EARLY COMMUNICATIONS BY RATTLE
When the policing in New York City was in its infancy, back in 1651, the first people involved in the job of law enforcement were citizens selected as �watchmen� who would patrol their neighborhood at night.
If the watchman needed assistance, they would simply twirl a wooden ratchet or �rattle� that they carried; hence the tour of duty became known as the �Rattle Watch.�
Ninety years later, watchmen turned in their rattles for a bell and lantern, making it much easier for other members of the public to find them at night. The �bellmen,� as they were now called, also carried an hourglass, as they were required to inform the public of the time every hour which, not only made it easier for the public to find them, but it also proved that they were still awake.
This primitive method of using a hand-held bell to summon assistance may have been fine for a small town or village, but as New York City grew, so did the need for a more advanced system.
It was no surprise that when the Municipal Police (later known as the New York City Police Department) was officially founded in 1845, that one of the first orders of business was to adopt the latest miracle of technology, the telegraph. Instantly successful, precincts now had the ability to communicate directly with Headquarters, but cops on the street had to wait until 1885 before the first telegraphic signal boxes would be installed on the streets.
Once the experimental boxes were set up patrolmen, using Morse Code, were now able to contact the precinct in a matter of seconds, and the desk lieutenant could now be alerted of emergencies in the field, such as a fire, in a more rapid manner.
Required to carry a signal box key at all times, patrolmen also carried a code book and originally rang the precinct at whatever frequency the duty captain had ordered. Exempt from these regulations were a small group of �responsible citizens� who had also been given keys. Later, patrolmen were required to signal the house three times each tour, which was recorded in a special signal box log at the stationhouse. (Did you think there wouldn�t be a log for this??)
LOOK WHO WAS MENTIONED IN SPRING 3100
The February 1962 issue of SPRING 3100 in the 81 Precinct�s �Looking �Em Over� column, notes a fine arrest made by an even finer gumshoe!
�Ptl Catrone teamed up with Det Bolz to nab a team of burglars that specialized in burglarizing Puerto Rican homes.�
Det Bolz is none other than Retired Captain Frank Bolz of Hostage Negotiation fame, and avid reader of this blog site!! Frank is very proud to say his roots are in Brooklyn North (although back then I believe it was Brooklyn East).
HEROIC ACT BY DETECTIVE: JUNE 1957
The June 1957 issue of Spring 3100 notes a heroic action by an off duty Detective from the 77 Squad.
Hero Detective Nathaniel Greer of the 77 Squad received honors from the Journal-American newspaper and the Daily News, for the month of April 1957.
At about 1:15 am on April 25, 1957, the sleuth was walking his dog on Saratoga Avenue when he heard the scream of a 23-year old woman who had been followed from a subway station and pulled into a hallway by a mugger.
When Greer reached the woman, he found her being held artound the neck with a knife pressed to her back by the tyhief.
As he saw the thug holding the woman, the detective identified himself and grappled with the man. In the ensuing struggle the robber ran out of the hallway. The detective pursued him north on Saratoga Avenue to Macon Street, but the officer�s warning shot failed to halt the mugger.
The chase continued for three blocks when the man forced open the door of a 4-story tenement and raced up the stairs to the darkened roof. As Greer approached him, the man suddenly attacked the officer, lashing out with a 3 �� knife, cutting the detective on the finger. Greer was able to fire a shot from his weapon, hitting the thug and felling him.
Great collar by this detective, who was accompanied to the award ceremony by his wife, his 4 children and his mother.
I particularly associated with this story � Detective from the 77 Squad, incident in 81 / 79 Precinct confines, victim walking from a transit location � but it left me with a few questions as well.
What did he do with the dog he was walking? And did you notice the mention of the �warning shot�?
WHO SAID THAT? QUOTES FROM THE TRENCHES IN BROOKLYN NORTH
Back when I was in the 77 Squad, a dear friend, John Barba, started keeping track of some fantastic, actual quotes � stuff you couldn�t make up even if you wanted to.
Well, John is gone, and I miss him everyday. But one of the things he did for me was to make a copy, and send me, his log of �quotable quotes�. Every time I hear another gem of a quote I can just picture John Barba�s sly smile and that look in his eye to let you know he caught it as well.
Some of these I may have printed on this site in years past � but nevertheless, they are certainly worth repeating. Keep in mind that these are actual quotes � some from complainants, witnesses, prisoner debriefings � and many from other Detectives!
Enjoy!
�That�s putting the horse before the cart�
�If you don�t like the smell of Ben-Gay, try using the senseless kind�
�I got a mind brain headache (migraine headache)�
�He�s like a bull in a china closet�
�Behind every cloud is a silver platter�
�Go through everything with a fine toothbrush�
�Too many fires on the iron�
�We�re all making some shingles� (shekels)
�Let�s shake some feathers, or ruffle the trees�
�What time was the pronunciation�? (pronouncement of death)
�He�s in a seduced (induced) coma�
�I want her arrested, she kicked me in my test cycles (testicles)�
�She�s my wife-in-law� (common law wife)
�The statue of liberties (statute of limitations) passed on that charge�
�I�m an oppartunour.� (entrepreneur)
�I don�t speak English, I speak American�.
�I�m no criminal, I�m on parole�.
�I shot in self defense, I�m a defendant�.
�He don�t drink, he has sore roses (cirrhosis) of the liver�.
�She speaks English and Spanish, she�s bilateral�. (bilingual)
�I took one of those elastic altitude (scholastic aptitude) tests when I was upstate�.
�Can I play solitary on the computer on my break?� (solitaire)
�He�s got Al�s-Hammer (Alzheimer�s) disease�
�It was one of those 2 lebonese girls that live down the street�. (Lesbian)
�I got minstrel (menstrual) pain�.
�The bullet went in my thigh and missed my tentacles (testicles)�.
�The doctor said he got trouble with his veins from flea bites (phlebitis)�.
�The Arabs got biodegradable weapons.� (Biological weapons)
�He�s not a Baptist, he�s an Episcopal Alien�.
�I had a depraved (deprived) childhood�.
�I got an upper repository (respiratory) infection�.
Sign on a car repair shop: �We Fix Automated Transitions�
�He can�t come to work. He has conductors eye sores�. (Conjunctivitis)
�Somebody has to come here to sign the affa-davis�. (affidavit)
�You know, that Ornamental (Oriental) Chinese looking guy down the block�
�That�s one of them bomb dogs, it�s a Laboratory Receiver.� (Labrador Retriever)
IN AND AROUND THE SQUAD ROOM
It�s always a nice time of the year, as spring takes over and the weather changes for the better. It's also that time of the year when barbs fly around the squad room over whose team will be better - Mets versus Yankees, and then there's always the Red Sox connection - when Spring Training becomes opening day. What�s been going on around the Squad Rooms?
