mafia; in Chicago, known as The Outfit) I've ever dealt with," said Michael Maseth, the FBI's lead agent for Family Secrets, using the shorthand favored by the bureau for La Cosa Nostra.
"Bob was the best detective I've ever worked with," said Gloria Ekerman, Moon's last partner with the Chicago Police Department.
I wish I could tell you I knew Moon, but I'm not that smart. As soon as I saw his name mentioned, though, in Monday's news release for the Family Secrets indictment, I knew I wanted to know more.
I learned no tales of heroism, only the story of a man that every organization needs but doesn't always value -- the guy with the institutional memory who is willing to share it.
His mind held memory banks.
Moon was assigned to the Organized Crime Task Force when it was created in 1986. He'd already been working with the FBI for several years on an investigation of salvage yards. By then, he was an experienced Chicago Police detective and familiar with the city's organized crime landscape, having arrested many mobsters for lesser crimes along the way.
His knowledge made him a major asset from the start, and by the time he retired in 2002, he was practically essential. His wife, Kathy, told me that right up until his death, Moon received calls at home from investigators searching his memory banks.
What you need to understand is that the FBI keeps detailed, voluminous files, but sorting through those files for the specific information an agent might need is no simple matter. Moon could short-circuit that by telling agents exactly what they needed to know and where they could find the pertinent documentation.
If an agent inquired about an individual, Moon could tell him who he was, who he was related to and who he hung out with -- and if he didn't know, he'd find out.
But Moon was no desk jockey. He was a tough street cop, too.
Tom Bourgeois, a retired agent who supervised the task force, said he was amazed at Moon's catlike reactions. Bourgeois remembered going to make an arrest and spotting the guy on the street. Bourgeois said he was just getting out of the car when he looked over to see the arrestee on the ground, in handcuffs, with Moon on top.
Loan shark shouted 'Moon Man!'
Moon went undercover to help make the case that originally put away mobster Frank Calabrese, which would later set the stage for Family Secrets.
He posed as the recipient of a juice loan from colorful loan shark Louis Bombacino, who kept a photo of Al Capone on his living room wall and detailed records in the back room. Moon later had the opportunity to make the arrest of Bombacino, who shouted out "Moon Man" as the agents moved in. The nickname stuck.
Bombacino didn't flip, but his records helped put away Calabrese.
Keep in mind that organized crime cases can take decades to develop. Bourgeois traced the Family Secrets probe to the failed hit on Ken Eto in 1983, when three bullets bounced off his head. Eto turned informant and gave the FBI its first real insight into the importance of Calabrese, which then targeted him.
Moon was also legendary for his ability to interview mobsters and get information from them with his unassuming straightforward approach.
Bourgeois said Moon was one of the agents who helped turn Bobby "The Beak" Siegel, one of Chicago's legendary tough guys. Siegel, an all-purpose criminal who specialized in robbing jewelry stores, banks and armored cars, helped provide some of the leads in the conviction of former Chicago Police Chief of Detectives William Hanhardt.
Moon died in November 2004 at age 62 from bladder cancer.
I wish he HAD written a book.
LT-CDS JOSEPH FERRARA: END OF AN ERA
When Joe Ferrara walked out of the 75 Squad on January 13, 2005, it was the end of a long, great era.
Forty years of policing this great city walked out the door.
No finer person will you find than Joe Ferrara. An excellent cop, outstanding detective, great squad commander, a professional through and through � you can�t say enough to sum up Joe Ferrara best. And no better baseball catcher, either!
A dynamo as a squad commander, Joe always exhibits poise and confidence under the most stressful of situations. He commanded the 75 Squad for the past year, and the 73 Squad for 6 years before that. As a Squad Commander, he also led the 83 Squad prior to the 73, and first came into Brooklyn North Detectives several years before that, as a Sergeant in the 88 Squad. (Forgive me for glossing over his forty-year career).
Joe has been an inspiration and a leader to all those who have had the privilege to serve with him in these past years. He will be missed, but not forgotten.
Some of his friends from Brooklyn North Detectives gathered recently at Two Toms for a festival of food that only Two-Toms can present. The laughter and joking was only coupled with the feeling of sadness that friends have when they gather for the retirement of a great one � happy for the future retirement of a deserving friend, but sad to see the change.
Joe came on the job in 1965 � forty years ago. Many of us in this department weren�t yet born. A great street cop, Joe excelled in the 23 Precinct and was part of the first group of plainclothes precinct officers that was part of the department�s pilot project, known as an �Anti-Crime� team. Who would have thought forty years later you�d be a Squad Commander in the busiest of the best?
And, oh yes, he�s continued to play baseball � fast pitch, hard ball type baseball � throughout these years! And he continues to play catcher in a Senior League on Long Island, where the pitchers still hurl 70 mph fastballs.
The epitome of an NYPD Squad Commander � a hero to many and a friend to those who know him. Joe, we all wish you the VERY BEST in your retirement. You truly deserve it. We will miss you, but never forget you. Hope to see you at the Squad Commander�s luncheons!
Best of luck to Joe Ferrara and his family!
WHAT�S WITH ALL THESE WHIPS?
I�ve been trying to find the derivation of the term that is often used to describe the Detective Squad Sergeant as �The Second Whip�.
It�s an �old-time� detective term that is not used as often as it was when The Minister first came into The Squad. But where does it come from?
Talk with any senior detectives about the �old days�, or about detective stories from when �they came into the Bureau�, and will here them throw around the term in an affectionate, familiar manner. �I remember when Joe was the second-whip in the 17th Squad��
Consulting with Ret. Det Captain Frank Bolz, who goes back to his days as a Brooklyn North Detective in the 60�s back in the 81 Squad, and I learned the following.
The term �first whip� was not used. The Squad Commander was known simply as �The Boss�. The Detective Squad Sergeant was referred to as the �Second Whip�. Frank Bolz recalls being �the 2nd whip in the 17th Squad, when they had a Lieutenant as the Squad Commander and two Sergeant�s.
I guess the �whip� part had to do with keep everyone in line; the �2nd Whip� was the �Squad Boss� assistant�, hence, he had the second whip.
I�m still looking to find the derivation of some other terms. Maybe some readers can help with these.
We all know what it means, and have often used, the term �hairbag�.
He�s the old curmudgeon cop with a lot of time under his belt who can often be counted on for some caustic, cynical remarks. He probably is the one with all the answers, although he may not be the most diplomatic in the bunch.
Perhaps hairbag refers to the bag (uniform) being so old that it was growing hair???
Frank Bolz notes that when he came on the job in January 1955 there were two classes within two months of each other, each with around 750 recruits, so that with just a few years on the job some cops were considered �hairbags� way before their time.
An what about the term �shoofly�?
A �shoofly� was the term pinned on the Captain who was the �Supervisor of Patrol�. He was usually a Captain assigned to the Division, but could also be from the Borough or from a Headquarters command like the First Dep�s Office who worked in civilian clothes who would supervise almost secretly and was feared by most cops on patrol.
The �shoofly� Captain would make unannounced visits to the station house, and check the blotter to see that everyone was where they should be � making sure no one was in the station house that shouldn�t be there. He would show up on radio calls, ensuring that jobs were answered properly � and that everyone that exited an RMP had a hat on!
Things like that.
That was back in the day when there were very few people actually assigned to station house duties.
Besides the Desk Lieutenant, you may have had the Sergeant on the T.S. (if there were two Sergeant�s working, one was on patrol and the other was on the T.S. to take rings, and make assignments over the call boxes), and perhaps 1 Patrolman in the 124 Room to type Complaint Reports and any other clerical work the Desk Lieutenant needed typed. On the day tour you probably had a Patrolman inside who was the Highway Safety officer, doing the clerical summons work, etc. The Captain always a few �Captain�s Men� doing his assigned tasks � but there were much fewer (to say the least) �inside jobs� than we have today.
If anyone can tell me where �shoofly� came from, please let me know.
ANOTHER RETIREMENT LOSS
On the same day that Joe Ferrara exited the 75 Squad for the last time, another good friend ended his twenty-year career with this department.
Lieutenant-Commander Detective Squad Thomas Joyce has retired for civilian life.
Tommy was originally part of the Transit Police Department, where I first met him, prior to the merge of the departments in 1995. I had the pleasure to work with Tommy in the 77 Squad when I took over as the Squad Commander in 1998, and he was the �2nd Whip�.
A dedicated, driven and highly knowledgeable detective commander, his departure will certainly leave a void with this department. He ended his career commanding the Bronx Cold Case Squad, having led the 79 Squad for a good number of years before that. He will always be remembered as a Brooklyn North Detective-Commander! A determined and motivated leader, he always strove for success. He brought this same outspoken quality to his dedicated work on the LBA Board.
Tommy is leaving to work for Lexis-Nexis, where he will work with police agencies in their efforts to bring the computer age to their investigative capacities. Spreading the word and value of Accurint and computer research for investigators � I can think of no better man for the job.
I�m just sorry to see you go! He won�t be far from Brooklyn North, however, and will certainly be attending future Squad Commander�s functions!
Best of luck, Tommy, from all your friends in Brooklyn North.
THE NINTH PRECINCT
Knowing that I am an avid collector and reader of true crime books, especially those of the NYPD, a friend presented me with a hard-to-find book recently.
The 1974 book by Al Silverman, �FOSTER AND LAURIE�, recounts the horrific death of 2 NYPD cops, Rocco Laurie and Gregory Foster, and the very turbulent times of the early 1970�s.
I thought it might be of interest to recount a little background on the 9th Precinct, in the early 70�s � noting the obvious changes (for the better) in that time.
�The Ninth Precinct is one of the strangest in New York City. It covers only 0.79 square miles. Yet within its borders � from the East River to Broadway, from East Fourteenth Street to East Houston Street � reside 78,000 people. A polyglot. There are 11,000 blacks, 28,000 Puerto Ricans, 35,000 whites, and 4,200 �others�. The whites who live there � Italians, Jews, Ukrainians, derelicts from the Bowery, runaway girls, freaks, the aged � fear for their lives, and hate the blacks. The blacks hate the whites and the Puerto Ricans, and hatred is exchanged. Hatred abounds, as does prostitution and drugs and stabbings and murder. It is the one area of New York City where nothing really works and the only thing that matters is survival.
For a precinct so small � less than three hundred uniformed personnel � the men of the Ninth keep busy. (My note: this was a time when uniformed cops were still called �Patrolmen�, and female officers were not a regular site on patrol).
In 1971 the Ninth Precinct was the eighth highest of all seventy-six precincts in robbery. Only two other precincts made more robbery arrests. There were forty-six homicides committed in the Ninth in 1971, again the eighth highest of all other precincts. Two cops once compared the Ninth with the Forty-first in the South Bronx � the infamous �Fort Apache�.
�Hey, man, we got rats this big in the four-one.�
�Yeah,� said the cop from the Ninth, �we got roaches who�ll eat your rats.�
It gives you a little idea of this precinct, the area, and the times.
Although I don�t have the information at my fingertips, I was curious if any historians may have the homicide and/or crime figures from 1971 as a comparison. If the 9th was the eighth highest � covering such a small area � which precinct was number 1 and number 2? I�m betting the 28 and the 75 will be there. Just a thought.
BROOKLYN POLICE PRECINCTS: CIRCA 1918
Here is a listing of the station houses for Brooklyn police precincts dating back to 1918. Some of them will be familiar to you, I�m sure. The precinct number as of 1918 is listed, with the �old� precinct number reflecting the designation it previously had, after the Brooklyn Police Department was first merged into the New York City Police Department, years earlier.
Pct: (Old Pct No.) Location:
67th 169th 2951 West 8th St.
68th 171st 86th St. & 5th Ave.
70th 170th Bath Ave. & Bay 22nd St.
72nd 168th Ave. U & E. 15th St.
73rd 1830 Brooklyn Ave.(Vanderveer Pk S.H.)
74th 172nd 154 Lawrence Ave.
76th 143rd 4302 4th Ave.
78th 144th 575 5th Ave.
79th 146th 6th Ave. & Bergen St.
80th 166th Ave. G & E. 95th St.
82nd 167th 35 Snyder Ave.
83rd 153rd 484-486 Liberty Ave.
85th 165th 2 Liberty Ave.
87th 152nd 1661 Atlantic Ave.
88th 151st 653 Grand Ave.
89th 145th 44 Rapelyea St.
90th 147th 17 Butler Ave. (Abolished 11/8/20)
(S.H. closed 11/6/20 for renovations. 5/10/21 became 91st Pct.)
91st 148th 59 Amity St.
(91st Pct moved to 17 Butler St. 5/10/21)
92nd 149th 318 Adams Ave. (Abolished 11/28/21)
93rd 150th 72 Poplar St.
94th 154th 16 Ralph Ave.
95th 155th 627 Gates Ave.
96th 156th 298 Classon Ave.
97th 164th 179 Wilson Ave.
98th 158th 148 Vernon Ave. (Abolished 1/16/22)
99th 157th 132 Flushing Ave.(Abolished 10/1/19)
101st 159th 2 Lee Ave.
102nd 163rd 171 Bushwick Ave.
103rd 160th 263 Bedford Ave.
104th 162nd 43 Herbert St.
105th 161st 145 Greenpoint Ave.(Abolished 9/18/24)
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
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 September 11.
REMEMBER� TO CONTACT THE MINISTER OF INVESTIGATION:
You can send me an e-mail at:
Ltjac77@yahoo.com
Perhaps you can help with some historical background, such as �shoofly� and �hairbag� derivations, or with some hysterical facts from the past, or present, you�d like to share.
I came across this article recently while doing some research on the Chicago Police Department that I thought would be of interest to readers on this site.
While most of the stories here pertain to New York detective�s, a story like this is certainly worth relating. The �heroic� detective is more often than not the person who would blend into a crowd, not an outwardly flashy person, but a gutsy cop, whose heroics are not exhibited with flair and bravado, but with a lot of hard work and dedication.
Detective Moon, from the Chicago Police Department, was one of these heroic detectives.
The story, written by Mark Brown and published in the Chicago Sun-Times on April 27, 2005, stands as an obituary to a dedicated detective. It is subtitled as a �nice home spun story about the Chicago PD � FBI Joint �Operation Family Secrets� investigation�.
I am reprinting most of that article here.
�Secret Weapon in War on Mob: Short, Bald, Fat Detective�
�Robert Moon's been dead from cancer nearly five months and retired from the Chicago Police Department for three years. Even several months before that, he'd been reassigned away from his longtime position with the FBI's Organized Crime Task Force.
So what was it then about this veteran detective, dubbed "Moon Man" by a mob loan shark, that caused his former FBI colleagues to single him out above all others for recognition on the day they went public with Operation Family Secrets, their big new case against the Chicago Outfit?
Let me try to answer that by first telling you what Robert Moon wasn't.
Moon wasn't a flashy guy. "Short, bald and fat" was his own oft-used description.
He wasn't the type to look for the limelight, never worried about getting credit.
He never made money writing a book on the mob. As best as I can tell, he never got quoted in the papers.
Moon wasn't one to boast, not even to embellish.
But Robert Moon had the respect of his peers, which is no small thing in this world.
"Bob was the most knowledgeable person about the LCN (La Cosa Nostra � in New York, known as the Mafia; in Chicago, known as The Outfit) I've ever dealt with," said Michael Maseth, the FBI's lead agent for Family Secrets, using the shorthand favored by the bureau for La Cosa Nostra.
"Bob was the best detective I've ever worked with," said Gloria Ekerman, Moon's last partner with the Chicago Police Department.
I wish I could tell you I knew Moon, but I'm not that smart. As soon as I saw his name mentioned, though, in Monday's news release for the Family Secrets indictment, I knew I wanted to know more.