Congratulations are definitely in order for Bobby Rivera of the 77 Sqd, who recently received a very deserving promotion to Detective First Grade! I had the privilege of working directly with Bobby in the 77 Squad, and he personifies a First Grade Detective for sure. Maybe we�ll keep him around Brooklyn North a little longer?.... I know Dave Stein is certainly hoping so. Look around every squad room, and the story is the same. Where have all the Detectives gone? Hoping to see an influx of some new gumshoes in the near future�. Some familiar faces from the past made their way to the recent retirement celebration at Russo�s. Joe Ferrara had a great turnout, of family and friends, celebrating his retirement after 40 years. A former partner, John Howard, made it in from California, bypassing that of Mike Chason who came in from Chicago to see Tommy Joyce!.... Tommy Joyce, who also looked great that night, is another big loss to this department. Tommy often helped ease my mind acting as a sounding board when things weren�t going just right, or as a conciliator to aggravating times. Tommy is sorely missed by me, and by the department � a true caring leader, who has gone on to a next life. I sorely miss Tommy at Brooklyn North events, especially supervisor�s meetings � at a time when I would be the �quiet� one!�. Mike McWilliams looks great as always, enjoying the retired life that comes with great ease. Fishing, keeping tabs on the boat and watching out for Danny Powers sure keeps Mike busy enough�. Chuck Ribando hasn�t been getting out as often as in the past at familiar Farmingdale haunts, now that he has taken over as Chief Investigator for the Nassau County DA�s Office. Congratulations to Chuck, and as a Nassau resident I feel safer already!.... John Muller sure looked very spiffy, as retirement seems to be suiting him well. He�s been doing some super-secret work for another former Brooklyn North sleuth, Bo Dietl; wonder if Bo lets him feast on martini�s and sushi? Sorry that I didn�t get the opportunity to share a cigar with John, but hoping to be able to make up for that real soon�. One pleace I didn�t want to find myself was having a conversation standing between Steve Feeley and Sal Brajuha � two six and a half footers with my small portly frame between them, must have looked like some sight! It�s always great to see Steve, though, and catch up on going�s on with him � Steve�s retirement was a great loss to us in Brooklyn North, and we�re still trying to make up for it! �. Neil Tasso looked great as always, and the way things are going we may have to start assigning cases to him and Jerry Rupprecht again! �. Porkchop Joe Herbert does still exist! Seriously, it was great to see Joe, who is always busy keeping Terrorists on the run. Joe is another of those great losses we�ve had to endure in Brooklyn North; I miss Joe a lot, and don�t get to see him nearly enough. I know that murder is still in Joe�s heart (I mean that in a good, �buffy� sort of way), and wish I had more time to spend with him�. Does anyone know what happened to Steve Stemmler�s hair? What was that little spike move on top? �. Was that Angel Jimenez walking out with doggie bags of food? �. We�re still trying to make sense out of what happened to a certain Detective in Homicide who volunteered for the department�s peer assistance program, to be a counselor, but was rejected. We wonder what could have gone on at that interview session to be rejected as a volunteer peer counselor? Guess his hope to become a Hostage Negotiator should be re-evaluated?... Speaking of baseball, have you seen the new SNY channel for Mets fans? Jay Genna must be doubly happy - the Mets have their own channel, and their loss to Fox Sports channel has left them with a programming assignment - and it seems they've introduced a Boston Sports show to their network! We all know how much of a Red Sox fan Jay is; one can't wonder if he had anything to do with getting that show onto Fox? .... Remember hockey? Well, the Rangers are gearing up for the playoffs, and playoff tickets are sure to be around. Timmy Duffy has had a smile on his face for a few weeks - could it be Stanley Cup fever? ... Note to Johnny K: The "new" coffee club is great - we have pretzels, peanuts, little tiny chocolate candies, a water cooler - but we have no more milk or sugar! How about some half & half? ... Be safe out there!
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
April 12, 1929 Ptl Andrew McLean-Wood, NFI
April 13, 1961 Ptl Robert Dugo, 6 Pct, LOD heart attack
April 13, 1988 PO Anthony McLean, PSA2, Shot- investigation
April 14, 1907 Ptl George Sechler, 16 Pct, Shot � arrest
April 14, 1929 Ptl William Schmeller, 32 Pct, Accident � auto pursuit
April 15, 1857 Ptl Stephen Hardenbrook, 9Dist MetroPDNY, Stabbed-arrest
April 15, 1932 Ptl James Morrissey, Traffic F, Auto accident on patrol
April 15, 1968 Ptl John Banks, ESU, LOD heart attack
April 16, 1907 Ptl Alfred Selleck, 16 Pct, Shot � arrest
April 16, 1955 Ptl Andrew Reynolds, 107 Pct, Motorcycle accident on patrol
April 17, 1925 Ptl Thomas Kelly, 12 Div, Shot � arrest, GLA
April 17, 1938 Ptl Humbert Morruzzi, 9 Pct, Shot- robbery in progress
April 18, 1936 Ptl Leroy Sheares, 32 Pct, stabbed, arrest
April 19, 1963 Ptl Kenneth Cozier, ESU, LOD heart attack
WISHING ALL A VERY HEALTHY AND HAPPY HOLIDAY!
Spring seems to be busting at the seams; hoping all get a chance to enjoy some quality time with friends and loved ones!
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
PETROSINO PARK
I�ve written previously on this site about Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino � the only NYPD member to have been killed in the line of duty on foreign soil.
Well, a recent article in the New York Sun that was written by James Coll, a Detective assigned to ESU1 adds some additional information that is worth repeating on this site.
It was noted that the intersection of Kenmare and Lafayette Streets in Manhattan is a triangular park named in memory of Lt Joseph Petrosino. (This park is across the street from a bar of very recent notoriety � The Falls.)
Giuseppe Petrosino was appointed to the NYPD on October 19, 1883 (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.
�In March of 1909, newspapers throughout the city, across the nation, and around the world lamented the death of Giuseppe "Joseph" Petrosino. Mourners, estimated at 200,000 strong, turned out to line the streets of the city to watch the funeral casket pass by in procession. He had lived as he had died: A hero of the metropolis.�
Petrosino arrived in New York City in 1873 as a young boy from Salerno, Italy. Only ten years later, not long after sailing into New York Harbor and past the Statue of Liberty to begin his life in America, he found himself among the ranks of the New York City Police Department.
In 1895, Petrosino was appointed detective sergeant by then-Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt.
Petrosino's heritage and commanding presence - despite being only 5 feet, 4 inches tall - made him a natural to lead a new unit known as the Italian Squad. This select group of New York's Finest was a precursor to the present-day Bomb Squad. It was formed to combat the unusually high number of bombings perpetrated by the Black Hand against Italian merchants and shopkeepers who refused to comply with the organized crime syndicate's extortion attempts.
Many immigrants at the turn of the century had been distrustful of patrolmen. Yet in Petrosino and his squad, the cautious new arrivals found men they could trust. Before long, the activity of the arsonists and bomb throwers had been cut in half and, in 1906, Petrosino was rewarded with a promotion to lieutenant.