I learned no tales of heroism, only the story of a man that every organization needs but doesn't always value -- the guy with the institutional memory who is willing to share it.
His mind held memory banks.
Moon was assigned to the Organized Crime Task Force when it was created in 1986. He'd already been working with the FBI for several years on an investigation of salvage yards. By then, he was an experienced Chicago Police detective and familiar with the city's organized crime landscape, having arrested many mobsters for lesser crimes along the way.
His knowledge made him a major asset from the start, and by the time he retired in 2002, he was practically essential. His wife, Kathy, told me that right up until his death, Moon received calls at home from investigators searching his memory banks.
What you need to understand is that the FBI keeps detailed, voluminous files, but sorting through those files for the specific information an agent might need is no simple matter. Moon could short-circuit that by telling agents exactly what they needed to know and where they could find the pertinent documentation.
If an agent inquired about an individual, Moon could tell him who he was, who he was related to and who he hung out with -- and if he didn't know, he'd find out.
But Moon was no desk jockey. He was a tough street cop, too.
Tom Bourgeois, a retired agent who supervised the task force, said he was amazed at Moon's catlike reactions. Bourgeois remembered going to make an arrest and spotting the guy on the street. Bourgeois said he was just getting out of the car when he looked over to see the arrestee on the ground, in handcuffs, with Moon on top.
Loan shark shouted 'Moon Man!'
Moon went undercover to help make the case that originally put away mobster Frank Calabrese, which would later set the stage for Family Secrets.
He posed as the recipient of a juice loan from colorful loan shark Louis Bombacino, who kept a photo of Al Capone on his living room wall and detailed records in the back room. Moon later had the opportunity to make the arrest of Bombacino, who shouted out "Moon Man" as the agents moved in. The nickname stuck.
Bombacino didn't flip, but his records helped put away Calabrese.
Keep in mind that organized crime cases can take decades to develop. Bourgeois traced the Family Secrets probe to the failed hit on Ken Eto in 1983, when three bullets bounced off his head. Eto turned informant and gave the FBI its first real insight into the importance of Calabrese, which then targeted him.
Moon was also legendary for his ability to interview mobsters and get information from them with his unassuming straightforward approach.
Bourgeois said Moon was one of the agents who helped turn Bobby "The Beak" Siegel, one of Chicago's legendary tough guys. Siegel, an all-purpose criminal who specialized in robbing jewelry stores, banks and armored cars, helped provide some of the leads in the conviction of former Chicago Police Chief of Detectives William Hanhardt.
Moon died in November 2004 at age 62 from bladder cancer.
I wish he HAD written a book.
LT-CDS JOSEPH FERRARA: END OF AN ERA
When Joe Ferrara walked out of the 75 Squad on January 13, 2005, it was the end of a long, great era.
Forty years of policing this great city walked out the door.
No finer person will you find than Joe Ferrara. An excellent cop, outstanding detective, great squad commander, a professional through and through � you can�t say enough to sum up Joe Ferrara best. And no better baseball catcher, either!
A dynamo as a squad commander, Joe always exhibits poise and confidence under the most stressful of situations. He commanded the 75 Squad for the past year, and the 73 Squad for 6 years before that. As a Squad Commander, he also led the 83 Squad prior to the 73, and first came into Brooklyn North Detectives several years before that, as a Sergeant in the 88 Squad. (Forgive me for glossing over his forty-year career).
Joe has been an inspiration and a leader to all those who have had the privilege to serve with him in these past years. He will be missed, but not forgotten.
Some of his friends from Brooklyn North Detectives gathered recently at Two Toms for a festival of food that only Two-Toms can present. The laughter and joking was only coupled with the feeling of sadness that friends have when they gather for the retirement of a great one � happy for the future retirement of a deserving friend, but sad to see the change.
Joe came on the job in 1965 � forty years ago. Many of us in this department weren�t yet born. A great street cop, Joe excelled in the 23 Precinct and was part of the first group of plainclothes precinct officers that was part of the department�s pilot project, known as an �Anti-Crime� team. Who would have thought forty years later you�d be a Squad Commander in the busiest of the best?
And, oh yes, he�s continued to play baseball � fast pitch, hard ball type baseball � throughout these years! And he continues to play catcher in a Senior League on Long Island, where the pitchers still hurl 70 mph fastballs.
The epitome of an NYPD Squad Commander � a hero to many and a friend to those who know him. Joe, we all wish you the VERY BEST in your retirement. You truly deserve it. We will miss you, but never forget you. Hope to see you at the Squad Commander�s luncheons!
Best of luck to Joe Ferrara and his family!
WHAT�S WITH ALL THESE WHIPS?
I�ve been trying to find the derivation of the term that is often used to describe the Detective Squad Sergeant as �The Second Whip�.
It�s an �old-time� detective term that is not used as often as it was when The Minister first came into The Squad. But where does it come from?
Talk with any senior detectives about the �old days�, or about detective stories from when �they came into the Bureau�, and will here them throw around the term in an affectionate, familiar manner. �I remember when Joe was the second-whip in the 17th Squad��
Consulting with Ret. Det Captain Frank Bolz, who goes back to his days as a Brooklyn North Detective in the 60�s back in the 81 Squad, and I learned the following.
The term �first whip� was not used. The Squad Commander was known simply as �The Boss�. The Detective Squad Sergeant was referred to as the �Second Whip�. Frank Bolz recalls being �the 2nd whip in the 17th Squad, when they had a Lieutenant as the Squad Commander and two Sergeant�s.
I guess the �whip� part had to do with keep everyone in line; the �2nd Whip� was the �Squad Boss� assistant�, hence, he had the second whip.
I�m still looking to find the derivation of some other terms. Maybe some readers can help with these.
We all know what it means, and have often used, the term �hairbag�.
He�s the old curmudgeon cop with a lot of time under his belt who can often be counted on for some caustic, cynical remarks. He probably is the one with all the answers, although he may not be the most diplomatic in the bunch.
Perhaps hairbag refers to the bag (uniform) being so old that it was growing hair???
Frank Bolz notes that when he came on the job in January 1955 there were two classes within two months of each other, each with around 750 recruits, so that with just a few years on the job some cops were considered �hairbags� way before their time.
An what about the term �shoofly�?
A �shoofly� was the term pinned on the Captain who was the �Supervisor of Patrol�. He was usually a Captain assigned to the Division, but could also be from the Borough or from a Headquarters command like the First Dep�s Office who worked in civilian clothes who would supervise almost secretly and was feared by most cops on patrol.
The �shoofly� Captain would make unannounced visits to the station house, and check the blotter to see that everyone was where they should be � making sure no one was in the station house that shouldn�t be there. He would show up on radio calls, ensuring that jobs were answered properly � and that everyone that exited an RMP had a hat on!
Things like that.
That was back in the day when there were very few people actually assigned to station house duties.
Besides the Desk Lieutenant, you may have had the Sergeant on the T.S. (if there were two Sergeant�s working, one was on patrol and the other was on the T.S. to take rings, and make assignments over the call boxes), and perhaps 1 Patrolman in the 124 Room to type Complaint Reports and any other clerical work the Desk Lieutenant needed typed. On the day tour you probably had a Patrolman inside who was the Highway Safety officer, doing the clerical summons work, etc. The Captain always a few �Captain�s Men� doing his assigned tasks � but there were much fewer (to say the least) �inside jobs� than we have today.
If anyone can tell me where �shoofly� came from, please let me know.
ANOTHER RETIREMENT LOSS
On the same day that Joe Ferrara exited the 75 Squad for the last time, another good friend ended his twenty-year career with this department.
Lieutenant-Commander Detective Squad Thomas Joyce has retired for civilian life.
Tommy was originally part of the Transit Police Department, where I first met him, prior to the merge of the departments in 1995. I had the pleasure to work with Tommy in the 77 Squad when I took over as the Squad Commander in 1998, and he was the �2nd Whip�.
A dedicated, driven and highly knowledgeable detective commander, his departure will certainly leave a void with this department. He ended his career commanding the Bronx Cold Case Squad, having led the 79 Squad for a good number of years before that. He will always be remembered as a Brooklyn North Detective-Commander! A determined and motivated leader, he always strove for success. He brought this same outspoken quality to his dedicated work on the LBA Board.
Tommy is leaving to work for Lexis-Nexis, where he will work with police agencies in their efforts to bring the computer age to their investigative capacities. Spreading the word and value of Accurint and computer research for investigators � I can think of no better man for the job.
I�m just sorry to see you go! He won�t be far from Brooklyn North, however, and will certainly be attending future Squad Commander�s functions!
Best of luck, Tommy, from all your friends in Brooklyn North.
THE NINTH PRECINCT
Knowing that I am an avid collector and reader of true crime books, especially those of the NYPD, a friend presented me with a hard-to-find book recently.
The 1974 book by Al Silverman, �FOSTER AND LAURIE�, recounts the horrific death of 2 NYPD cops, Rocco Laurie and Gregory Foster, and the very turbulent times of the early 1970�s.
I thought it might be of interest to recount a little background on the 9th Precinct, in the early 70�s � noting the obvious changes (for the better) in that time.
�The Ninth Precinct is one of the strangest in New York City. It covers only 0.79 square miles. Yet within its borders � from the East River to Broadway, from East Fourteenth Street to East Houston Street � reside 78,000 people. A polyglot. There are 11,000 blacks, 28,000 Puerto Ricans, 35,000 whites, and 4,200 �others�. The whites who live there � Italians, Jews, Ukrainians, derelicts from the Bowery, runaway girls, freaks, the aged � fear for their lives, and hate the blacks. The blacks hate the whites and the Puerto Ricans, and hatred is exchanged. Hatred abounds, as does prostitution and drugs and stabbings and murder. It is the one area of New York City where nothing really works and the only thing that matters is survival.
For a precinct so small � less than three hundred uniformed personnel � the men of the Ninth keep busy. (My note: this was a time when uniformed cops were still called �Patrolmen�, and female officers were not a regular site on patrol).
In 1971 the Ninth Precinct was the eighth highest of all seventy-six precincts in robbery. Only two other precincts made more robbery arrests. There were forty-six homicides committed in the Ninth in 1971, again the eighth highest of all other precincts. Two cops once compared the Ninth with the Forty-first in the South Bronx � the infamous �Fort Apache�.
�Hey, man, we got rats this big in the four-one.�
�Yeah,� said the cop from the Ninth, �we got roaches who�ll eat your rats.�
It gives you a little idea of this precinct, the area, and the times.
Although I don�t have the information at my fingertips, I was curious if any historians may have the homicide and/or crime figures from 1971 as a comparison. If the 9th was the eighth highest � covering such a small area � which precinct was number 1 and number 2? I�m betting the 28 and the 75 will be there. Just a thought.
BROOKLYN POLICE PRECINCTS: CIRCA 1918
Here is a listing of the station houses for Brooklyn police precincts dating back to 1918. Some of them will be familiar to you, I�m sure. The precinct number as of 1918 is listed, with the �old� precinct number reflecting the designation it previously had, after the Brooklyn Police Department was first merged into the New York City Police Department, years earlier.
Pct: (Old Pct No.) Location:
67th 169th 2951 West 8th St.
68th 171st 86th St. & 5th Ave.
70th 170th Bath Ave. & Bay 22nd St.
72nd 168th Ave. U & E. 15th St.
73rd 1830 Brooklyn Ave.(Vanderveer Pk S.H.)
74th 172nd 154 Lawrence Ave.
76th 143rd 4302 4th Ave.
78th 144th 575 5th Ave.
79th 146th 6th Ave. & Bergen St.
80th 166th Ave. G & E. 95th St.
82nd 167th 35 Snyder Ave.
83rd 153rd 484-486 Liberty Ave.
85th 165th 2 Liberty Ave.
87th 152nd 1661 Atlantic Ave.
88th 151st 653 Grand Ave.
89th 145th 44 Rapelyea St.
90th 147th 17 Butler Ave. (Abolished 11/8/20)
(S.H. closed 11/6/20 for renovations. 5/10/21 became 91st Pct.)
91st 148th 59 Amity St.
(91st Pct moved to 17 Butler St. 5/10/21)
92nd 149th 318 Adams Ave. (Abolished 11/28/21)
93rd 150th 72 Poplar St.
94th 154th 16 Ralph Ave.
95th 155th 627 Gates Ave.
96th 156th 298 Classon Ave.
97th 164th 179 Wilson Ave.
98th 158th 148 Vernon Ave. (Abolished 1/16/22)
99th 157th 132 Flushing Ave.(Abolished 10/1/19)
101st 159th 2 Lee Ave.
102nd 163rd 171 Bushwick Ave.
103rd 160th 263 Bedford Ave.
104th 162nd 43 Herbert St.
105th 161st 145 Greenpoint Ave.(Abolished 9/18/24)
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
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 September 11.
REMEMBER� TO CONTACT THE MINISTER OF INVESTIGATION:
You can send me an e-mail at:
Ltjac77@yahoo.com
Perhaps you can help with some historical background, such as �shoofly� and �hairbag� derivations, or with some hysterical facts from the past, or present, you�d like to share.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
MORE ON POLICE PARADES: CONTROVERSIES END THE EVENT
As noted on a previous posting, a parade of the police department had become an annual event in early times.
The parade was cancelled for a year by Police Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt, around 1895, after Rev. William Parkhurst and the Lexow Commission routed the Police Department in an unflattering corruption investigation.
By 1896, Roosevelt felt that public sentiment was favorable enough to reintroduce the parade. According to "NYPD: A City and Its Police", "the entire force, with the exception of those actually on duty, assembled at the foot of Broadway, decked out in full regalia. With superior officers at the front, the cops marched uptown past a formal reviewing stand in Madison Square, where they exchanged salutes with the Board of Police Commissioners.
The event turned into a political firestorm as two important figures from the Lexow Commission came to light, the "good" crook, Captain Maximillian Schmittberger, and the "bad" crook, Captain William Devery.
After refusing to cooperate with the commission, Capt Devery had been indicted in a case involving blackmail as well as graft. He had survived that accusation and another extortion charge to win reinstatement. Shortly before the parade, Devery was restored to police duty by court order. Nevertheless, Roosevelt ruled that he would not be allowed to participate in the parade. Schmittberger was to have an honored place in the procession.
On the afternoon of the parade, Roosevelt stood with the mayor and his fellow commissioners on the reviewing stand near Twenty-third Street, across from the Reverend Parkhurst's Church. Band music in the distance signaled the approach of the marchers. An advance guard on bicycles and horses cleared the way for Chief Peter Conlin, who, mounted on a noble steed, looked like the heroic soldier of old.
Conlin, who was about to retire, rode up to the reviewing stand and, in proper military style, swung his horse around and positioned himself to receive salutes from the five oncoming battalions of bluecoats.
A murmur began to run through the crowd, that turned into a collective gasp. Captain Devery was marching. Conlin, without telling the commissioners, had given permission. There were scattered boos as Devery reached the reviewing stand, but they were drowned out by a tumultuous roar of approval from the crowd, heavily composed of Tammany stalwarts.
Roosevelt and his fellow commissioners declined to applaud and then, after a few more police units had passed, watched in embarrassment as Max Schittberger came up Broadway. A few supporters of reform raised a cheer, but the masses drowned them out with hisses, boos and shouts of 'Squealer'!
The parade was a dark moment for Roosevelt, and it was emblematic of his failure to understand what policemen felt or thought. There was a huge political rivalry between Devery & Schmittberger, and when Devery rose to Chief in 1898, he banned Schmittberger from the parade.
In 1932, Mayor Jimmy Walker was caught up in quite a bit of trouble involving gangsters and he cancelled the police parade, fearing a hostile reaction from the public. After 75 glorious years, it was never held again.