Lawmakers in Washington in 1907 also tried their hand at putting down such violence with the passage of a law aimed at keeping would-be immigrants determined to commit crimes from coming to America. The law called for the deportation of any immigrant within three years of arrival who had concealed from American officials a previous criminal record in their native country.
Naturally, the department selected the best man for the job to help implement the new legislation. Lt. Petrosino was aware of the dangers such an assignment presented. Despite the threat to his own safety, and with a pregnant wife at home, he traveled to Italy on what was supposed to be a secret assignment investigating the police records of such criminals.
The police commissioner and the mayor, however, were so proud to send Lt. Petrosino to his country of birth that they boasted to reporters, who did their job readily and printed news of the supposedly clandestine excursion. Upon arrival in Palermo, Petrosino was to meet with two men who would provide valuable information.
Instead of meeting informants, as Lt. Petrosino waited beside a statue in Marina Square he was met with an assassin's bullet. The mafia, no doubt, had heard of the lieutenant's arrival as well.�
An aside to this story, added by Ret Sgt Mike Bosak, notes that what the author, James Coll, is kind enough to omit is the fact that Gen. Theodore A. Bingham, an autocratic and headstrong police commissioner (January 1, 1906 - July 1, 1909) had actually announced the above to the world at a press conference. Since the department had actively publicized Petrosino's police career, his Italian heritage, and his work on the 'Black Hand'; it didn't take a brain surgeon to put two and two together. This effectively sealed Petrosino�s fate.
Today, a century after Petrosino made his final, tragic journey across the Atlantic Ocean and as New York detectives are now similarly stationed around the world to combat international crime and terrorism.
The Department of Parks and Recreation recently announced a $2 million renovation project of Lt. Petrosino Square. Preliminary plans call for an expansion of the park and an up-to-date revitalization of the immediate area.
Editors Note: This story illustrates how the official release of confidential law enforcement information can be even more harmful than the unauthorized release of inconsequential information.
SPRING 3100: YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU MAY FIND
Looking over an old edition of Spring 3100, from April 1976, uncovered a small blurb that�s worth mentioning.
In the �At Your Command� section, some good collars were noted in the 23 Precinct.
Among them was a good arrest fro Robbery by (now Retired Lt. Joe) FERRARA, and a good burglary arrest by (DB XO- Asst. Chief Robert) GIANELLI. Good work by this crime-fighting duo!
Joe Ferrara just recently retired, noted previously on this site as Lt-CDS of the 75 Squad, this past January with over forty years on the job, and Chief Gianelli is still going strong as the Detective Bureau�s X.O.
By the way, that same issue saw some real estate listed for sale, including an 4-bedroom colonial on 100 x 100 property in Babylon for $42,000, and a 6 room home in the Gibson section of Valley Stream for $46,500. My how real estate prices have changed!
PHILIP MARLOWE, P.I. � WORDS OF WISDOM
Raymond Chandler�s classic gumshoe Philip Marlowe has been described as the quintessential American detective. Starring in such stories as �The Big Sleep�, �Farewell My Lovely� as well as some six other hard-boiled crime fiction collections, he displayed effortless masculinity, smoldering sexuality, and a verbal fleetness that remains the embodiment of cool. He liked liquor, women, and working alone, and combined a rough exterior with an unshakable code of honor.
Here are some quotes on Philip Marlowe�s guide to life.
On Blondes:
�It was a blonde. A blonde to make a bishop kick in a stained glass window.�
On Booze:
�There was a sad fellow over on a bar stool talking to the bartender, who was polishing a glass and listening with that plastic smile people wear when they are trying not to scream.�
�I don�t drink. The more I see of people who do, the more glad I am that I don�t.�
On brass knuckles:
�If you�re big enough you don�t need them, and if you need them you�re not big enough to push me around.�
On coffee:
�I went out to the kitchen to make coffee � yards of coffee. Rich, strong, bitter, boiling hot, ruthless, depraved. The life-blood of tired men.�
On cops:
�An honest cop with a bad conscience always acts tough. So does a dishonest cop. So does almost anyone, including me.�
�Cops are just people,� she said irrelevantly. �They start out that way, I�ve heard.�
�He was the kind of cop who spits on his blackjack every night instead of saying his prayers.�
On crime:
�That�s the difference between crime and business. For business you gotta have capital. Sometimes I think it�s the only difference.�
�Crime isn�t a disease, it�s a symptom.�
�We�re a big rough rich wild people and crime is the price we pay for it, and organized crime is the price we pay for organization.�
On dames:
�I like smooth shiny girls, hardboiled and loaded with sin.�
�I didn�t ask to see you. You sent for me. I don�t mind your ritzing me or drinking your lunch out of a Scotch bottle. I don�t mind your showing me your legs. They�re very swell legs and it�s a pleasure to make their acquaintance. I don�t mind if you don�t like my manners. They�re pretty bad. I grieve over them during long winter evenings.�
�Then she lowered her lashes until they almost cuddled her cheeks and slowly raised them again, like a theater curtain. I was to get to know that trick. That was supposed to make me roll over on my back with all four paws in the air.�
On death:
�A dead man is the best fall guy in the world. He never talks back.�
INTERESTING WEB SITES
InfoPlus Internet Directory: Search for someone using just about any fact that you may have about the person.
www.infop.com/phone/isearch.html
Info Space Search: Offers white pages, yellow pages, international listings, government listings and city guides.
www.infospace.com
Internet Address Finder: Find an email address
www.iaf.net
Biographical Dictionary: Contains biographical information on thousands of notable people spanning from present day to ancient times.
www.s9.com/biography
IN MEMORIAM
The last posting to this site noted the line of duty deaths, in 1978 of PO�s Cerullo and Masone of the 79 Pct, and the 1972 murder of Ptl Cardillo of the 28 Precinct.
Please note the following, which has been previously published on this site, but certainly worth repeating for any who may have missed them.
April 2, 1978: PO Norman Cerullo & PO Christie Masone, 79 Pct
Officers Cerullo and Massone were shot after stopping two men on a street in Bedford-Stuyvesant, in the 79 Pct.
The radio car partners were slain in a gun battle in the early hours of April 2, 1978 when they stopped to question 2 men near an alley at Willoughby Street and Throop Avenue, in the 79 Precinct in Brooklyn.
Officer Masone noticed a gun on one of the men and when he attempted to remove it the man began grappling with him. As PO Cerullo came to his partner�s aid, the second suspect opened fire with a 9mm automatic pistol. Although PO Cerullo managed to get four shots off, both he and Masone fell mortally wounded.
The man who attacked Masone was also killed in the gunfire from his former associate.
The killer, although wounded in the groin, managed to flee the scene by car, but only drove a few blocks before he crashed into several parked cars.
Off-duty PO James Dennedy of the 79 Pct Anti-Crime unit arrested the man at the scene of the collision.
Both Cerullo and Masone were highly decorated officers having earned over 34 citations between them.