HISTORICAL FORMS: A STOP NOTICE
If you�ve been with NYPD for more than 30 minutes then you know what the form UF49 refers to.
Commonly known simply as a �49�, it�s the blank letterhead that all reports are recorded on. Even the newest rookie is familiar with the term, �Give me a 49 on that� � I swear, I sometimes think there are whole units of people in the building downtown whose career consists of gathering, checking off and filing 49�s. But that�s a whole other story.
So, if the form UF49 refers to the �Uniform Force Form #49�, then what is the equivalent Detective Bureau form?
At the time when forms were being identified as they are known today, the members comprising the patrol force were the �Uniform Force�, and the Detectives were part of the Detective Division. (It wasn�t yet a Bureau, still a Division). Hence, the Detective forms were preceded by the letters �DD� for �Detective Division Form�.
The equivalent Detective Form, the DD49, appears to refer to a �Stop Notice�.
This referred to a stop notice to be placed in a pawn shop or second-hand shop if stolen property had been found there.
Many years ago pawn brokers and second-hand stores were required to forward to the PD on a daily basis lists of all property pawned or purchased.
If an item that had been reported stolen appeared on such a daily list, the pawn broker or second-hand store was notified to hold that property and not to release it to anyone. Hence, the �Stop Notice�.
The owner of the property was notified and could go to the pawn shop to retrieve their property back, but they would have to pay the pawn broker what ever he had loaned on the property. If the owner did not want to pay the pawn broker then a hearing was held by the department to determine if the property had been obtained in good faith, and that prior to purchasing the item the broker had performed the necessary checks required. In most instances, the rightful owner was glad enough to get their property back, and paid the pawn broker what was owed.
LEGAL COUNSEL: THE BURDO DECISION
ALL detectives should be aware of the Burdo decision, as it touches on something we do all the time.
In People v. Burdo, from October 30, 1997, the New York State Court of Appeals issued the following decision.
"The Court concluded that the police were not permitted to interrogate the defendant about a murder where the defendant was in a correctional facility awaiting trial on an unrelated rape charge on which counsel had already been appointed. A defendant represented by counsel on the charge for which he is in custody cannot be interrogated in the absence of counsel "on any matter".
If the subject is incarcerated awaiting trial then he has an attorney assigned, and cannot be spoken with about any incident without his/her attorney being present.
WALKING THAT FOOT POST
A recent posting on this site concerning a story about the infamous corner of Franklin & Fulton brought back many dear and fond memories from retirees. (Some not so dear, nor so fond, but memorable all the same).
Not many who walked a foot post in the �old� 79 or 80 Precincts will forget that corner.
A note from Ret. Capt. Frank Bolz mentions that other nearby corner as just as memorable � Fulton and Nostrand.
At least Fulton & Nostrand had a friendly eatery, Bickfords, on the corner. Also a major transit subway location, this corner has as many war stories of its own. Along with a call box that never seemed to be lacking use.
Try to put yourself back in time, the rookie out on patrol, on a foot post spanning Franklin Avenue from Fulton Street to Bergen Street, in the (then) 80 Precinct. No portable radios; maybe only 3-4 sector cars on motor patrol.
There was a Sergeant in one car, driving around to make sure all the foot posts were on patrol, driving by for a �scratch�; maybe passing by a few more times during the tour to give you a �see� (a lot more frequently if you were on his bad list). You made rings every hour from a call box, and received assignments from the station house on these same call boxes � when they needed you, the T.S. operator would start ringing the boxes on your post � a light above on the pole would blink, and the bell would ring, to alert you to the call. You�d get your assignment from the T.S. operator who was operating an actual �Telephone Switchboard� � complete with wires and plugs and a rotary dial. And, oh � yes � this T.S. Operator would be a Sergeant.
The Sergeant was responsible for taking your rings, making assignments, and handling all of the incoming telephone calls to the command, leaving the Desk Lieutenant free to do what Desk Lieutenants did � right very neatly with a fountain pen in that oversized blotter, making the command decisions necessary for the position.
How long would it take for you to see a seat in an RMP? Take a guess. But make sure you�ve got some really comfortable Knapp shoes in your locker!
LT. GIUSEPPE (JOSEPH) PETROSINO: THE ONLY NYPD MOS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON FOREIGN SOIL
Giuseppe Petrosino was appointed to the NYPD on October 19, 1883. He was assigned Shield # 285. In November of 1906 he was promoted to Lieutenant and made C.O. of the NYPD�s �Italian Legion�.
Lt. Joe Petrosino was assassinated while walking through Marine public square in Palermo, Italy on March 12th, 1909, after NYPD Police Commissioner Theodore A. Bingham held a news conference and with stupidity announced that the NYPD had an undercover police officer working on the �Black Hand� in Italy.
It all started when Petrosino's "Italian Squad" went undercover to find who was behind the dozens of "Black Hand" bombings. They arrested many suspected members of the group over the next five years, but the bombings continued.
The trail took Petrosino to Italy in an undercover mission in 1909. But someone there didn't like where his investigation was headed and Petrosino returned from Italy in a coffin.
Giuseppe Petrosino, an immigrant from Salerno who became the NYPD's first Italian-American detective, waged a valiant battle against the Black Hand, a loosely-knit criminal organization that extorted money from Italian immigrants. He founded the Bomb Squad, the first unit of its kind in the United States, to counter the Black Hand's use of explosives in carrying out its extortion threats. From 1905, Petrosino and the "Italian Branch," an elite corps of Italian-American undercover cops, arrested thousand of members of the Black Hand, deported 500 and reduced crime against Italian-Americans by half. Petrosino was murdered in 1909 in Palermo, Italy, where he had gone to gather intelligence about Black Hand members.
He is the only NYPD officer killed in line of duty outside the U.S.
In 1883, it was Clubber Williams who arranged Joe�s appointment to the force, even though Petrosino was four inches below the required height. His knowledge of the Italian language and culture gave him an advantage over non-Italian detectives. In 1890, he became a detective; in 1895, Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt promoted him to detective sergeant. By the turn of the century, due to careful media management, Petrosino was one of New York�s best-known detectives: he had a way of tipping off reporters whenever he was about to do something newsworthy.
He was as rough as most cops of his time, and as one alderman who was quoted in Reppetto�s book NYPD put it, "he knocked out more teeth than a dentist." While he could dress and act like a typical detective, banging on doors and throwing suspects up against walls, he was more comfortable in disguise. He posed as a tunnel worker, a blind beggar, a gangster or an Italian peasant just off the boat. This allowed him to investigate freely, and also allowed others to talk to him without attracting suspicion. In this way he was able to infiltrate and expose many of the gangs that preyed on Italian immigrants.
In January 1905, Police Commissioner William McAdoo put Petrosino in charge of a five-man Italian squad. McAdoo�s successor, General Theodore Bingham, expanded the squad to 25 men, renaming it the Italian Legion and promoting Petrosino to lieutenant.
In 1907, Congress enacted a law permitting the deportation of any alien found to have concealed a criminal record. Two years later, Gen. Bingham secretly sent Petrosino to Italy with a list of 2000 names. While Petrosino was on the high seas, Bingham leaked news of the mission to the New York Herald, which published it in the Paris edition. This was then picked up by the Italian press, and ran in the Italian media as well. Petrosino�s impending visit and its purpose were known to the very Mafiosi he was investigating before his arrival.
On the night of March 12, Petrosino was sitting on the fence that surrounded the garden around Piazza Marina in the Tribunaria/Castellemare district. He may have been waiting for an informant or a trolley. The gangster Don Vito walked up to him and shot him in the face. Later, the American consul reported two hired gunmen fired the shots. Still others say there were three. In any event, Petrosino was dead. Although Don Vito was taken into custody four days later, he was released when an alibi witness came forward. No arrests were made in this crime.
Today, Petrosino is memorialized by a fenced-in plaza at Lafayette and Kenmare Streets, in downtown Manhattan, only walking distance from the old Police Headquarters Building. A Parks Dept. sign identifies the park as �Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino Square�.
(With credit to information from Ret. Sgt. Mike Bosak, and to an article found in NY PRESS by William Bryk).
THE MOVE-CRITIC DETECTIVE: SHERLOCK CINEMA
The Minister of Investigation has enlisted the aid of a resident movie critic � Detective, for the readers of this site.
Not quite Siskel or Ebert, or even that guy on TV with the big handle-bar moustache (you know his name�) but a movie aficionado nonetheless. Although this person wishes to remain anonymous, so as not to appear to �have no life�, I will have to come up with a fancy-schmansy name. Maybe Sherlock Cinema?
Anyway, here goes some movie reviews from Sherlock Cinema.
Sherlock says that by far the best picture seen in several months is King Kong. Although this movie was �really long� � it was a 3 hour 7 minute film � the special effects should be award winning. �You can picture dinosaurs roaming the earth�. Sherlock Cinema gives this a VERY BIG THUMBS UP.
Sherlock also liked Brokeback Mountain. �I loved the movie. I like love stories; I don�t care who the love is between, give me a good love story any day�. Although, it�s noted, that the film gets very sad at times, it is �highly recommended� by Sherlock Cinema. Not quite the shoot-em-up western of John Wayne notoriety, or a good �spaghetti-western� with Clint Eastwood � I just can�t picture Clint Eastwood sitting around a camp fire with his buddy, crooning �I wish I could quit you�� But it passes Sherlock�s critical review. Maybe not my kind of picture, not that there's anything wrong with that...
Memoirs of a Geisha Girl was �alright, but it could have been shorter�. Sounds like another one you can wait for its release on DVD.
Cinderella Man was a �so-so� movie. Sherlock Cinema summed it up best as �too long, and too slow. When the candy ran out I was dozing off asleep�. Doesn�t sound like anything you�d want to run out and pay to see. I�m not sure what this movies about, but judging by the critic I�d guess it wasn�t a love story � must be another Cinderella!
Just what makes our movie critic an expert on movies?
Sherlock Cinema has a lot of credentials as a movie critic. Having seen 54 movies this past year certainly qualifies in my book. Why have you seen 54 movies? �Because I couldn�t get an excuse to see 108�.
In conclusion, for the first installment of a (hopefully) continuing review by Sherlock Cinema: see a love story (regardless of who�s in love), stock up on candy (plain popcorn just won�t do it), and get ready for a very long dinosaur flick.
SOME BROOKLYN PRECINCT NOTATIONS
A prior posting made mention of some Brooklyn Police Department precinct locations.
I�ve learned that after the PD vacated the Station House at 44 Rapelye Ave., on 4/1/1946, the 76th Pct. moved to a new location at 181 Union St. This was an old abandoned public school building.
The 76th Pct. was at this location until 4/1/1963, when the 76th Pct. moved into a new building at 191 Union St.
A COMMENT ON BENEFITS
I recently received an e-mail from a retiree, noting some of the changes being made by unions as they relate to their retiree�s.
It seems that a common cost-saving measure that many labor unions throughout the country fall back on relates to the cutting of benefits to retirees, especially those dealing with prescription drugs, optical and dental.
I�d just like to pass along a simple �word of advice� tendered by many laborers:
�AS YOU ARE NOW, ONCE WERE WE. AS WE ARE NOW YOU WILL BE.
BE HONORABLE, ALWAYS ACT KINDLY, FOR RETIREMENT IS A LONG JOURNEY.�
MAKES YOU WONDER�
On one of my visits to a local Starbucks, I visited the rest room.
You�ve all seen the sign in virtually every public rest room � the one that advises all employees that they must wash their hands?
Well, in Starbucks, they go one step further.
They actually illustrate this process: Wet, Soap, Wash (20 secs.) Rinse, Dry, Turn Off Water.
Each step has a little illustration, in case you didn�t know what soap was, or the term �rinse� was a puzzle.
Makes you wonder� do you really want people preparing food for you who need an illustration on how to wash their hands???
REMEMBER� TO CONTACT THE MINISTER OF INVESTIGATION
Send an e-mail to: Ltjac77@yahoo.com
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
January 9, 1938 Ptl Anthony Tornatore, 52 Pct, Shot-investigation
January 9, 1973 Ptl Stephen Gilroy, ESS8, Shot-robbery / hostages
January 10, 1987 PO Francis LaSalla, ESS1, Fire rescue
January 10, 1998 PO Edward Ahrens, 28 Pct, Shot (5/5/75) narco invest
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
As noted on a previous posting, a parade of the police department had become an annual event in early times.
The parade was cancelled for a year by Police Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt, around 1895, after Rev. William Parkhurst and the Lexow Commission routed the Police Department in an unflattering corruption investigation.
By 1896, Roosevelt felt that public sentiment was favorable enough to reintroduce the parade. According to "NYPD: A City and Its Police", "the entire force, with the exception of those actually on duty, assembled at the foot of Broadway, decked out in full regalia. With superior officers at the front, the cops marched uptown past a formal reviewing stand in Madison Square, where they exchanged salutes with the Board of Police Commissioners.
The event turned into a political firestorm as two important figures from the Lexow Commission came to light, the "good" crook, Captain Maximillian Schmittberger, and the "bad" crook, Captain William Devery.
After refusing to cooperate with the commission, Capt Devery had been indicted in a case involving blackmail as well as graft. He had survived that accusation and another extortion charge to win reinstatement. Shortly before the parade, Devery was restored to police duty by court order. Nevertheless, Roosevelt ruled that he would not be allowed to participate in the parade. Schmittberger was to have an honored place in the procession.
On the afternoon of the parade, Roosevelt stood with the mayor and his fellow commissioners on the reviewing stand near Twenty-third Street, across from the Reverend Parkhurst's Church. Band music in the distance signaled the approach of the marchers. An advance guard on bicycles and horses cleared the way for Chief Peter Conlin, who, mounted on a noble steed, looked like the heroic soldier of old.
Conlin, who was about to retire, rode up to the reviewing stand and, in proper military style, swung his horse around and positioned himself to receive salutes from the five oncoming battalions of bluecoats.
A murmur began to run through the crowd, that turned into a collective gasp. Captain Devery was marching. Conlin, without telling the commissioners, had given permission. There were scattered boos as Devery reached the reviewing stand, but they were drowned out by a tumultuous roar of approval from the crowd, heavily composed of Tammany stalwarts.
Roosevelt and his fellow commissioners declined to applaud and then, after a few more police units had passed, watched in embarrassment as Max Schittberger came up Broadway. A few supporters of reform raised a cheer, but the masses drowned them out with hisses, boos and shouts of 'Squealer'!
The parade was a dark moment for Roosevelt, and it was emblematic of his failure to understand what policemen felt or thought. There was a huge political rivalry between Devery & Schmittberger, and when Devery rose to Chief in 1898, he banned Schmittberger from the parade.
In 1932, Mayor Jimmy Walker was caught up in quite a bit of trouble involving gangsters and he cancelled the police parade, fearing a hostile reaction from the public. After 75 glorious years, it was never held again.
HISTORICAL FORMS: A STOP NOTICE
If you�ve been with NYPD for more than 30 minutes then you know what the form UF49 refers to.
Commonly known simply as a �49�, it�s the blank letterhead that all reports are recorded on. Even the newest rookie is familiar with the term, �Give me a 49 on that� � I swear, I sometimes think there are whole units of people in the building downtown whose career consists of gathering, checking off and filing 49�s. But that�s a whole other story.
So, if the form UF49 refers to the �Uniform Force Form #49�, then what is the equivalent Detective Bureau form?
At the time when forms were being identified as they are known today, the members comprising the patrol force were the �Uniform Force�, and the Detectives were part of the Detective Division. (It wasn�t yet a Bureau, still a Division). Hence, the Detective forms were preceded by the letters �DD� for �Detective Division Form�.
The equivalent Detective Form, the DD49, appears to refer to a �Stop Notice�.
This referred to a stop notice to be placed in a pawn shop or second-hand shop if stolen property had been found there.
Many years ago pawn brokers and second-hand stores were required to forward to the PD on a daily basis lists of all property pawned or purchased.
If an item that had been reported stolen appeared on such a daily list, the pawn broker or second-hand store was notified to hold that property and not to release it to anyone. Hence, the �Stop Notice�.
The owner of the property was notified and could go to the pawn shop to retrieve their property back, but they would have to pay the pawn broker what ever he had loaned on the property. If the owner did not want to pay the pawn broker then a hearing was held by the department to determine if the property had been obtained in good faith, and that prior to purchasing the item the broker had performed the necessary checks required. In most instances, the rightful owner was glad enough to get their property back, and paid the pawn broker what was owed.
LEGAL COUNSEL: THE BURDO DECISION
ALL detectives should be aware of the Burdo decision, as it touches on something we do all the time.
In People v. Burdo, from October 30, 1997, the New York State Court of Appeals issued the following decision.
"The Court concluded that the police were not permitted to interrogate the defendant about a murder where the defendant was in a correctional facility awaiting trial on an unrelated rape charge on which counsel had already been appointed. A defendant represented by counsel on the charge for which he is in custody cannot be interrogated in the absence of counsel "on any matter".
If the subject is incarcerated awaiting trial then he has an attorney assigned, and cannot be spoken with about any incident without his/her attorney being present.
WALKING THAT FOOT POST
A recent posting on this site concerning a story about the infamous corner of Franklin & Fulton brought back many dear and fond memories from retirees. (Some not so dear, nor so fond, but memorable all the same).
Not many who walked a foot post in the �old� 79 or 80 Precincts will forget that corner.
A note from Ret. Capt. Frank Bolz mentions that other nearby corner as just as memorable � Fulton and Nostrand.
At least Fulton & Nostrand had a friendly eatery, Bickfords, on the corner. Also a major transit subway location, this corner has as many war stories of its own. Along with a call box that never seemed to be lacking use.
Try to put yourself back in time, the rookie out on patrol, on a foot post spanning Franklin Avenue from Fulton Street to Bergen Street, in the (then) 80 Precinct. No portable radios; maybe only 3-4 sector cars on motor patrol.
There was a Sergeant in one car, driving around to make sure all the foot posts were on patrol, driving by for a �scratch�; maybe passing by a few more times during the tour to give you a �see� (a lot more frequently if you were on his bad list). You made rings every hour from a call box, and received assignments from the station house on these same call boxes � when they needed you, the T.S. operator would start ringing the boxes on your post � a light above on the pole would blink, and the bell would ring, to alert you to the call. You�d get your assignment from the T.S. operator who was operating an actual �Telephone Switchboard� � complete with wires and plugs and a rotary dial. And, oh � yes � this T.S. Operator would be a Sergeant.
The Sergeant was responsible for taking your rings, making assignments, and handling all of the incoming telephone calls to the command, leaving the Desk Lieutenant free to do what Desk Lieutenants did � right very neatly with a fountain pen in that oversized blotter, making the command decisions necessary for the position.
How long would it take for you to see a seat in an RMP? Take a guess. But make sure you�ve got some really comfortable Knapp shoes in your locker!
LT. GIUSEPPE (JOSEPH) PETROSINO: THE ONLY NYPD MOS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON FOREIGN SOIL
Giuseppe Petrosino was appointed to the NYPD on October 19, 1883. He was assigned Shield # 285. In November of 1906 he was promoted to Lieutenant and made C.O. of the NYPD�s �Italian Legion�.
Lt. Joe Petrosino was assassinated while walking through Marine public square in Palermo, Italy on March 12th, 1909, after NYPD Police Commissioner Theodore A. Bingham held a news conference and with stupidity announced that the NYPD had an undercover police officer working on the �Black Hand� in Italy.
It all started when Petrosino's "Italian Squad" went undercover to find who was behind the dozens of "Black Hand" bombings. They arrested many suspected members of the group over the next five years, but the bombings continued.
The trail took Petrosino to Italy in an undercover mission in 1909. But someone there didn't like where his investigation was headed and Petrosino returned from Italy in a coffin.
Giuseppe Petrosino, an immigrant from Salerno who became the NYPD's first Italian-American detective, waged a valiant battle against the Black Hand, a loosely-knit criminal organization that extorted money from Italian immigrants. He founded the Bomb Squad, the first unit of its kind in the United States, to counter the Black Hand's use of explosives in carrying out its extortion threats. From 1905, Petrosino and the "Italian Branch," an elite corps of Italian-American undercover cops, arrested thousand of members of the Black Hand, deported 500 and reduced crime against Italian-Americans by half. Petrosino was murdered in 1909 in Palermo, Italy, where he had gone to gather intelligence about Black Hand members.
He is the only NYPD officer killed in line of duty outside the U.S.
In 1883, it was Clubber Williams who arranged Joe�s appointment to the force, even though Petrosino was four inches below the required height. His knowledge of the Italian language and culture gave him an advantage over non-Italian detectives. In 1890, he became a detective; in 1895, Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt promoted him to detective sergeant. By the turn of the century, due to careful media management, Petrosino was one of New York�s best-known detectives: he had a way of tipping off reporters whenever he was about to do something newsworthy.
He was as rough as most cops of his time, and as one alderman who was quoted in Reppetto�s book NYPD put it, "he knocked out more teeth than a dentist." While he could dress and act like a typical detective, banging on doors and throwing suspects up against walls, he was more comfortable in disguise. He posed as a tunnel worker, a blind beggar, a gangster or an Italian peasant just off the boat. This allowed him to investigate freely, and also allowed others to talk to him without attracting suspicion. In this way he was able to infiltrate and expose many of the gangs that preyed on Italian immigrants.
In January 1905, Police Commissioner William McAdoo put Petrosino in charge of a five-man Italian squad. McAdoo�s successor, General Theodore Bingham, expanded the squad to 25 men, renaming it the Italian Legion and promoting Petrosino to lieutenant.
In 1907, Congress enacted a law permitting the deportation of any alien found to have concealed a criminal record. Two years later, Gen. Bingham secretly sent Petrosino to Italy with a list of 2000 names. While Petrosino was on the high seas, Bingham leaked news of the mission to the New York Herald, which published it in the Paris edition. This was then picked up by the Italian press, and ran in the Italian media as well. Petrosino�s impending visit and its purpose were known to the very Mafiosi he was investigating before his arrival.
On the night of March 12, Petrosino was sitting on the fence that surrounded the garden around Piazza Marina in the Tribunaria/Castellemare district. He may have been waiting for an informant or a trolley. The gangster Don Vito walked up to him and shot him in the face. Later, the American consul reported two hired gunmen fired the shots. Still others say there were three. In any event, Petrosino was dead. Although Don Vito was taken into custody four days later, he was released when an alibi witness came forward. No arrests were made in this crime.
Today, Petrosino is memorialized by a fenced-in plaza at Lafayette and Kenmare Streets, in downtown Manhattan, only walking distance from the old Police Headquarters Building. A Parks Dept. sign identifies the park as �Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino Square�.
(With credit to information from Ret. Sgt. Mike Bosak, and to an article found in NY PRESS by William Bryk).
THE MOVE-CRITIC DETECTIVE: SHERLOCK CINEMA
The Minister of Investigation has enlisted the aid of a resident movie critic � Detective, for the readers of this site.
Not quite Siskel or Ebert, or even that guy on TV with the big handle-bar moustache (you know his name�) but a movie aficionado nonetheless. Although this person wishes to remain anonymous, so as not to appear to �have no life�, I will have to come up with a fancy-schmansy name. Maybe Sherlock Cinema?
Anyway, here goes some movie reviews from Sherlock Cinema.
Sherlock says that by far the best picture seen in several months is King Kong. Although this movie was �really long� � it was a 3 hour 7 minute film � the special effects should be award winning. �You can picture dinosaurs roaming the earth�. Sherlock Cinema gives this a VERY BIG THUMBS UP.
Sherlock also liked Brokeback Mountain. �I loved the movie. I like love stories; I don�t care who the love is between, give me a good love story any day�. Although, it�s noted, that the film gets very sad at times, it is �highly recommended� by Sherlock Cinema. Not quite the shoot-em-up western of John Wayne notoriety, or a good �spaghetti-western� with Clint Eastwood � I just can�t picture Clint Eastwood sitting around a camp fire with his buddy, crooning �I wish I could quit you�� But it passes Sherlock�s critical review. Maybe not my kind of picture, not that there's anything wrong with that...
Memoirs of a Geisha Girl was �alright, but it could have been shorter�. Sounds like another one you can wait for its release on DVD.
Cinderella Man was a �so-so� movie. Sherlock Cinema summed it up best as �too long, and too slow. When the candy ran out I was dozing off asleep�. Doesn�t sound like anything you�d want to run out and pay to see. I�m not sure what this movies about, but judging by the critic I�d guess it wasn�t a love story � must be another Cinderella!
Just what makes our movie critic an expert on movies?
Sherlock Cinema has a lot of credentials as a movie critic. Having seen 54 movies this past year certainly qualifies in my book. Why have you seen 54 movies? �Because I couldn�t get an excuse to see 108�.
In conclusion, for the first installment of a (hopefully) continuing review by Sherlock Cinema: see a love story (regardless of who�s in love), stock up on candy (plain popcorn just won�t do it), and get ready for a very long dinosaur flick.
SOME BROOKLYN PRECINCT NOTATIONS
A prior posting made mention of some Brooklyn Police Department precinct locations.
I�ve learned that after the PD vacated the Station House at 44 Rapelye Ave., on 4/1/1946, the 76th Pct. moved to a new location at 181 Union St. This was an old abandoned public school building.
The 76th Pct. was at this location until 4/1/1963, when the 76th Pct. moved into a new building at 191 Union St.
A COMMENT ON BENEFITS
I recently received an e-mail from a retiree, noting some of the changes being made by unions as they relate to their retiree�s.
It seems that a common cost-saving measure that many labor unions throughout the country fall back on relates to the cutting of benefits to retirees, especially those dealing with prescription drugs, optical and dental.
I�d just like to pass along a simple �word of advice� tendered by many laborers:
�AS YOU ARE NOW, ONCE WERE WE. AS WE ARE NOW YOU WILL BE.
BE HONORABLE, ALWAYS ACT KINDLY, FOR RETIREMENT IS A LONG JOURNEY.�
MAKES YOU WONDER�
On one of my visits to a local Starbucks, I visited the rest room.
You�ve all seen the sign in virtually every public rest room � the one that advises all employees that they must wash their hands?
Well, in Starbucks, they go one step further.
They actually illustrate this process: Wet, Soap, Wash (20 secs.) Rinse, Dry, Turn Off Water.
Each step has a little illustration, in case you didn�t know what soap was, or the term �rinse� was a puzzle.
Makes you wonder� do you really want people preparing food for you who need an illustration on how to wash their hands???
REMEMBER� TO CONTACT THE MINISTER OF INVESTIGATION
Send an e-mail to: Ltjac77@yahoo.com
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
January 9, 1938 Ptl Anthony Tornatore, 52 Pct, Shot-investigation
January 9, 1973 Ptl Stephen Gilroy, ESS8, Shot-robbery / hostages
January 10, 1987 PO Francis LaSalla, ESS1, Fire rescue
January 10, 1998 PO Edward Ahrens, 28 Pct, Shot (5/5/75) narco invest
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
Friday, December 30, 2005
WISHING ALL A VERY HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!
RANK STRUCTURE OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE
The prefix �detective� is given to officers who have been assigned to investigative work after completing the appropriate selection and training. Detective ranks parallel uniformed ranks and range from Detective Constable to Detective Chief Superintendent.
The entry level, Constable, is followed by Sergeant then Inspector, with Chief Inspector next up on the chain of command.
THE DETECTIVE COMMANDER�S INVESTIGATIVE PLAN: GREAT BRITAIN STYLE
During a recent visit to New York of some visiting Metropolitan Police investigators (Scotland Yardies), I had the opportunity to discuss homicide investigations, and the role of the Squad Commander in London policing.
I learned that the major task of the Squad Commander (the Detective Chief Inspector) was to commit to writing his/her �Investigative Plan�.
Enacted several years ago, this is intended to be used to show at what stage an investigation is currently in, and what facts are being utilized to determine the next stages of an investigation.
This task consumes the majority of the commander�s time � even more than we spend providing Compstat updates to the armies that require them!
The Detective Commander must, in writing, indicate what course of action he has directed the Detective Inspector to pursue, and what his reason for this is based on.
Try and think what that would involve on your investigations, and you can get a small understanding of the magnitude of this task.
In this manner, the reason why a particular person may be brought in for an interview must be delineated, what the basis of this interview will be about, and what is hoped to be obtained � all committed to a written report by the Commander.
A cumbersome task for sure!
THE DEFINITION OF POLICING
The word "Police" means, generally, the arrangements made in all civilised countries to ensure that the inhabitants keep the peace and obey the law. The word also denotes the force of peace officers (or police) employed for this purpose.
In 1829 Sir Richard Mayne wrote:
"The primary object of an efficient police is the prevention of crime: the next that of detection and punishment of offenders if crime is committed. To these ends all the efforts of police must be directed. The protection of life and property, the preservation of public tranquillity, and the absence of crime, will alone prove whether those efforts have been successful and whether the objects for which the police were appointed have been attained."
In attaining these objects, much depends on the approval and co-operation of the public, and these have always been determined by the degree of esteem and respect in which the police are held. One of the key principles of modern policing in Britain is that the police seek to work with the community and as part of the community.
COPPERS BY ANY OTHER NAME�
In New York we simply call them �cops�.
In Chicago, the slang becomes �coppers�.
Well, in London, the police are slangly referred to as �Old Bill�. But why?
According to the Official Encyclopedia of Scotland Yard, there are about a dozen possibilities for the origin of the phrase:
Old Bill referred to King William IV who came to the throne in 1830, a year after the Metropolitan Police were founded.
Old constables of the watch were sometimes nicknamed for the bills or billhooks they carried as weapons.
The 'old bill' was in Victorian times a bill presumed to be presented by the police for a bribe to persuade them to turn a blind eye to some nefarious activity
In the 1860s a popular Sergeant Bill Smith at Limehouse was referred to as 'Old Bill'
Many police officers did wear authoritarian looking 'Old Bill' moustaches like Bruce Bairnsfather's famous WW1 cartoon character, the wily old soldier in the trenches. In 1917, the government adopted Bairnsfather's cartoon character in posters and advertisements putting over wartime messages under the heading 'Old Bill says..' and for at least some of these, the figure was dressed in Special Constable's uniform.
The original vehicles used by the Flying Squad (the mobile force of the Met) had registration plates with the letters BYL.
According to the late author Robin Cook, 'old bill' is a racing term for an outsider or unknown quantity; hence a dodgy prospect for an illegal gambler's point of view.
All rather interesting theories nonetheless, but not as practical as the copper buttons used on American police uniforms being interpreted to the now familiar police term � �Cops�, shortened from the proper (Chicago) �Coppers� term.
OBIT: LT. FERDINAND �AL� ALCINDOR
A recent obituary noted the passing of Ferdinand �Al� Alcindor, the 86 year old father of basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Kareem�s father passed away Friday, December 9, 2005 at Coney Island Hospital, after a long bout with senile dementia.
Al Alcindor was a retired Lieutenant with the Transit Police, retiring in the mid-1980�s.