IN MEMORIAM: PTL. PHILLIP CARDILLO
Ptl. Phillip Cardillo, #26620 of the 28 Precinct, was shot and killed in the line of duty on April 14, 1972, and what has become known as the �Murder at the Harlem Mosque� incident.
This incident, which is one of the most controversial department incidents of recent times, started out with a radio call of an anonymous and unverified �10-13�.
A brother officer's life might have been in, danger. So that was all Ptl Phillip Cardillo and his partner, Ptl. Vito Navarra, of the 28 Pct., were concerned about as they sped to the location transmitted by Sixth Division Radio as "102 West 116 Street, on the second floor," on April 14, 1972.
Arriving first at the scene, the officers raced into the building, which was a Black Muslim Mosque. They heard scuffling on the above floor. As they made it up the staircase they were intercepted by 15 to 20 men who forced the officers to retreat down the stairs and back into the hallway.
Meanwhile, Ptl. Victor Padilla and Ivan Negron, 25 Pct., along with additional units, arrived and entered the premises. The officers, who were out numbered, were then attacked and overwhelmed.
All of them except Ptl. Cardillo, Padilla and Negron were forced out of the building. A steel door was closed behind them.
Ptl. Padilla was then beaten and blackjacked into semi-consciousness while his partner fought off several men who were trying to grab his revolver. With his back to the door, Ptl. Negron suddenly heard shots. He turned and saw a man with a gun in his hand who seemed to be getting up from the floor where Ptl. Cardillo now lay shot. Negron, managing to free himself from his attackers, drew his revolver and fired three shots.
It is not known if the man with the gun was hit; he escaped.
There were 20 to 25 men in the hallway when Ptl. Navarra and Ptl. Rudy Andre, 28 Pct., who had been beaten out of the Mosque moments earlier, broke a glass on the metal door and saw the patrolmen inside on their backs.
They fired several shots through the broken glass into the hallway. This scattered the men who had been assaulting the officers and enabled Ptl. Negron to unbolt the double metal door. During the melee, Ptl. Cardillo and Padilla, seriously injured, had their service revolvers taken from them.
Immediately upon getting out into the street these officers were rushed to St. Luke�s Hospital. Despite intensive efforts on the part of surgeons, hospital personnel and numerous blood donors, a week later Ptl. Cardillo died. His chest wound was inflicted by a bullet fired at such a close distance that powder burns were on his jacket.
Ptl Padilla never fully recovered from the brutal beating he received.
An investigation of the incident disclosed that the original ''assist patrolman" phone call, made by a man who identified himself as a detective, was unfounded. Two men have been arrested on assault charges. The person responsible for Ptl. Cardillo�s murder has never been identified. An Inspector's Funeral was given to Officer Cardillo. The five-year-veteran of the force left behind a wife and three children.
This controversial incident, and the department�s response in the aftermath, was documented in an excellent book by Sonny Grosso, who was one of the officers on the scene that day.
If you ever have the opportunity, I urge you to read this book. Although it�s out of print, you may be able to find a copy in your public library, or on line through one of the used-book-selling sites.
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
April 4, 1947 Ptl Jack Chason, 79 Pct, Shot-robbery
April 5, 1926 Ptl Charles Reilly, 13 Pct, Shot-Robbery arrest
April 5, 1952 Insp Thomas Boylan, Airplane struck auto
April 6, 1937 Ptl Daniel Sullivan, Mcy Unit, motorcycle accident
April 6, 1953 Ptl Sam Katz, 32 Pct, Shot-investigation
April 6, 1955 Ptl John Conlon, 28 Pct, Injuries sustained on patrol
April 10, 1937 Det Michael Foley, 9 Sq, Shot-robbery arrest
April 10, 1950 Ptl Louis Balzano, line of duty incident
April 10, 1960 Ptl Vito Valenzano, 20 Pct, LOD heart attack
April 15, 1857 Ptl Stephen Hardenbrook, NFI
I�ve written previously on this site about Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino � the only NYPD member to have been killed in the line of duty on foreign soil.
Well, a recent article in the New York Sun that was written by James Coll, a Detective assigned to ESU1 adds some additional information that is worth repeating on this site.
It was noted that the intersection of Kenmare and Lafayette Streets in Manhattan is a triangular park named in memory of Lt Joseph Petrosino. (This park is across the street from a bar of very recent notoriety � The Falls.)
Giuseppe Petrosino was appointed to the NYPD on October 19, 1883 (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.
�In March of 1909, newspapers throughout the city, across the nation, and around the world lamented the death of Giuseppe "Joseph" Petrosino. Mourners, estimated at 200,000 strong, turned out to line the streets of the city to watch the funeral casket pass by in procession. He had lived as he had died: A hero of the metropolis.�
Petrosino arrived in New York City in 1873 as a young boy from Salerno, Italy. Only ten years later, not long after sailing into New York Harbor and past the Statue of Liberty to begin his life in America, he found himself among the ranks of the New York City Police Department.
In 1895, Petrosino was appointed detective sergeant by then-Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt.
Petrosino's heritage and commanding presence - despite being only 5 feet, 4 inches tall - made him a natural to lead a new unit known as the Italian Squad. This select group of New York's Finest was a precursor to the present-day Bomb Squad. It was formed to combat the unusually high number of bombings perpetrated by the Black Hand against Italian merchants and shopkeepers who refused to comply with the organized crime syndicate's extortion attempts.
Many immigrants at the turn of the century had been distrustful of patrolmen. Yet in Petrosino and his squad, the cautious new arrivals found men they could trust. Before long, the activity of the arsonists and bomb throwers had been cut in half and, in 1906, Petrosino was rewarded with a promotion to lieutenant.
Lawmakers in Washington in 1907 also tried their hand at putting down such violence with the passage of a law aimed at keeping would-be immigrants determined to commit crimes from coming to America. The law called for the deportation of any immigrant within three years of arrival who had concealed from American officials a previous criminal record in their native country.
Naturally, the department selected the best man for the job to help implement the new legislation. Lt. Petrosino was aware of the dangers such an assignment presented. Despite the threat to his own safety, and with a pregnant wife at home, he traveled to Italy on what was supposed to be a secret assignment investigating the police records of such criminals.
The police commissioner and the mayor, however, were so proud to send Lt. Petrosino to his country of birth that they boasted to reporters, who did their job readily and printed news of the supposedly clandestine excursion. Upon arrival in Palermo, Petrosino was to meet with two men who would provide valuable information.
Instead of meeting informants, as Lt. Petrosino waited beside a statue in Marina Square he was met with an assassin's bullet. The mafia, no doubt, had heard of the lieutenant's arrival as well.�
An aside to this story, added by Ret Sgt Mike Bosak, notes that what the author, James Coll, is kind enough to omit is the fact that Gen. Theodore A. Bingham, an autocratic and headstrong police commissioner (January 1, 1906 - July 1, 1909) had actually announced the above to the world at a press conference. Since the department had actively publicized Petrosino's police career, his Italian heritage, and his work on the 'Black Hand'; it didn't take a brain surgeon to put two and two together. This effectively sealed Petrosino�s fate.