The son of an immigrant from Trinidad, Ferdinand Alcindor was a music lover who attended the Julliard School before serving in the Army 1941-45. He served with the Transit Police, rising through the ranks to Lieutenant.
Several retired Transit cops recalled some stories of Lt. Alcindor, who they remembered as a no-nonsense type of guy, who spent some time in District 4.
One story recalled a time that Carmine Delmonico was in an RMP with Lt Alcindor, andthey had responded to Times Square at the time of the "Black Panther riot". It was recalled that as they were walking through a passageway they encountered a group of the rioters coming towards them, and someone was heard to shout out "Let's get Uncle Tom and Whitey�. Lt. Alcindor sort of became the Incredible Hulk, and waded through them with elbows and nightstick flailing. Lt. Alcindor certainly left an impression on many that day. The rioters wanted no part of them anymore!
In another incident, two Transit Cops boarded an A train at Chambers Street on their way to post. As the doors closed, they saw Lt. Alcindor on the platform; he had apparently just gotten off that same train and was walking towards the stairs on his way to the District.
The train started moving with a jerk which put people standing, including the two Cops, momentarily off balance. Of course you all know that experience. A few seconds later,they saw Lt. Alcindor enter from the next car and approach them.
When the train jerked, there was also a male standing near the two Officers and from the platform, it looked like the male had attacked the Officers, and Lt Alcindor boarded the moving train between cars to get to their assistance. Another lasting impression made.
Proud father of a stalwarth college and professional basketball player, lover of music, photography hobbyist� and Transit Cop to the end. May you rest in peace, Lieutenant.
FOR THE INVESTIGATOR�S ROLODEX: REVERSE TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES
Looking for a reverse address lookup site?www.reversephonedirectory.com
offers telephone numbers and names using address or number etc....AND IT'S FREE!!!!
You can also utilize the search results in
www.zabasearch.com
Also of value are:
www.whitepages.com
www.argali.com
Argali requires you to download some software, while on the whitepages site you merely go to their website for a search.
www.freeality.com
Another web site with multiple links that may be of value to you.
A Note on These Free Sites:
As you have probably already learned, the information you receive from these �free� sites cannot be relied on as being 100% accurate. The information may be outdated, or it may be less than accurate � however, it�s use as a starting point is certainly beneficial. For example, the name may or may not be correct and you may get an accurate name but the physical address of a prior user of the number. Additionally,the CITY displayed may also be where the telephone company is located and NOT the area where the line is located.
I have found very reliable information from a paid-for commercial service, LocatePlus, which can be found at
www.locateplus.com
As I mentioned, though, this is a pay-for service. You can click onto their web site, and you can enroll as a member for free, only paying for what you use, as a law enforcement member. They also have a program which you pay one price per month for an unlimited number of searches. If you check on the web site you can learn more.
Don�t forget, though, that the department now makes available to investigators the information in Accurint, as well as a phone directory in ENTERSECT Police Online.
By calling the Real Time Crime Center you can request a reverse phone lookup, which is pretty accurate � and may even have cell phone information.
The free services are good for exactly what they are intended for � a basic phone check. More accurate information, though � as those you may require for telephone subpoenas, or for a more accurate fugitive tracking information, should be utilized through the Accurint, ENTERSECT (from RTCC) or from a better commercial provider such as LocatePlus.
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
�It is not how they died that makes them a hero, but how they lived their lives�.
January 2, 1932 Ptl John Kranz, Det Sqd, Shot
January 3, 1975 PO Michael McConnon, 13 Pct, Shot-robbery
January 3, 1978 PO Ronald Stapleton, 77 Pct, Shot, off duty incident
January 5, 1922 Det William Miller, 38 Sqd(32 Sq), Shot-arrest
January 5, 1922 Det Francis Buckley, Det Div, Shot-arrest
January 5, 1944 Ptl Patrick Malone, Traffic I, Auto accident on patrol
January 7, 1930 Ptl Paul Schafer, 19 Pct, Motorcycle accident on patrol
January 7, 1933 Ptl Walter Murphy, 14 Div (13 Div), Shot-pursuit
January 7, 1934 Ptl Ernest McCarron, 68 Pct, Fire rescue
January 8, 1946 Ptl Benjamin Wallace, 32 Pct, Shot-Investigation
RANK STRUCTURE OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE
The prefix �detective� is given to officers who have been assigned to investigative work after completing the appropriate selection and training. Detective ranks parallel uniformed ranks and range from Detective Constable to Detective Chief Superintendent.
The entry level, Constable, is followed by Sergeant then Inspector, with Chief Inspector next up on the chain of command.
THE DETECTIVE COMMANDER�S INVESTIGATIVE PLAN: GREAT BRITAIN STYLE
During a recent visit to New York of some visiting Metropolitan Police investigators (Scotland Yardies), I had the opportunity to discuss homicide investigations, and the role of the Squad Commander in London policing.
I learned that the major task of the Squad Commander (the Detective Chief Inspector) was to commit to writing his/her �Investigative Plan�.
Enacted several years ago, this is intended to be used to show at what stage an investigation is currently in, and what facts are being utilized to determine the next stages of an investigation.
This task consumes the majority of the commander�s time � even more than we spend providing Compstat updates to the armies that require them!
The Detective Commander must, in writing, indicate what course of action he has directed the Detective Inspector to pursue, and what his reason for this is based on.
Try and think what that would involve on your investigations, and you can get a small understanding of the magnitude of this task.
In this manner, the reason why a particular person may be brought in for an interview must be delineated, what the basis of this interview will be about, and what is hoped to be obtained � all committed to a written report by the Commander.
A cumbersome task for sure!
THE DEFINITION OF POLICING
The word "Police" means, generally, the arrangements made in all civilised countries to ensure that the inhabitants keep the peace and obey the law. The word also denotes the force of peace officers (or police) employed for this purpose.
In 1829 Sir Richard Mayne wrote:
"The primary object of an efficient police is the prevention of crime: the next that of detection and punishment of offenders if crime is committed. To these ends all the efforts of police must be directed. The protection of life and property, the preservation of public tranquillity, and the absence of crime, will alone prove whether those efforts have been successful and whether the objects for which the police were appointed have been attained."
In attaining these objects, much depends on the approval and co-operation of the public, and these have always been determined by the degree of esteem and respect in which the police are held. One of the key principles of modern policing in Britain is that the police seek to work with the community and as part of the community.
COPPERS BY ANY OTHER NAME�
In New York we simply call them �cops�.
In Chicago, the slang becomes �coppers�.
Well, in London, the police are slangly referred to as �Old Bill�. But why?
According to the Official Encyclopedia of Scotland Yard, there are about a dozen possibilities for the origin of the phrase:
Old Bill referred to King William IV who came to the throne in 1830, a year after the Metropolitan Police were founded.
Old constables of the watch were sometimes nicknamed for the bills or billhooks they carried as weapons.
The 'old bill' was in Victorian times a bill presumed to be presented by the police for a bribe to persuade them to turn a blind eye to some nefarious activity
In the 1860s a popular Sergeant Bill Smith at Limehouse was referred to as 'Old Bill'
Many police officers did wear authoritarian looking 'Old Bill' moustaches like Bruce Bairnsfather's famous WW1 cartoon character, the wily old soldier in the trenches. In 1917, the government adopted Bairnsfather's cartoon character in posters and advertisements putting over wartime messages under the heading 'Old Bill says..' and for at least some of these, the figure was dressed in Special Constable's uniform.
The original vehicles used by the Flying Squad (the mobile force of the Met) had registration plates with the letters BYL.
According to the late author Robin Cook, 'old bill' is a racing term for an outsider or unknown quantity; hence a dodgy prospect for an illegal gambler's point of view.
All rather interesting theories nonetheless, but not as practical as the copper buttons used on American police uniforms being interpreted to the now familiar police term � �Cops�, shortened from the proper (Chicago) �Coppers� term.
OBIT: LT. FERDINAND �AL� ALCINDOR
A recent obituary noted the passing of Ferdinand �Al� Alcindor, the 86 year old father of basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Kareem�s father passed away Friday, December 9, 2005 at Coney Island Hospital, after a long bout with senile dementia.
Al Alcindor was a retired Lieutenant with the Transit Police, retiring in the mid-1980�s.
The son of an immigrant from Trinidad, Ferdinand Alcindor was a music lover who attended the Julliard School before serving in the Army 1941-45. He served with the Transit Police, rising through the ranks to Lieutenant.
Several retired Transit cops recalled some stories of Lt. Alcindor, who they remembered as a no-nonsense type of guy, who spent some time in District 4.
One story recalled a time that Carmine Delmonico was in an RMP with Lt Alcindor, andthey had responded to Times Square at the time of the "Black Panther riot". It was recalled that as they were walking through a passageway they encountered a group of the rioters coming towards them, and someone was heard to shout out "Let's get Uncle Tom and Whitey�. Lt. Alcindor sort of became the Incredible Hulk, and waded through them with elbows and nightstick flailing. Lt. Alcindor certainly left an impression on many that day. The rioters wanted no part of them anymore!
In another incident, two Transit Cops boarded an A train at Chambers Street on their way to post. As the doors closed, they saw Lt. Alcindor on the platform; he had apparently just gotten off that same train and was walking towards the stairs on his way to the District.
The train started moving with a jerk which put people standing, including the two Cops, momentarily off balance. Of course you all know that experience. A few seconds later,they saw Lt. Alcindor enter from the next car and approach them.
When the train jerked, there was also a male standing near the two Officers and from the platform, it looked like the male had attacked the Officers, and Lt Alcindor boarded the moving train between cars to get to their assistance. Another lasting impression made.
Proud father of a stalwarth college and professional basketball player, lover of music, photography hobbyist� and Transit Cop to the end. May you rest in peace, Lieutenant.
FOR THE INVESTIGATOR�S ROLODEX: REVERSE TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES
Looking for a reverse address lookup site?www.reversephonedirectory.com
offers telephone numbers and names using address or number etc....AND IT'S FREE!!!!
You can also utilize the search results in
www.zabasearch.com
Also of value are:
www.whitepages.com
www.argali.com
Argali requires you to download some software, while on the whitepages site you merely go to their website for a search.
www.freeality.com
Another web site with multiple links that may be of value to you.
A Note on These Free Sites:
As you have probably already learned, the information you receive from these �free� sites cannot be relied on as being 100% accurate. The information may be outdated, or it may be less than accurate � however, it�s use as a starting point is certainly beneficial. For example, the name may or may not be correct and you may get an accurate name but the physical address of a prior user of the number. Additionally,the CITY displayed may also be where the telephone company is located and NOT the area where the line is located.
I have found very reliable information from a paid-for commercial service, LocatePlus, which can be found at
www.locateplus.com
As I mentioned, though, this is a pay-for service. You can click onto their web site, and you can enroll as a member for free, only paying for what you use, as a law enforcement member. They also have a program which you pay one price per month for an unlimited number of searches. If you check on the web site you can learn more.
Don�t forget, though, that the department now makes available to investigators the information in Accurint, as well as a phone directory in ENTERSECT Police Online.
By calling the Real Time Crime Center you can request a reverse phone lookup, which is pretty accurate � and may even have cell phone information.
The free services are good for exactly what they are intended for � a basic phone check. More accurate information, though � as those you may require for telephone subpoenas, or for a more accurate fugitive tracking information, should be utilized through the Accurint, ENTERSECT (from RTCC) or from a better commercial provider such as LocatePlus.
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
�It is not how they died that makes them a hero, but how they lived their lives�.
January 2, 1932 Ptl John Kranz, Det Sqd, Shot
January 3, 1975 PO Michael McConnon, 13 Pct, Shot-robbery
January 3, 1978 PO Ronald Stapleton, 77 Pct, Shot, off duty incident
January 5, 1922 Det William Miller, 38 Sqd(32 Sq), Shot-arrest
January 5, 1922 Det Francis Buckley, Det Div, Shot-arrest
January 5, 1944 Ptl Patrick Malone, Traffic I, Auto accident on patrol
January 7, 1930 Ptl Paul Schafer, 19 Pct, Motorcycle accident on patrol
January 7, 1933 Ptl Walter Murphy, 14 Div (13 Div), Shot-pursuit
January 7, 1934 Ptl Ernest McCarron, 68 Pct, Fire rescue
January 8, 1946 Ptl Benjamin Wallace, 32 Pct, Shot-Investigation
Friday, December 23, 2005
MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANUKAH WISHES TO ALL!
I received this story from Dan Mackey, and thought it was so appropriate for this time of year. I am re-publishing it for all to see.
A COP�S STORY: WORKING ON CHRISTMAS EVE
This article was found in the Rockville Centre Herald. The writer is a former police officer from Rockville Centre and a village resident. Here it goes.
"In 1974 when I first joined the police department, I knew there would be special occasions my family would spend without me.
Knowing that fact didn't make the task any easier. The celebrations I missed those first year's depressed me and sometimes made me feel bitter. Working on Christmas Eve wasalways the worst.
On Christmas Eve in 1977, I learned that blessing can come disguised as misfortune, and honor is more than just a word.
I was riding one man patrol on the 4 x 12 shift. The night was cold.
Everywhere I looked I saw reminders of the holiday: families packing their cars with presents, beautifullydecorated trees in living room windows and roofs adorned with tiny sleighs. It all added to my holiday funk.
The evening had been relatively quiet; there were calls for barking dogs and a residential false burglar alarm. There was nothing to make the night pass any quicker. I thought of my own family and sunk further into depression.
Shortly after 2200 hours I got a radio call to the home of an elderly, terminally ill man. I parked my patrol car in front of a simple cape cod style home. First aid kit in hand, I walked up the short path to the front door.
As I approached, a woman who seemed to be about 80 years old opened the door. He's in here she said, leading me to a back bedroom.
We passed through a living room that was furnished in a style I had come to associate with older people. The sofa has an afghan blanket draped over it's back and a dark, solid queen Anne chair say next to an unused fireplace. The mantle was cluttered with an eccentric mix of several photos, some ceramic figurines and an antique clock. A floor lamp provided soft lighting.
We entered a small bedroom where a frail looking man lay in bed with a blanket pulled up to his chin. He wore a blank stare on his ashen, skeletal face. His breathing was shallow and labored. He was barely alive.
The trappings of illness all around his bed. The night-stand was littered with a large number of pill vials. An oxygen bottle stood nearby. Its plastic hose, with face mask attached rested on the blanket.
I asked the old woman why she called the police. She simply shrugged and nodded sadly toward her husband, indicating it was his request. I looked at him and he stared intently into my eyes.
He seemed relaxed now. I didn't understand the suddenly calm expression on his face.
I looked around the room again. A dresser stood along the wall to the left of the bed. On it was the usual memorabilia: ornate perfume bottles, a white porcelain pin case, and a wooden jewelry case.
There were also several photos in simple frames. One caught my eye and I walked closer to the dresser for a closer look. The picture showed a young man dressed in a police uniform. It was unmistakably a photo of the man in bed.
I knew then why I was there.
I looked at the old man and he motioned with his hand toward the side of the bed. I walked over and stood beside him. He slid a thin arm from under the covers and took my hand. Soon, I felt his hand go limb, I looked at his face. There was no fear there. I saw only peace.
He knew he was dying; he was aware his time was very near. I know now that he was afraid of what was about to happen and he wanted the protection of a fellow cop on his journey home.
A caring God had seen to it that his child would be delivered safely to him. The honor of being his escort fell to me.
When I left at the end of my tour that night, the temperature had seemed to have risen considerably, and all the holiday displays I a saw on the way home made me smile. I no longer feel sorry for myself for having to work on Christmas Eve. I have chosen an honorable profession. I pray that when it's my turn to leave this world there will be a copthere to hold my hand and remind me that I have nothing to fear."