Today, a century after Petrosino made his final, tragic journey across the Atlantic Ocean and as New York detectives are now similarly stationed around the world to combat international crime and terrorism.
The Department of Parks and Recreation recently announced a $2 million renovation project of Lt. Petrosino Square. Preliminary plans call for an expansion of the park and an up-to-date revitalization of the immediate area.
Editors Note: This story illustrates how the official release of confidential law enforcement information can be even more harmful than the unauthorized release of inconsequential information.
SPRING 3100: YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU MAY FIND
Looking over an old edition of Spring 3100, from April 1976, uncovered a small blurb that�s worth mentioning.
In the �At Your Command� section, some good collars were noted in the 23 Precinct.
Among them was a good arrest fro Robbery by (now Retired Lt. Joe) FERRARA, and a good burglary arrest by (DB XO- Asst. Chief Robert) GIANELLI. Good work by this crime-fighting duo!
Joe Ferrara just recently retired, noted previously on this site as Lt-CDS of the 75 Squad, this past January with over forty years on the job, and Chief Gianelli is still going strong as the Detective Bureau�s X.O.
By the way, that same issue saw some real estate listed for sale, including an 4-bedroom colonial on 100 x 100 property in Babylon for $42,000, and a 6 room home in the Gibson section of Valley Stream for $46,500. My how real estate prices have changed!
PHILIP MARLOWE, P.I. � WORDS OF WISDOM
Raymond Chandler�s classic gumshoe Philip Marlowe has been described as the quintessential American detective. Starring in such stories as �The Big Sleep�, �Farewell My Lovely� as well as some six other hard-boiled crime fiction collections, he displayed effortless masculinity, smoldering sexuality, and a verbal fleetness that remains the embodiment of cool. He liked liquor, women, and working alone, and combined a rough exterior with an unshakable code of honor.
Here are some quotes on Philip Marlowe�s guide to life.
On Blondes:
�It was a blonde. A blonde to make a bishop kick in a stained glass window.�
On Booze:
�There was a sad fellow over on a bar stool talking to the bartender, who was polishing a glass and listening with that plastic smile people wear when they are trying not to scream.�
�I don�t drink. The more I see of people who do, the more glad I am that I don�t.�
On brass knuckles:
�If you�re big enough you don�t need them, and if you need them you�re not big enough to push me around.�
On coffee:
�I went out to the kitchen to make coffee � yards of coffee. Rich, strong, bitter, boiling hot, ruthless, depraved. The life-blood of tired men.�
On cops:
�An honest cop with a bad conscience always acts tough. So does a dishonest cop. So does almost anyone, including me.�
�Cops are just people,� she said irrelevantly. �They start out that way, I�ve heard.�
�He was the kind of cop who spits on his blackjack every night instead of saying his prayers.�
On crime:
�That�s the difference between crime and business. For business you gotta have capital. Sometimes I think it�s the only difference.�
�Crime isn�t a disease, it�s a symptom.�
�We�re a big rough rich wild people and crime is the price we pay for it, and organized crime is the price we pay for organization.�
On dames:
�I like smooth shiny girls, hardboiled and loaded with sin.�
�I didn�t ask to see you. You sent for me. I don�t mind your ritzing me or drinking your lunch out of a Scotch bottle. I don�t mind your showing me your legs. They�re very swell legs and it�s a pleasure to make their acquaintance. I don�t mind if you don�t like my manners. They�re pretty bad. I grieve over them during long winter evenings.�
�Then she lowered her lashes until they almost cuddled her cheeks and slowly raised them again, like a theater curtain. I was to get to know that trick. That was supposed to make me roll over on my back with all four paws in the air.�
On death:
�A dead man is the best fall guy in the world. He never talks back.�
INTERESTING WEB SITES
InfoPlus Internet Directory: Search for someone using just about any fact that you may have about the person.
www.infop.com/phone/isearch.html
Info Space Search: Offers white pages, yellow pages, international listings, government listings and city guides.
www.infospace.com
Internet Address Finder: Find an email address
www.iaf.net
Biographical Dictionary: Contains biographical information on thousands of notable people spanning from present day to ancient times.
www.s9.com/biography
IN MEMORIAM
The last posting to this site noted the line of duty deaths, in 1978 of PO�s Cerullo and Masone of the 79 Pct, and the 1972 murder of Ptl Cardillo of the 28 Precinct.
Please note the following, which has been previously published on this site, but certainly worth repeating for any who may have missed them.
April 2, 1978: PO Norman Cerullo & PO Christie Masone, 79 Pct
Officers Cerullo and Massone were shot after stopping two men on a street in Bedford-Stuyvesant, in the 79 Pct.
The radio car partners were slain in a gun battle in the early hours of April 2, 1978 when they stopped to question 2 men near an alley at Willoughby Street and Throop Avenue, in the 79 Precinct in Brooklyn.
Officer Masone noticed a gun on one of the men and when he attempted to remove it the man began grappling with him. As PO Cerullo came to his partner�s aid, the second suspect opened fire with a 9mm automatic pistol. Although PO Cerullo managed to get four shots off, both he and Masone fell mortally wounded.
The man who attacked Masone was also killed in the gunfire from his former associate.
The killer, although wounded in the groin, managed to flee the scene by car, but only drove a few blocks before he crashed into several parked cars.
Off-duty PO James Dennedy of the 79 Pct Anti-Crime unit arrested the man at the scene of the collision.
Both Cerullo and Masone were highly decorated officers having earned over 34 citations between them.
IN MEMORIAM: PTL. PHILLIP CARDILLO
Ptl. Phillip Cardillo, #26620 of the 28 Precinct, was shot and killed in the line of duty on April 14, 1972, and what has become known as the �Murder at the Harlem Mosque� incident.
This incident, which is one of the most controversial department incidents of recent times, started out with a radio call of an anonymous and unverified �10-13�.
A brother officer's life might have been in, danger. So that was all Ptl Phillip Cardillo and his partner, Ptl. Vito Navarra, of the 28 Pct., were concerned about as they sped to the location transmitted by Sixth Division Radio as "102 West 116 Street, on the second floor," on April 14, 1972.
Arriving first at the scene, the officers raced into the building, which was a Black Muslim Mosque. They heard scuffling on the above floor. As they made it up the staircase they were intercepted by 15 to 20 men who forced the officers to retreat down the stairs and back into the hallway.
Meanwhile, Ptl. Victor Padilla and Ivan Negron, 25 Pct., along with additional units, arrived and entered the premises. The officers, who were out numbered, were then attacked and overwhelmed.
All of them except Ptl. Cardillo, Padilla and Negron were forced out of the building. A steel door was closed behind them.