To all who are working this holiday, stay safe and walk proudly. We are a noble breed - this is the life we have chosen. Please take a moment to remember our brothers and sisters who are not here today, having given the ultimate sacrifice, and remember their families in your holiday prayers and services.
Be safe - and enjoy the holidays!!! Merry Christmas, and a Happy Hanukah, to all!
The Minister of Investigation
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
December 23, 1939 Ptl John Briggs, 23 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
December 24, 1935 Ptl James Dowling, 25 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
December 24, 1980 PO Gabriel Vitale, 109 Pct, Shot-investigation
December 25, 1935 Ptl Joseph Reiner, Traffic H, Auto accident on patrol
I received this story from Dan Mackey, and thought it was so appropriate for this time of year. I am re-publishing it for all to see.
A COP�S STORY: WORKING ON CHRISTMAS EVE
This article was found in the Rockville Centre Herald. The writer is a former police officer from Rockville Centre and a village resident. Here it goes.
"In 1974 when I first joined the police department, I knew there would be special occasions my family would spend without me.
Knowing that fact didn't make the task any easier. The celebrations I missed those first year's depressed me and sometimes made me feel bitter. Working on Christmas Eve wasalways the worst.
On Christmas Eve in 1977, I learned that blessing can come disguised as misfortune, and honor is more than just a word.
I was riding one man patrol on the 4 x 12 shift. The night was cold.
Everywhere I looked I saw reminders of the holiday: families packing their cars with presents, beautifullydecorated trees in living room windows and roofs adorned with tiny sleighs. It all added to my holiday funk.
The evening had been relatively quiet; there were calls for barking dogs and a residential false burglar alarm. There was nothing to make the night pass any quicker. I thought of my own family and sunk further into depression.
Shortly after 2200 hours I got a radio call to the home of an elderly, terminally ill man. I parked my patrol car in front of a simple cape cod style home. First aid kit in hand, I walked up the short path to the front door.
As I approached, a woman who seemed to be about 80 years old opened the door. He's in here she said, leading me to a back bedroom.
We passed through a living room that was furnished in a style I had come to associate with older people. The sofa has an afghan blanket draped over it's back and a dark, solid queen Anne chair say next to an unused fireplace. The mantle was cluttered with an eccentric mix of several photos, some ceramic figurines and an antique clock. A floor lamp provided soft lighting.
We entered a small bedroom where a frail looking man lay in bed with a blanket pulled up to his chin. He wore a blank stare on his ashen, skeletal face. His breathing was shallow and labored. He was barely alive.
The trappings of illness all around his bed. The night-stand was littered with a large number of pill vials. An oxygen bottle stood nearby. Its plastic hose, with face mask attached rested on the blanket.
I asked the old woman why she called the police. She simply shrugged and nodded sadly toward her husband, indicating it was his request. I looked at him and he stared intently into my eyes.
He seemed relaxed now. I didn't understand the suddenly calm expression on his face.
I looked around the room again. A dresser stood along the wall to the left of the bed. On it was the usual memorabilia: ornate perfume bottles, a white porcelain pin case, and a wooden jewelry case.
There were also several photos in simple frames. One caught my eye and I walked closer to the dresser for a closer look. The picture showed a young man dressed in a police uniform. It was unmistakably a photo of the man in bed.
I knew then why I was there.
I looked at the old man and he motioned with his hand toward the side of the bed. I walked over and stood beside him. He slid a thin arm from under the covers and took my hand. Soon, I felt his hand go limb, I looked at his face. There was no fear there. I saw only peace.
He knew he was dying; he was aware his time was very near. I know now that he was afraid of what was about to happen and he wanted the protection of a fellow cop on his journey home.
A caring God had seen to it that his child would be delivered safely to him. The honor of being his escort fell to me.
When I left at the end of my tour that night, the temperature had seemed to have risen considerably, and all the holiday displays I a saw on the way home made me smile. I no longer feel sorry for myself for having to work on Christmas Eve. I have chosen an honorable profession. I pray that when it's my turn to leave this world there will be a copthere to hold my hand and remind me that I have nothing to fear."
To all who are working this holiday, stay safe and walk proudly. We are a noble breed - this is the life we have chosen. Please take a moment to remember our brothers and sisters who are not here today, having given the ultimate sacrifice, and remember their families in your holiday prayers and services.
Be safe - and enjoy the holidays!!! Merry Christmas, and a Happy Hanukah, to all!
The Minister of Investigation
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
December 23, 1939 Ptl John Briggs, 23 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
December 24, 1935 Ptl James Dowling, 25 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
December 24, 1980 PO Gabriel Vitale, 109 Pct, Shot-investigation
December 25, 1935 Ptl Joseph Reiner, Traffic H, Auto accident on patrol
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
CHIEF OF POLICE WILLIAM DEVERY � FIRST OWNER OF THE NY YANKEES
Note: This short history of former Chief of Police William Devery, noted as one of the first owners of the NY Yankees baseball team, is provided thanks to the work of Ret. Sgt. Mike Bosak; this passage is copyrighted by Mike, and provides an interesting look at an NYPD historical figure.
�William S. Devery, without a doubt one of the most corrupt police officers in the history of New York policing, was born in NYC on the 9th day of January 1854. And at the age of 24 he was appointed a patrolman on the NYPD. On September 16, 1881, he was made a Roundsman, and on May 28, 1884, a sergeant. After only 13 years on the job, he was promoted to the rank of Captain on December 30, 1891.
On February 5, 1897 as a Captain, he was arrested and brought up on charges for bribery and extortion. After conviction, he was dismissed from the NYPD. He appealed his conviction to the NYS Court of Appeals. It was overturned and he was reinstated to the Department and promoted to Inspector on Jan. 7, 1898 and Deputy Chief on February 14, 1898. He was then appointed �Chief of Police� on June 30, 1898.
His motto of, �Hear, See Say Nothin; Eat, Drink, Pay Nothin� was frequently heard and well known in his day. In the Police Trial Room he gave out fines for, �Getting Caught.� It was alleged that Devery and his Tammany police extorted money from pool halls, gambling dens, saloons, dancehalls, and brothels; paid the bail bonds when the proprietors, employees and saloon girls were arrested; allowed blatant violations of the liquor and vice laws; and ran the illegal prizefighting in NYC.
In 1899, Governor Theodore Roosevelt and Republican state legislators established a committee, headed by Assemblyman Robert Mazet, to investigate Tammany Hall corruption. In April, the committee questioned Chief Devery. He stonewalled before the committee by only responding vaguely to questions, often stating, "Touchin' on and appertainin' to that matter, I disremember."
Devery had habitually left work in the early evening to stand on the street corner of Eighth Avenue and Twenty-Eight Street, where he claimed to be available for all constituents, until 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. He denied noticing that right across the street a saloon was conducting a lively after-hours business.
Soon after the Mazet Committee concluded its work with a blistering denunciation of Devery, the New York Times reported that gambling-house owners paid over $3 million annually in protection money. Although the newspaper did not publish names, Devery was known to be one of the leaders of the "gamblers' syndicate" along with Frank Farrell and to run professional prizefighting in New York City, which under state law was illegal.
His career with the Department lasted over 23 and a half years. When Tammany Hall Mayor Robert Van Wyck�s Democratic slate was not reelected in November of 1901, he was forced to retire from the NYPD as the 1st Deputy Police Commissioner. He also had to relinquish his position on the executive board of Tammany Hall in 1902.
He then went on to own and control the N.Y. Highlanders and Yankees with his long time business associate, Tammany friend and landlord Frank Farrell. [In 1915, they sold the team to Houston and Rupert, for the tidy sum of $460,000.]�
NOTORIOUS NEW YORK: FIVE POINTS
A Murder a Day- Bayard, Park, Worth, Mulberry, and Baxter Streets.
That was New York�s notorious �Five Points�.
It is called Columbus Park today, the concrete plaza behind the Manhattan Criminal Court buildings, where kids play basketball and stickball and senior citizens spend afternoons on park benches � and mornings practicing Tai-Czhi. More than one hundred years ago, though, this patch was known as Five Points, a world famous slum raging with despair, disease, and the city�s earliest street gangs � The Dead Rabbits, the Roach Guards, and Plug Uglies, to name just a few.
Conditions were so bad that Jacob Riis, the crusading journalist, called Five Points a �human pigsty� populated by �thieves, murderers, pickpockets, beggars, harlots, and degenerates of every type.� Charles Dickens, in the 1840�s, wrote that Five Points was home to �all that is loathsome and decayed.� Dickens toured the slum � accompanied by cops, of course.
Five Points, a paved over swamp, was located at the intersection of what was then known as Orange, Cross, Anthony, Little Water, and Mulberry Streets. Now they�re called Baxter, Bayard, Park, Worth, and Mulberry Streets.
The nineteenth century brought thousands of immigrants, many of them Irish, who crowded into the area�s airless, soot-filled tenements. In one year, 1852, census takers visiting Five Points found that 155 children, all younger than five, had died, many of them from cholera. Landlords named their buildings �Gates to Hell� and Brick Bat Mansion�, but none were more squalid than the Old Brewery on Pearl Street, on the site of what became a new federal courthouse behind One Police Plaza.
It was here that police estimated that one murder was committed every night for fifteen years � a lot for one address, even by modern standards of crime. Not surprising, then, that tenants named a hallway �Murderer�s Alley�.
A thousand families lived in the five-story building, where in the basement a five year old girl was once robbed and stabbed to death after showing off a penny. The Brewery was knocked down in 1852, and workmen clearing the site carried out bags of human bones. Sometimes the gang warfare at Five Points got out of hand.
In 1857, for example, the city called in the state militia to quell a fight between the Dead Rabbits and the Bowery Boys, but not before ten people had died � including a police officer. In the 1880�s, the police found in a pocket of one gangster, Piker Ryan, a member of the Whyos, a list of services he was willing to render, along with the charges. A punch cost $2, while two black eyes cost $4. Piker would chew someone�s ear for $15, or shoot them in the leg for $25. He charged $100 for �doing the big job.�
Piker Ryan wasn�t much to fear, especially at the turn of the century when Five Points gangs included members like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano. Their experience on the city�s streets was so inspirational that the two men were among the founders of organized crime, a venture that would make them world famous and their operations as big as US Steel.
INVESTIGATIONS � WITH A BRITISH STYLE: THE HOMICIDE COMMAND
How do they investigate major crimes across the pond?
The Metropolitan Police � better known as Scotland Yard � handles homicide investigations through what is commonly referred to as the �Murder Group�.
The Homicide Command is split geographically into three units (West, East and South), each led by a Detective Chief Superintendent.
Each of the Command Units has nine Major Investigation Teams (MITs), consisting of 33 staff, led by a Detective Chief Inspector (DCI), who performs the role of �senior investigating officer' (SIO) as well as Homicide Task Force per unit. The Detective Chief Inspector is similar to our NYPD Squad Commander.
The MPS is the only police service in the UK to have a Chief Officer nominated to oversee all homicide investigations and develop policy in this area.
The Homicide Command is responsible for the investigation of homicide and other serious crimes in London.
The work of the Homicide Command is supported by several specialized teams. These include:
The Murder Review Group Joint Trials Unit Coroners Officers and pathologists Forensic Science Services Other specialist support units
The Major Investigation Teams investigate:
* Murder, manslaughter and infanticide offences.
* Attempted murder, where the evidence of intent is unambiguous or where a risk assessment identifies substantive risk to life.
* Missing persons or abductions, where there is a substantive reason to suspect life has been taken or is under threat.
* Other investigations identified for specialist needs.
In addition, the teams provide advice for the MPS and other police forces on 'High Risk' situations such as missing people.
The Homicide Task Forces proactively conduct work in terms of murder suppression and 'man hunts' for murder suspects.
The Murder Review Group (MRG) acts as an oversight on murder investigations, as well as a catalyst for the �Cold Case� investigation.
They review undetected murder investigations, with the objective of increasing public trust and confidence in the way the MPS investigates murders.
This Unit employs a mixture of serving and retired experienced detectives to undertake detailed reviews of undetected murders, looking for investigative opportunities that may lead to a breakthrough.
The MRG achieves this by identifying, introducing and sustaining best practice. The focus of reviews is twofold:
� to ensure that all investigative opportunities are identified and progressed;
� to ensure compliance with the Murder Investigation Manual.
Think of it as the Compstat Review for murder investigations on a regular basis!
Reviews of new undetected homicide investigations are undertaken four weeks after commencement. The unit also undertakes �cold case reviews', examining old cases for new investigative opportunities, particularly taking into account advances in forensic science.
Note that retired detectives serve on the Murder Review Group as well � certainly a suitable use of experienced talent!
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Extreme Covert Catalog
For some really buffy items, you�ll want to check out the Whole Spy catalog that has been assembled by Lee Lapin. This is a mammoth book on currently available spy gear including everything from fax interception devices to cell phone jammers to asphalt radio transmitters. Many of the items are restricted to law enforcement only. Manufacturer contacts are also included.
www.intelligencehere.com
Factiva.com
Factiva.com is the home base for the sweeping and powerful Dow Jones Interactive Publications Library.
Includes online access to the electronic archives of over 6,600 publications with a single search. Publications include the Wall Street Journal, major dailies like the New York Times, The Globe, The Chicago Tribune; and scores of business journals.
Its free to sign up and free to receive brief summaries of articles found. Full articles cost $2.95 each. This is an excellent source for conducting background investigations, especially when the subject may be newsworthy or high profile.
www.factiva.com
THE �LEST WE FORGET�� NYPD MEMORIAL
December 20, 1925 Ptl Stephen McPhillips, 23 Pct, Electrocuted
December 20, 1936 Ptl James Smith, Traffic C, Auto accident
December 20, 1967 Ptl Robert Harris, HAPD, Shot-gun arrest
December 20, 1971 Ptl Carson Terry, HAPD-SI, Shot, off duty arrest
December 20, 1976 PO Carlos King, TPD D2, Shot-off duty robbery
December 21, 1930 Ptl Howard Barrows, 105 Pct, Auto accident
December 21, 1967 Ptl George Bishop, Aviation, Helicopter accident
December 21, 1967 Ptl Plato Arvantis, Aviation, Helicopter accident
December 22, 1927 Lt Charles Kemmer, 54 Pct, Shot-burglary arrest
December 22, 1940 Ptl Joseph Kussius, GCP Pct, Motorcycle accident
December 22, 1977 PO William Flood, PBQ, Shot-Robbery, off duty
December 22, 1996 PO Charles Davis, MWS, Shot-Off duty robbery
December 23, 1929 Ptl Michael Speer, 71 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
December 23, 1930 Ptl James McMahon, Traffic F, Injured on patrol
December 23, 1939 Ptl John Briggs, 23 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
December 24, 1935 Ptl James Dowling, 25 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
December 24, 1980 PO Gabriel Vitale, 109 Pct, Shot-investigation
December 25, 1935 Ptl Joseph Reiner, Traffic H, Auto accident on patrol
December 27, 1944 Det Anthony McGinley, 5 DetDist, Shot-Domestic dispute
December 28, 1929 Ptl Joseph Jockel, McyDist, Shot-arrest
December 28, 1974 PO Kenneth Mahon, 41 Pct, Shot-robbery
December 28, 1978 PO David Guttenberg, 68 Pct, Shot-robbery
December 28, 1991 Sgt Keith Levine, CommDiv, Shot-robbery, off duty
December 29, 1878 Ptl Asa Furness, 10 Pct, Shot by EDP
Note: This short history of former Chief of Police William Devery, noted as one of the first owners of the NY Yankees baseball team, is provided thanks to the work of Ret. Sgt. Mike Bosak; this passage is copyrighted by Mike, and provides an interesting look at an NYPD historical figure.