Ptl. Padilla was then beaten and blackjacked into semi-consciousness while his partner fought off several men who were trying to grab his revolver. With his back to the door, Ptl. Negron suddenly heard shots. He turned and saw a man with a gun in his hand who seemed to be getting up from the floor where Ptl. Cardillo now lay shot. Negron, managing to free himself from his attackers, drew his revolver and fired three shots.
It is not known if the man with the gun was hit; he escaped.
There were 20 to 25 men in the hallway when Ptl. Navarra and Ptl. Rudy Andre, 28 Pct., who had been beaten out of the Mosque moments earlier, broke a glass on the metal door and saw the patrolmen inside on their backs.
They fired several shots through the broken glass into the hallway. This scattered the men who had been assaulting the officers and enabled Ptl. Negron to unbolt the double metal door. During the melee, Ptl. Cardillo and Padilla, seriously injured, had their service revolvers taken from them.
Immediately upon getting out into the street these officers were rushed to St. Luke�s Hospital. Despite intensive efforts on the part of surgeons, hospital personnel and numerous blood donors, a week later Ptl. Cardillo died. His chest wound was inflicted by a bullet fired at such a close distance that powder burns were on his jacket.
Ptl Padilla never fully recovered from the brutal beating he received.
An investigation of the incident disclosed that the original ''assist patrolman" phone call, made by a man who identified himself as a detective, was unfounded. Two men have been arrested on assault charges. The person responsible for Ptl. Cardillo�s murder has never been identified. An Inspector's Funeral was given to Officer Cardillo. The five-year-veteran of the force left behind a wife and three children.
This controversial incident, and the department�s response in the aftermath, was documented in an excellent book by Sonny Grosso, who was one of the officers on the scene that day.
If you ever have the opportunity, I urge you to read this book. Although it�s out of print, you may be able to find a copy in your public library, or on line through one of the used-book-selling sites.
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
April 4, 1947 Ptl Jack Chason, 79 Pct, Shot-robbery
April 5, 1926 Ptl Charles Reilly, 13 Pct, Shot-Robbery arrest
April 5, 1952 Insp Thomas Boylan, Airplane struck auto
April 6, 1937 Ptl Daniel Sullivan, Mcy Unit, motorcycle accident
April 6, 1953 Ptl Sam Katz, 32 Pct, Shot-investigation
April 6, 1955 Ptl John Conlon, 28 Pct, Injuries sustained on patrol
April 10, 1937 Det Michael Foley, 9 Sq, Shot-robbery arrest
April 10, 1950 Ptl Louis Balzano, line of duty incident
April 10, 1960 Ptl Vito Valenzano, 20 Pct, LOD heart attack
April 15, 1857 Ptl Stephen Hardenbrook, NFI
Monday, March 27, 2006
"No serious investigator who has worked in law enforcement for any substantial amount of time can walk away from their investigative mind set, any more than birds can learn to enjoy walking".
JUSTICE IN AMERICA
The United States recently became the most incarcerating country in the world, with a greater share of its population � 724 per 100,000 residents � in prisons and jails. Over 2.1 million people incarcerated as of December 31, 2004.
At the same time, there were 4.8 million adults on parole or probation.
These figures represent nearly 131,000 more than there were in 2002. According to recent Bureau of Justice statistics, 650,000 people are incarcerated in jails and prisons every day.
Did you know that in 2000, nearly 15 million Americans spent more than $60 billion to buy illegal drugs? Americans use 50 percent of the world�s cocaine, but comprise only about 6 percent of the world�s population.
Between 1960 and 1998, the population of the US increased by 50 percent. During the same period, the number of crimes reported to the police increased by almost 145 percent.
Every 54 hours a police officer is killed in the line of duty.
Almost two-thirds of defendants charged with a felony in the 75 most populated counties of the country in May 1996 were released from jail pending disposition of their case. Thirty-one percent of those released were rearrested for a new offense, did not show up for a court date or violated some other condition of their pretrial release.
In 1976, 79 percent of homicides nationwide were cleared by arrest compared to 66 percent in 1997.
The failure of 30 percent of US businesses has for many years been linked to employee theft. In the retail industry in 2000, 44.5 percent of all lost revenue � inventory shrinkage � was due to employee theft; 32.7 percent was due to shoplifting.
Some other alarming prison statistics indicate that there are over 700,000 parolees in the US and over 3.6 million probationers. The average incarceration period in the US state prisons in 1998 for murder was 8.6 years; for rape it was 5.5 years; for drugs it was 1.8 years.
ORGANIZE AND ASSOCIATE
There are a multitude of associations and organizations for investigators in the private sector. Some organized by specialty, others by geographic area.
Here�s a listing of some of the more unusual.
There is a European Council of Detectives. You can check their web site at:
www.euro-detectives.org
The Professional Investigators and Security Association
Based in Charlottesville, VA, they can be found at: www.pisa.gen.va.us
National Defender Investigator Association.
www.ndia.net
National Association of Legal Investigators.
This association represents private investigators who conduct work for the defense. They also have a national accreditation program.
www.NALI.com
The Council of International Investigators, headquartered in Singapore.
www.cii2.ord
World Association of Detectives. This international group hosts an annual convention that brings detectives from� all over the world (where else?)! Claim to be the largest and oldest association of its kind in the world.
www.wad.net
YOU CAN�T MAKE THIS STUFF UP
Here are some excerpts of actual conversations heard in and around Squad rooms. Some during interviews, some by� detectives?
�They were all conversating.
We conversated telephonically.
They were living domesticatarly.
They�re habitating.
Seeking the location of his whereabouts.
He was of Jamaican assessment.
Seeking to identify his identification.
Identified a pattern of unrelated crimes.
He was wearing a multi-colored white t-shirt.
He is known to congregate by himself.
The eyewitness is blind and didn�t see anything.
They went into a feet pursuit.
He has numerical arrests on his rap sheet.
The bus driver was working off duty at the time.
The information was received from an anonymous CI.
His sister states she was not related to her brother.
The suspicious package was examined and determined to be not suspicious.
The unarmed security guard fired 2 shots at the perp.
All the calls that day happened another day.
FREE 411
Free directory assistance and long distance dialing?
There is a new company that provides free directory assistance and long distance calling when connecting through their directory assistance.
The new service, at 1-800-FREE411, could make paying for directory assistance a thing of the past.
Too good to be true? Not as long as your willing to sit through a 10-second ad. The service is funded not by consumers paying to access it, as the conventional directory assistance is, but by companies that pay to have callers hear their ads while they wait for listings.
You can check out their web site at www.free411.com.
�COME IN DICK TRACY�
Remember the old Dick Tracy cartoons? Remember Dick Tracy�s wristwatch that he used to call for assistance? Well, it�s here.
There is a digital voice recorder that also functions as an MP3 player � and a wrist watch!
The fully functional watch is also a media player with 256MB flash memory built in which will allow you to record up to 9 hours of voice recording, as well as download MP3 music files.
You can play back the recording with an easy USB plug and play, or play back via stereo headphones or window media player.