�William S. Devery, without a doubt one of the most corrupt police officers in the history of New York policing, was born in NYC on the 9th day of January 1854. And at the age of 24 he was appointed a patrolman on the NYPD. On September 16, 1881, he was made a Roundsman, and on May 28, 1884, a sergeant. After only 13 years on the job, he was promoted to the rank of Captain on December 30, 1891.
On February 5, 1897 as a Captain, he was arrested and brought up on charges for bribery and extortion. After conviction, he was dismissed from the NYPD. He appealed his conviction to the NYS Court of Appeals. It was overturned and he was reinstated to the Department and promoted to Inspector on Jan. 7, 1898 and Deputy Chief on February 14, 1898. He was then appointed �Chief of Police� on June 30, 1898.
His motto of, �Hear, See Say Nothin; Eat, Drink, Pay Nothin� was frequently heard and well known in his day. In the Police Trial Room he gave out fines for, �Getting Caught.� It was alleged that Devery and his Tammany police extorted money from pool halls, gambling dens, saloons, dancehalls, and brothels; paid the bail bonds when the proprietors, employees and saloon girls were arrested; allowed blatant violations of the liquor and vice laws; and ran the illegal prizefighting in NYC.
In 1899, Governor Theodore Roosevelt and Republican state legislators established a committee, headed by Assemblyman Robert Mazet, to investigate Tammany Hall corruption. In April, the committee questioned Chief Devery. He stonewalled before the committee by only responding vaguely to questions, often stating, "Touchin' on and appertainin' to that matter, I disremember."
Devery had habitually left work in the early evening to stand on the street corner of Eighth Avenue and Twenty-Eight Street, where he claimed to be available for all constituents, until 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. He denied noticing that right across the street a saloon was conducting a lively after-hours business.
Soon after the Mazet Committee concluded its work with a blistering denunciation of Devery, the New York Times reported that gambling-house owners paid over $3 million annually in protection money. Although the newspaper did not publish names, Devery was known to be one of the leaders of the "gamblers' syndicate" along with Frank Farrell and to run professional prizefighting in New York City, which under state law was illegal.
His career with the Department lasted over 23 and a half years. When Tammany Hall Mayor Robert Van Wyck�s Democratic slate was not reelected in November of 1901, he was forced to retire from the NYPD as the 1st Deputy Police Commissioner. He also had to relinquish his position on the executive board of Tammany Hall in 1902.
He then went on to own and control the N.Y. Highlanders and Yankees with his long time business associate, Tammany friend and landlord Frank Farrell. [In 1915, they sold the team to Houston and Rupert, for the tidy sum of $460,000.]�
NOTORIOUS NEW YORK: FIVE POINTS
A Murder a Day- Bayard, Park, Worth, Mulberry, and Baxter Streets.
That was New York�s notorious �Five Points�.
It is called Columbus Park today, the concrete plaza behind the Manhattan Criminal Court buildings, where kids play basketball and stickball and senior citizens spend afternoons on park benches � and mornings practicing Tai-Czhi. More than one hundred years ago, though, this patch was known as Five Points, a world famous slum raging with despair, disease, and the city�s earliest street gangs � The Dead Rabbits, the Roach Guards, and Plug Uglies, to name just a few.
Conditions were so bad that Jacob Riis, the crusading journalist, called Five Points a �human pigsty� populated by �thieves, murderers, pickpockets, beggars, harlots, and degenerates of every type.� Charles Dickens, in the 1840�s, wrote that Five Points was home to �all that is loathsome and decayed.� Dickens toured the slum � accompanied by cops, of course.
Five Points, a paved over swamp, was located at the intersection of what was then known as Orange, Cross, Anthony, Little Water, and Mulberry Streets. Now they�re called Baxter, Bayard, Park, Worth, and Mulberry Streets.
The nineteenth century brought thousands of immigrants, many of them Irish, who crowded into the area�s airless, soot-filled tenements. In one year, 1852, census takers visiting Five Points found that 155 children, all younger than five, had died, many of them from cholera. Landlords named their buildings �Gates to Hell� and Brick Bat Mansion�, but none were more squalid than the Old Brewery on Pearl Street, on the site of what became a new federal courthouse behind One Police Plaza.
It was here that police estimated that one murder was committed every night for fifteen years � a lot for one address, even by modern standards of crime. Not surprising, then, that tenants named a hallway �Murderer�s Alley�.
A thousand families lived in the five-story building, where in the basement a five year old girl was once robbed and stabbed to death after showing off a penny. The Brewery was knocked down in 1852, and workmen clearing the site carried out bags of human bones. Sometimes the gang warfare at Five Points got out of hand.
In 1857, for example, the city called in the state militia to quell a fight between the Dead Rabbits and the Bowery Boys, but not before ten people had died � including a police officer. In the 1880�s, the police found in a pocket of one gangster, Piker Ryan, a member of the Whyos, a list of services he was willing to render, along with the charges. A punch cost $2, while two black eyes cost $4. Piker would chew someone�s ear for $15, or shoot them in the leg for $25. He charged $100 for �doing the big job.�
Piker Ryan wasn�t much to fear, especially at the turn of the century when Five Points gangs included members like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano. Their experience on the city�s streets was so inspirational that the two men were among the founders of organized crime, a venture that would make them world famous and their operations as big as US Steel.
INVESTIGATIONS � WITH A BRITISH STYLE: THE HOMICIDE COMMAND
How do they investigate major crimes across the pond?
The Metropolitan Police � better known as Scotland Yard � handles homicide investigations through what is commonly referred to as the �Murder Group�.
The Homicide Command is split geographically into three units (West, East and South), each led by a Detective Chief Superintendent.
Each of the Command Units has nine Major Investigation Teams (MITs), consisting of 33 staff, led by a Detective Chief Inspector (DCI), who performs the role of �senior investigating officer' (SIO) as well as Homicide Task Force per unit. The Detective Chief Inspector is similar to our NYPD Squad Commander.
The MPS is the only police service in the UK to have a Chief Officer nominated to oversee all homicide investigations and develop policy in this area.
The Homicide Command is responsible for the investigation of homicide and other serious crimes in London.
The work of the Homicide Command is supported by several specialized teams. These include:
The Murder Review Group Joint Trials Unit Coroners Officers and pathologists Forensic Science Services Other specialist support units
The Major Investigation Teams investigate:
* Murder, manslaughter and infanticide offences.
* Attempted murder, where the evidence of intent is unambiguous or where a risk assessment identifies substantive risk to life.
* Missing persons or abductions, where there is a substantive reason to suspect life has been taken or is under threat.
* Other investigations identified for specialist needs.
In addition, the teams provide advice for the MPS and other police forces on 'High Risk' situations such as missing people.
The Homicide Task Forces proactively conduct work in terms of murder suppression and 'man hunts' for murder suspects.
The Murder Review Group (MRG) acts as an oversight on murder investigations, as well as a catalyst for the �Cold Case� investigation.
They review undetected murder investigations, with the objective of increasing public trust and confidence in the way the MPS investigates murders.
This Unit employs a mixture of serving and retired experienced detectives to undertake detailed reviews of undetected murders, looking for investigative opportunities that may lead to a breakthrough.
The MRG achieves this by identifying, introducing and sustaining best practice. The focus of reviews is twofold:
� to ensure that all investigative opportunities are identified and progressed;
� to ensure compliance with the Murder Investigation Manual.
Think of it as the Compstat Review for murder investigations on a regular basis!
Reviews of new undetected homicide investigations are undertaken four weeks after commencement. The unit also undertakes �cold case reviews', examining old cases for new investigative opportunities, particularly taking into account advances in forensic science.
Note that retired detectives serve on the Murder Review Group as well � certainly a suitable use of experienced talent!
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Extreme Covert Catalog
For some really buffy items, you�ll want to check out the Whole Spy catalog that has been assembled by Lee Lapin. This is a mammoth book on currently available spy gear including everything from fax interception devices to cell phone jammers to asphalt radio transmitters. Many of the items are restricted to law enforcement only. Manufacturer contacts are also included.
www.intelligencehere.com
Factiva.com
Factiva.com is the home base for the sweeping and powerful Dow Jones Interactive Publications Library.
Includes online access to the electronic archives of over 6,600 publications with a single search. Publications include the Wall Street Journal, major dailies like the New York Times, The Globe, The Chicago Tribune; and scores of business journals.
Its free to sign up and free to receive brief summaries of articles found. Full articles cost $2.95 each. This is an excellent source for conducting background investigations, especially when the subject may be newsworthy or high profile.
www.factiva.com
THE �LEST WE FORGET�� NYPD MEMORIAL
December 20, 1925 Ptl Stephen McPhillips, 23 Pct, Electrocuted
December 20, 1936 Ptl James Smith, Traffic C, Auto accident
December 20, 1967 Ptl Robert Harris, HAPD, Shot-gun arrest
December 20, 1971 Ptl Carson Terry, HAPD-SI, Shot, off duty arrest
December 20, 1976 PO Carlos King, TPD D2, Shot-off duty robbery
December 21, 1930 Ptl Howard Barrows, 105 Pct, Auto accident
December 21, 1967 Ptl George Bishop, Aviation, Helicopter accident
December 21, 1967 Ptl Plato Arvantis, Aviation, Helicopter accident
December 22, 1927 Lt Charles Kemmer, 54 Pct, Shot-burglary arrest
December 22, 1940 Ptl Joseph Kussius, GCP Pct, Motorcycle accident
December 22, 1977 PO William Flood, PBQ, Shot-Robbery, off duty
December 22, 1996 PO Charles Davis, MWS, Shot-Off duty robbery
December 23, 1929 Ptl Michael Speer, 71 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
December 23, 1930 Ptl James McMahon, Traffic F, Injured on patrol
December 23, 1939 Ptl John Briggs, 23 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
December 24, 1935 Ptl James Dowling, 25 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
December 24, 1980 PO Gabriel Vitale, 109 Pct, Shot-investigation
December 25, 1935 Ptl Joseph Reiner, Traffic H, Auto accident on patrol
December 27, 1944 Det Anthony McGinley, 5 DetDist, Shot-Domestic dispute
December 28, 1929 Ptl Joseph Jockel, McyDist, Shot-arrest
December 28, 1974 PO Kenneth Mahon, 41 Pct, Shot-robbery
December 28, 1978 PO David Guttenberg, 68 Pct, Shot-robbery
December 28, 1991 Sgt Keith Levine, CommDiv, Shot-robbery, off duty
December 29, 1878 Ptl Asa Furness, 10 Pct, Shot by EDP
Friday, December 09, 2005
AN OVERDUE HONOR TO NY�S FINEST
It was reported in most area news media that, on November 16, 2005, 100 names were added to the NYPD�s Memorial at 1 Police Plaza.
These additions included police officers killed between 1849 and 1997 who were not previously noted for their line of duty deaths.
The names, it was noted, were added by Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Kelly after the urging of some of these cops� relatives, the PBA, and Retired Sgt. Mike Bosak (who had a VERY active part in the addition).
Bosak and other city workers - including a crew of cops assembled by Kelly - combed through pension records, death certificates, command logs and newspaper clippings to compile the fallen heroes' stories.
The names of the officers � including one killed on patrol during the Civil War draft riots � were put on a new plaque on the Memorial Wall inside the lobby of 1 Police Plaza.
The mayor personally saluted John J. Sheridan, who was shot to death while trying to arrest a "gang of burglars" in Long Island City on July 16, 1902.
One of the longest-unrecognized heroes is Patrolman Peter McIntyre, who was beaten to death in July 1863 while trying to control a rampaging crowd during the Civil War draft riots.
Another victim of the Civil War riots was Patrolman Edward Dippel. On July 19, 1863, Dippel was shot and killed while clearing rioters who were looting the Gibbons House on 29th Street near Eighth Avenue.
Also added to the wall was Patrolman Patrick Cushing, who responded to a fire at Bush Terminal in Sunset Park on Oct. 28, 1904. He entered the building to rescue any victims inside. Cushing was cut off from his escape path and died in the fire.
The next time you pass through the lobby at 1PP, take a moment to stop and recognize those of our brothers and sister who have gone before us.
THE 1898 POLICE PARADE
On June 1, 1898, the Police Department of the City of New York paraded in Manhattan.
This was the first parade of the police force of the greater City of New York. Many firsts were established in this parade.
It was the largest police parade up to that time.
Of the 7,000 policemen in the department over 4,000 marched. All the superior officers, captains and above, wore the new style uniforms, and for the first time white dress helmets and white cords and tassels adorned their fancy parade batons.
While the lower ranks did not wear new style uniforms or new style shields, due to manufacturing problems, they did wear a new pearl gray summer helmet with the city's coat of arms in place of the old cap wreath.
This parade also saw the first official department presentation of a medal.
Previously, medal presentations were made in private ceremonies. This was the first award and presentation of the Rhineland Medal for Valor, presented to Patrolman Frederick L. Stahl of the 15th Precinct for rescuing twenty people at a fire on East Houston Street on Jan. 2, 1897. After the presentation by Mayor Van Wyck, Ptl. Stahl was invited to sit with the dignitaries on the reviewing stand.
Right after Ptl. Stahl joined the dignitaries, a spectator called out; "Why don't you make him a Roundsman?" "That is an excellent suggestion," said Mayor Van Wyck to Chief Devery who told Stahl that he was now a Roundsman (present day Sergeant).
This action set a precedent that was followed for a number of years after, in that patrolmen who received the Department Medal (Medal of Honor) or the Rhineland, Bell, or Meyer medal for valor were also promoted to Roundsman.
WHY IS IT CALLED SCOTLAND YARD?
The original headquarters of the Metropolitan Police was a house at 4 Whitehall Place, not far from Trafalgar Square, but the rear entrance, which the public used, was in Scotland Yard.
Great Scotland Yard still exists as a street today, and the building is used as stables for some of the Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch.
When the Metropolitan Police were being established in 1829, one of the first tasks was to find a building to act as the new headquarters. The building was at 4 Whitehall Place.
The new building was adjacent to the Public Carriage Office where a Commissioner was already responsible for the licensing of taxi cabs.
When the public went to see the new Commissioners, they used the back entrance of 4 Whitehall Place the rear of which was converted into a police station. The reception area soon became known as "Back Hall", an expression still used today in the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police. This entrance was in Great Scotland Yard, off Whitehall, and the building soon became known as Scotland Yard.
By 1890 a new headquarters had been needed for many years, and the Metropolitan Police moved into a new building, designed by Norman Shaw, on Embankment.
The building was to have been the site of an opera house, but the project had been abandoned when partly built. the new building was faced with granite quarried by prisoners on Dartmoor, and a female body, the victim of an unsolved murder, was found in the basement of the building, which became known as New Scotland Yard.
In 1967, the Metropolitan Police again moved their headquarters, this time to their current address of 10 Broadway, London, SW1H 0BG, on a site which also borders on Victoria Street.
The name "New Scotland Yard" was retained.
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE OF GREAT BRITAIN
In 1829, when Sir Robert Peel was Home Secretary, the first Metropolitan Police Act was passed and the Metropolitan Police Force was established.
This new force superseded the local Watch in the London area but the City of London was not covered. Even within the Metropolitan Police District there still remained certain police establishments, organised during the eighteenth century, outside the control of the Metropolitan Police Office.
The Metropolitan Police Service is famed around the world and has a unique place in the history of policing. It is by far the largest of the police services that operate in greater London (the others include the City of London Police and the British Transport Police).
The Royal Parks Constabulary have now become part of the Metropolitan Police Service.