Available for $189.95 at www.PIgear.com
Imagine the investigative potential of recording a conversation from a wristwatch?
WHERE DID THAT CAR COME FROM?
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has created an online database consiting of motor vehicles or boats affected by Huricanes Katrina and Rita for the public to search in an effort to protect them from fraudulent sellers.
The online data is made available to law enforcement, state fraud bureaus, insurance companies and state departments of motor vehicles. The NICB is also making the data available to the general public to help protect buyers against fraud.
Effective immediately, anyone can log on to www.nicb.org and query a suspected VIN free of charge, against the regularly updated database to find out if there is a match.
For more information on NICB and disaster fraud, visit their web site.
You can also call 1-800-TEL-NICB.
UPDATE ON IDENTITY THEFT
Greater consumer awareness regarding identity theft issues has resulted in a drop in the actual number of identity fraud victims nationwide, although the dollar amount per loss has increased.
Last year, about 4 percent of US adults, or 8.9 million people, had their personal data stolen and used in fraud.
The average dollar loss per victim increased from $5885 in 2004 to $6383 in 2005.
The Federal Trade Commission�s latest study confirmed that ID fraud complaints topped its list of consumer complaints in 2005. Of the 686,000 complaints, 255,000 were identity theft related.
Internet related complaints accounted for 46 percent of all fraud complaints.
The major metropolitan areas with the highest per capita rates of consumer fraud reported were Washington, DC; Tampa/St Petersburg/Clearwater FL; and Seattle WA.
Credit card fraud was the most common for of reported identity theft, followed by phone and utilities fraud, bank fraud, and employment fraud.
The major metropolitan areas with the highest per capita rates of reported identity theft were Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, AZ; Las Vegas NV; and Riverside/San Bernardino CA.
A NOTE FROM THE MINISTER OF INVESTIGATION
Any regular reader of this blog, who is somewhat familiar with current news, will associate the lack of updates with an increase in work here in Brooklyn North.
Looking back, I realized I neglected to post anything new to this site during the month of February 2006. I think even my more critical readers will realize that is not a common occurrence - I usually have news waiting to be posted, yet this past month has been unusually busy in the North.
I�ll try not to let that happen again! My staff let me down, leaving all the writing to myself. (Oh, I forgot � I have no staff. Sorry.)
In the over 375 postings I have made to this blog since I started it almost five years ago, I have tried to remain true to a certain standard. I will not use this space as a �rant� � I will not take your time to listen to gripes and moans about any aspect of this job. You can find that in other places. I intended to use this space to share information with investigators � tips, unusual web sites, and entertainment. Sometimes I succeed, other times I may fail � but I continue to try my best. I enjoy hearing about the history of this department, and of detectives. Some may call me a buff � alright, I may even call myself that � but if you�ve been reading closely, you know that the term is now an affectionate one. So be it. In any event, you will not see me criticizing leadership or decisions of this department or of this job in general, not on this site, anyway. At such time that I can no longer stick to this standard, I will stop writing. I like being a detective (yes, I still consider myself a detective), and I am proud of my history as a Transit cop and an NYPD Detective Commander. I grew up with cops, and never tire of hearing of �old-time� war stories. After spending 25 years as the police, I realize now that my stories are considered by many to be �old-time�. Go figure that!
It is still very satisfying to me to spend a few hours with a group in a CIC class, or at the Homicide Course, taking the time to try and help educate � train � others for this calling we have taken up � Detective work.
A Detective � the Police � no finer calling is there.
Anyway, enough said. Thank you for listening. Sometimes, when discouragement strikes, you need to step back and evaluate. As I tell the new rookies who I instruct them about Crime Scenes and Investigations, �work should be fun�. Louie Croce told me that fifteen years ago. Yes, work should be fun. When you are doing exactly what you want to do, then you are successful. And happy.
Be safe� and remember, work should be fun!
CONTACTING THE MINISTER OF INVESTIGATION...
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
March 22, 1932 Ptl George Myers, Line of duty injury
March 23, 1986 PO James Holmes, PSA3, Shot-off duty robbery
March 26, 1949 Ptl Anthony Oetheimer, 114 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
March 26, 1992 PO Joseph Alcamo, 100 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
March 27, 1921 Ptl Joseph Connelly, 10 Div, Shot-investigation
March 27, 1944 Ptl Arthur Eggers, Traffic C, Auto accident on patrol
March 28, 1922 Ptl James Baker, 83 Pct, Motorcycle accident
March 31, 1914 Ptl Thomas Wynn, 155 Pct, Arrest-robbery
March 31, 2002 Det Jamie Betancourt, BxNarco, Stabbed- o/d dispute
April 2, 1914 Det Joseph Guarneri, DetDiv, Shot-arrest
April 2, 1930 Ptl Thomas Harnett, 13 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
April 2, 1978 PO Christie Massone and PO Norman Cerullo, 79 Pct, Shot-car stop
April 3, 1953 Ptl John Pendegrass, 32 Pct, Shot-robbery
April 3, 1972 Ptl Phillip Cardillo, 28 Pct, Shot-investigation
JUSTICE IN AMERICA
The United States recently became the most incarcerating country in the world, with a greater share of its population � 724 per 100,000 residents � in prisons and jails. Over 2.1 million people incarcerated as of December 31, 2004.
At the same time, there were 4.8 million adults on parole or probation.
These figures represent nearly 131,000 more than there were in 2002. According to recent Bureau of Justice statistics, 650,000 people are incarcerated in jails and prisons every day.
Did you know that in 2000, nearly 15 million Americans spent more than $60 billion to buy illegal drugs? Americans use 50 percent of the world�s cocaine, but comprise only about 6 percent of the world�s population.
Between 1960 and 1998, the population of the US increased by 50 percent. During the same period, the number of crimes reported to the police increased by almost 145 percent.
Every 54 hours a police officer is killed in the line of duty.
Almost two-thirds of defendants charged with a felony in the 75 most populated counties of the country in May 1996 were released from jail pending disposition of their case. Thirty-one percent of those released were rearrested for a new offense, did not show up for a court date or violated some other condition of their pretrial release.
In 1976, 79 percent of homicides nationwide were cleared by arrest compared to 66 percent in 1997.
The failure of 30 percent of US businesses has for many years been linked to employee theft. In the retail industry in 2000, 44.5 percent of all lost revenue � inventory shrinkage � was due to employee theft; 32.7 percent was due to shoplifting.
Some other alarming prison statistics indicate that there are over 700,000 parolees in the US and over 3.6 million probationers. The average incarceration period in the US state prisons in 1998 for murder was 8.6 years; for rape it was 5.5 years; for drugs it was 1.8 years.
ORGANIZE AND ASSOCIATE
There are a multitude of associations and organizations for investigators in the private sector. Some organized by specialty, others by geographic area.
Here�s a listing of some of the more unusual.
There is a European Council of Detectives. You can check their web site at:
www.euro-detectives.org
The Professional Investigators and Security Association
Based in Charlottesville, VA, they can be found at: www.pisa.gen.va.us
National Defender Investigator Association.
www.ndia.net
National Association of Legal Investigators.