Founded by Sir Robert Peel in 1829, the original establishment of 1,000 officers policed a seven-mile radius from Charing Cross and a population of less than 2 million.
Today, the Metropolitan Police Service employs 30,235 officers, 11,966 police staff, 493 traffic wardens and 1392 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), and, since the realignment of police boundaries in April 2000, it covers an area of 620 square miles and a population of 7.2million.
The Met works in conjunction with neighboring forces but has particularly close relationships with the other forces that police in London:
The British Transport Police, who are responsible for policing on the rail and tube systems.
The City of London Police, who cover the area within the boundaries of the Corporation of London.
The City of London Police is responsible for the safety of everyone in London's 'Square Mile'. There are about 6,000 residents in the City of London although this number is swelled daily by an influx of some 350,000 commuters, as well as people traveling through and tourists.The Force is organized into six command areas. The two territorial divisions, based at Snow Hill and Bishopsgate, are responsible for the day-to-day policing of the City.
Fifty per cent of Force staff work from these police stations, and their functions include giving crime prevention advice, investigating crime, patrolling, staffing the traffic and environmental zone, and dealing with public enquiries.
About 1,200 people work for the City of London Police. Around one third of these are civilian support staff performing a wide range of professional, administrative and some operational support roles.
The Term �Scotland Yard� refers to the officers of the Metropolitan Police Department.
THE ECCENTRIC SCREENWRITING-DETECTIVE
If you work in Brooklyn North you�ll probably know who this is.
Yes, he�s eccentric.
He�s been working on a screenplay for some time; a follow-up to the screenplay for the (as yet incomplete) movie about the sinking WWII U-Boat.
But that�s a whole other story in itself.
Anyway, our aspiring screenwriter takes a week off to finish writing his screenplay. Uninterrupted time away from the pressure of work.
Upon his return from his week of creativity, he�s asked �So, how did the writing go�?
To which he replied �No good, it rained�.
Which makes plenty of sense if you know our character. You just gotta love him!
Oh, if only Nicky could be in the same room with him�
INTERESTING NOTE ABOUT BROOKLYN PRECINCTS
You may find it of interest to note some of the locations, and history, of Brooklyn Police Precinct station houses.
Dating back to the days of the Brooklyn Police Department, here are some station houses of note:
164th Pct was located at 179 Hamburg Ave. It was so designated in 1909. The building is still in use, currently housing PBBN Operations on Wilson Ave. In between being known as the 164 Precinct and its current command, it was the 83 Precinct. Hamburg Ave was renamed Wilson Ave.
154th Pct was located at 16 Ralph Ave. It was known under this designation in 1909, and was located next to the current 81 Precinct station house.
144th Pct was located at 577 5th Ave, at 16 Street, and was replaced by the current 72 Precinct.
89th Pct was located at 44 Rappelyea Ave. This building was torn down to make way for the building of the BQE, and was replaced by the current 76 Pct.
37th Pct was located at 35 Snyder Avenue in 1924. Its use as a stationhouse was discontinued in May 1925. The 37-B Precinct was established in November 1926. This was located in the old Flatbush Town Hall, and was later replaced by the current 67 Pct.
IDENTITY THEFT UPDATE
Seeking information on Identity Theft issues?
Check the Federal Trade Commission�s web site on Identity Theft at:
www.consumer.gov/idtheft
There are two excellent handouts which you may want to get copies of.
These both can be downloaded or ordered in hardcopy from the FTC.
�ID Theft: What�s It All About� is a pocket size booklet that summarizes how ID theft occurs and what to do about it if you�re a victim.
�Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft� is a 52-page manual that goes into great detail on the nature of the crime and how to fight it.
They can be bulk ordered, and may make for a good handout to victims when reporting such crimes.
"LEST WE FORGET..." THE NYPD MEMORIAL
December 4, 1923 Ptl Alfred Van Clieff, 63 Pct, Motorcycle accident
December 6, 1903 Ptl Frank Redican, 1 Pct, Fire rescue
December 6, 1941 Ptl Thomas Casey, 17 Pct, Shot-Robbery pursuit
December 7, 1937 Ptl Edward Lynch, 20 Pct, Shot-Burglary in progress
December 7, 1971 Det Harold Marshall, HAPD-Bklyn, Shot-off duty arrest
December 8, 1924 Ptl Joseph Pelosi, 60 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
December 8, 1932 Ptl Michael Moroso, 23 Pct, Shot by sniper
December 8, 1942 Det Joseph Miccio, 78 Sqd, Shot-investigation
December 8, 1946 Ptl Edward McAuliff, 18 Sqd, LOD injury
December 9, 1932 Ptl John Grattan, Mcy Unit, Motorcycle accident on patrol
December 10, 1929 Ptl Philip Morrissey, 85 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
December 11, 1922 Ptl Francis Mace, 73 Pct, Line of duty injury
December 12, 1966 Ptl Raul Yglesias, PA, Shot-off duty altercation
December 13, 1932 Ptl Louis Wiendieck, Traffic B, Line of duty pursuit
December 13, 1946 Det James Burke, 48 Sqd, Shot-robbery
December 14, 1932 Ptl George Gerhard, 20 Pct, Shot-Robbery pursuit
December 14, 1961 Ptl Hugh Willoughby, 26 Pct, Shot-robbery, off duty
December 16, 1920 Lt Floyd Horton, 40 Pct, Shot: GLA arrest
December 16, 1981 PO Anthony Abruzzo, Jr, 109 Pct, Shot-Robbery, off duty
It was reported in most area news media that, on November 16, 2005, 100 names were added to the NYPD�s Memorial at 1 Police Plaza.
These additions included police officers killed between 1849 and 1997 who were not previously noted for their line of duty deaths.
The names, it was noted, were added by Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Kelly after the urging of some of these cops� relatives, the PBA, and Retired Sgt. Mike Bosak (who had a VERY active part in the addition).
Bosak and other city workers - including a crew of cops assembled by Kelly - combed through pension records, death certificates, command logs and newspaper clippings to compile the fallen heroes' stories.
The names of the officers � including one killed on patrol during the Civil War draft riots � were put on a new plaque on the Memorial Wall inside the lobby of 1 Police Plaza.
The mayor personally saluted John J. Sheridan, who was shot to death while trying to arrest a "gang of burglars" in Long Island City on July 16, 1902.
One of the longest-unrecognized heroes is Patrolman Peter McIntyre, who was beaten to death in July 1863 while trying to control a rampaging crowd during the Civil War draft riots.
Another victim of the Civil War riots was Patrolman Edward Dippel. On July 19, 1863, Dippel was shot and killed while clearing rioters who were looting the Gibbons House on 29th Street near Eighth Avenue.
Also added to the wall was Patrolman Patrick Cushing, who responded to a fire at Bush Terminal in Sunset Park on Oct. 28, 1904. He entered the building to rescue any victims inside. Cushing was cut off from his escape path and died in the fire.
The next time you pass through the lobby at 1PP, take a moment to stop and recognize those of our brothers and sister who have gone before us.
THE 1898 POLICE PARADE
On June 1, 1898, the Police Department of the City of New York paraded in Manhattan.
This was the first parade of the police force of the greater City of New York. Many firsts were established in this parade.
It was the largest police parade up to that time.
Of the 7,000 policemen in the department over 4,000 marched. All the superior officers, captains and above, wore the new style uniforms, and for the first time white dress helmets and white cords and tassels adorned their fancy parade batons.
While the lower ranks did not wear new style uniforms or new style shields, due to manufacturing problems, they did wear a new pearl gray summer helmet with the city's coat of arms in place of the old cap wreath.
This parade also saw the first official department presentation of a medal.
Previously, medal presentations were made in private ceremonies. This was the first award and presentation of the Rhineland Medal for Valor, presented to Patrolman Frederick L. Stahl of the 15th Precinct for rescuing twenty people at a fire on East Houston Street on Jan. 2, 1897. After the presentation by Mayor Van Wyck, Ptl. Stahl was invited to sit with the dignitaries on the reviewing stand.
Right after Ptl. Stahl joined the dignitaries, a spectator called out; "Why don't you make him a Roundsman?" "That is an excellent suggestion," said Mayor Van Wyck to Chief Devery who told Stahl that he was now a Roundsman (present day Sergeant).
This action set a precedent that was followed for a number of years after, in that patrolmen who received the Department Medal (Medal of Honor) or the Rhineland, Bell, or Meyer medal for valor were also promoted to Roundsman.
WHY IS IT CALLED SCOTLAND YARD?
The original headquarters of the Metropolitan Police was a house at 4 Whitehall Place, not far from Trafalgar Square, but the rear entrance, which the public used, was in Scotland Yard.
Great Scotland Yard still exists as a street today, and the building is used as stables for some of the Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch.
When the Metropolitan Police were being established in 1829, one of the first tasks was to find a building to act as the new headquarters. The building was at 4 Whitehall Place.
The new building was adjacent to the Public Carriage Office where a Commissioner was already responsible for the licensing of taxi cabs.
When the public went to see the new Commissioners, they used the back entrance of 4 Whitehall Place the rear of which was converted into a police station. The reception area soon became known as "Back Hall", an expression still used today in the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police. This entrance was in Great Scotland Yard, off Whitehall, and the building soon became known as Scotland Yard.
By 1890 a new headquarters had been needed for many years, and the Metropolitan Police moved into a new building, designed by Norman Shaw, on Embankment.
The building was to have been the site of an opera house, but the project had been abandoned when partly built. the new building was faced with granite quarried by prisoners on Dartmoor, and a female body, the victim of an unsolved murder, was found in the basement of the building, which became known as New Scotland Yard.
In 1967, the Metropolitan Police again moved their headquarters, this time to their current address of 10 Broadway, London, SW1H 0BG, on a site which also borders on Victoria Street.
The name "New Scotland Yard" was retained.
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE OF GREAT BRITAIN
In 1829, when Sir Robert Peel was Home Secretary, the first Metropolitan Police Act was passed and the Metropolitan Police Force was established.
This new force superseded the local Watch in the London area but the City of London was not covered. Even within the Metropolitan Police District there still remained certain police establishments, organised during the eighteenth century, outside the control of the Metropolitan Police Office.
The Metropolitan Police Service is famed around the world and has a unique place in the history of policing. It is by far the largest of the police services that operate in greater London (the others include the City of London Police and the British Transport Police).
The Royal Parks Constabulary have now become part of the Metropolitan Police Service.
Founded by Sir Robert Peel in 1829, the original establishment of 1,000 officers policed a seven-mile radius from Charing Cross and a population of less than 2 million.
Today, the Metropolitan Police Service employs 30,235 officers, 11,966 police staff, 493 traffic wardens and 1392 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), and, since the realignment of police boundaries in April 2000, it covers an area of 620 square miles and a population of 7.2million.
The Met works in conjunction with neighboring forces but has particularly close relationships with the other forces that police in London:
The British Transport Police, who are responsible for policing on the rail and tube systems.
The City of London Police, who cover the area within the boundaries of the Corporation of London.
The City of London Police is responsible for the safety of everyone in London's 'Square Mile'. There are about 6,000 residents in the City of London although this number is swelled daily by an influx of some 350,000 commuters, as well as people traveling through and tourists.The Force is organized into six command areas. The two territorial divisions, based at Snow Hill and Bishopsgate, are responsible for the day-to-day policing of the City.
Fifty per cent of Force staff work from these police stations, and their functions include giving crime prevention advice, investigating crime, patrolling, staffing the traffic and environmental zone, and dealing with public enquiries.
About 1,200 people work for the City of London Police. Around one third of these are civilian support staff performing a wide range of professional, administrative and some operational support roles.
The Term �Scotland Yard� refers to the officers of the Metropolitan Police Department.
THE ECCENTRIC SCREENWRITING-DETECTIVE
If you work in Brooklyn North you�ll probably know who this is.
Yes, he�s eccentric.
He�s been working on a screenplay for some time; a follow-up to the screenplay for the (as yet incomplete) movie about the sinking WWII U-Boat.
But that�s a whole other story in itself.
Anyway, our aspiring screenwriter takes a week off to finish writing his screenplay. Uninterrupted time away from the pressure of work.
Upon his return from his week of creativity, he�s asked �So, how did the writing go�?
To which he replied �No good, it rained�.
Which makes plenty of sense if you know our character. You just gotta love him!
Oh, if only Nicky could be in the same room with him�
INTERESTING NOTE ABOUT BROOKLYN PRECINCTS
You may find it of interest to note some of the locations, and history, of Brooklyn Police Precinct station houses.
Dating back to the days of the Brooklyn Police Department, here are some station houses of note:
164th Pct was located at 179 Hamburg Ave. It was so designated in 1909. The building is still in use, currently housing PBBN Operations on Wilson Ave. In between being known as the 164 Precinct and its current command, it was the 83 Precinct. Hamburg Ave was renamed Wilson Ave.
154th Pct was located at 16 Ralph Ave. It was known under this designation in 1909, and was located next to the current 81 Precinct station house.
144th Pct was located at 577 5th Ave, at 16 Street, and was replaced by the current 72 Precinct.
89th Pct was located at 44 Rappelyea Ave. This building was torn down to make way for the building of the BQE, and was replaced by the current 76 Pct.
37th Pct was located at 35 Snyder Avenue in 1924. Its use as a stationhouse was discontinued in May 1925. The 37-B Precinct was established in November 1926. This was located in the old Flatbush Town Hall, and was later replaced by the current 67 Pct.
IDENTITY THEFT UPDATE
Seeking information on Identity Theft issues?
Check the Federal Trade Commission�s web site on Identity Theft at:
www.consumer.gov/idtheft
There are two excellent handouts which you may want to get copies of.
These both can be downloaded or ordered in hardcopy from the FTC.
�ID Theft: What�s It All About� is a pocket size booklet that summarizes how ID theft occurs and what to do about it if you�re a victim.
�Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft� is a 52-page manual that goes into great detail on the nature of the crime and how to fight it.
They can be bulk ordered, and may make for a good handout to victims when reporting such crimes.
"LEST WE FORGET..." THE NYPD MEMORIAL
December 4, 1923 Ptl Alfred Van Clieff, 63 Pct, Motorcycle accident
December 6, 1903 Ptl Frank Redican, 1 Pct, Fire rescue
December 6, 1941 Ptl Thomas Casey, 17 Pct, Shot-Robbery pursuit
December 7, 1937 Ptl Edward Lynch, 20 Pct, Shot-Burglary in progress
December 7, 1971 Det Harold Marshall, HAPD-Bklyn, Shot-off duty arrest
December 8, 1924 Ptl Joseph Pelosi, 60 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
December 8, 1932 Ptl Michael Moroso, 23 Pct, Shot by sniper
December 8, 1942 Det Joseph Miccio, 78 Sqd, Shot-investigation
December 8, 1946 Ptl Edward McAuliff, 18 Sqd, LOD injury
December 9, 1932 Ptl John Grattan, Mcy Unit, Motorcycle accident on patrol
December 10, 1929 Ptl Philip Morrissey, 85 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
December 11, 1922 Ptl Francis Mace, 73 Pct, Line of duty injury
December 12, 1966 Ptl Raul Yglesias, PA, Shot-off duty altercation
December 13, 1932 Ptl Louis Wiendieck, Traffic B, Line of duty pursuit
December 13, 1946 Det James Burke, 48 Sqd, Shot-robbery
December 14, 1932 Ptl George Gerhard, 20 Pct, Shot-Robbery pursuit
December 14, 1961 Ptl Hugh Willoughby, 26 Pct, Shot-robbery, off duty
December 16, 1920 Lt Floyd Horton, 40 Pct, Shot: GLA arrest
December 16, 1981 PO Anthony Abruzzo, Jr, 109 Pct, Shot-Robbery, off duty