This association represents private investigators who conduct work for the defense. They also have a national accreditation program.
www.NALI.com
The Council of International Investigators, headquartered in Singapore.
www.cii2.ord
World Association of Detectives. This international group hosts an annual convention that brings detectives from� all over the world (where else?)! Claim to be the largest and oldest association of its kind in the world.
www.wad.net
YOU CAN�T MAKE THIS STUFF UP
Here are some excerpts of actual conversations heard in and around Squad rooms. Some during interviews, some by� detectives?
�They were all conversating.
We conversated telephonically.
They were living domesticatarly.
They�re habitating.
Seeking the location of his whereabouts.
He was of Jamaican assessment.
Seeking to identify his identification.
Identified a pattern of unrelated crimes.
He was wearing a multi-colored white t-shirt.
He is known to congregate by himself.
The eyewitness is blind and didn�t see anything.
They went into a feet pursuit.
He has numerical arrests on his rap sheet.
The bus driver was working off duty at the time.
The information was received from an anonymous CI.
His sister states she was not related to her brother.
The suspicious package was examined and determined to be not suspicious.
The unarmed security guard fired 2 shots at the perp.
All the calls that day happened another day.
FREE 411
Free directory assistance and long distance dialing?
There is a new company that provides free directory assistance and long distance calling when connecting through their directory assistance.
The new service, at 1-800-FREE411, could make paying for directory assistance a thing of the past.
Too good to be true? Not as long as your willing to sit through a 10-second ad. The service is funded not by consumers paying to access it, as the conventional directory assistance is, but by companies that pay to have callers hear their ads while they wait for listings.
You can check out their web site at www.free411.com.
�COME IN DICK TRACY�
Remember the old Dick Tracy cartoons? Remember Dick Tracy�s wristwatch that he used to call for assistance? Well, it�s here.
There is a digital voice recorder that also functions as an MP3 player � and a wrist watch!
The fully functional watch is also a media player with 256MB flash memory built in which will allow you to record up to 9 hours of voice recording, as well as download MP3 music files.
You can play back the recording with an easy USB plug and play, or play back via stereo headphones or window media player.
Available for $189.95 at www.PIgear.com
Imagine the investigative potential of recording a conversation from a wristwatch?
WHERE DID THAT CAR COME FROM?
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has created an online database consiting of motor vehicles or boats affected by Huricanes Katrina and Rita for the public to search in an effort to protect them from fraudulent sellers.
The online data is made available to law enforcement, state fraud bureaus, insurance companies and state departments of motor vehicles. The NICB is also making the data available to the general public to help protect buyers against fraud.
Effective immediately, anyone can log on to www.nicb.org and query a suspected VIN free of charge, against the regularly updated database to find out if there is a match.
For more information on NICB and disaster fraud, visit their web site.
You can also call 1-800-TEL-NICB.
UPDATE ON IDENTITY THEFT
Greater consumer awareness regarding identity theft issues has resulted in a drop in the actual number of identity fraud victims nationwide, although the dollar amount per loss has increased.
Last year, about 4 percent of US adults, or 8.9 million people, had their personal data stolen and used in fraud.
The average dollar loss per victim increased from $5885 in 2004 to $6383 in 2005.
The Federal Trade Commission�s latest study confirmed that ID fraud complaints topped its list of consumer complaints in 2005. Of the 686,000 complaints, 255,000 were identity theft related.
Internet related complaints accounted for 46 percent of all fraud complaints.
The major metropolitan areas with the highest per capita rates of consumer fraud reported were Washington, DC; Tampa/St Petersburg/Clearwater FL; and Seattle WA.
Credit card fraud was the most common for of reported identity theft, followed by phone and utilities fraud, bank fraud, and employment fraud.
The major metropolitan areas with the highest per capita rates of reported identity theft were Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, AZ; Las Vegas NV; and Riverside/San Bernardino CA.
A NOTE FROM THE MINISTER OF INVESTIGATION
Any regular reader of this blog, who is somewhat familiar with current news, will associate the lack of updates with an increase in work here in Brooklyn North.
Looking back, I realized I neglected to post anything new to this site during the month of February 2006. I think even my more critical readers will realize that is not a common occurrence - I usually have news waiting to be posted, yet this past month has been unusually busy in the North.
I�ll try not to let that happen again! My staff let me down, leaving all the writing to myself. (Oh, I forgot � I have no staff. Sorry.)
In the over 375 postings I have made to this blog since I started it almost five years ago, I have tried to remain true to a certain standard. I will not use this space as a �rant� � I will not take your time to listen to gripes and moans about any aspect of this job. You can find that in other places. I intended to use this space to share information with investigators � tips, unusual web sites, and entertainment. Sometimes I succeed, other times I may fail � but I continue to try my best. I enjoy hearing about the history of this department, and of detectives. Some may call me a buff � alright, I may even call myself that � but if you�ve been reading closely, you know that the term is now an affectionate one. So be it. In any event, you will not see me criticizing leadership or decisions of this department or of this job in general, not on this site, anyway. At such time that I can no longer stick to this standard, I will stop writing. I like being a detective (yes, I still consider myself a detective), and I am proud of my history as a Transit cop and an NYPD Detective Commander. I grew up with cops, and never tire of hearing of �old-time� war stories. After spending 25 years as the police, I realize now that my stories are considered by many to be �old-time�. Go figure that!
It is still very satisfying to me to spend a few hours with a group in a CIC class, or at the Homicide Course, taking the time to try and help educate � train � others for this calling we have taken up � Detective work.
A Detective � the Police � no finer calling is there.
Anyway, enough said. Thank you for listening. Sometimes, when discouragement strikes, you need to step back and evaluate. As I tell the new rookies who I instruct them about Crime Scenes and Investigations, �work should be fun�. Louie Croce told me that fifteen years ago. Yes, work should be fun. When you are doing exactly what you want to do, then you are successful. And happy.
Be safe� and remember, work should be fun!
CONTACTING THE MINISTER OF INVESTIGATION...
Can easily be done by dropping an e-mail to:
I'm always looking for new material, interesting web sites, investigative tips, etc.
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
March 22, 1932 Ptl George Myers, Line of duty injury
March 23, 1986 PO James Holmes, PSA3, Shot-off duty robbery
March 26, 1949 Ptl Anthony Oetheimer, 114 Pct, Shot-robbery in progress
March 26, 1992 PO Joseph Alcamo, 100 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
March 27, 1921 Ptl Joseph Connelly, 10 Div, Shot-investigation
March 27, 1944 Ptl Arthur Eggers, Traffic C, Auto accident on patrol
March 28, 1922 Ptl James Baker, 83 Pct, Motorcycle accident
March 31, 1914 Ptl Thomas Wynn, 155 Pct, Arrest-robbery
March 31, 2002 Det Jamie Betancourt, BxNarco, Stabbed- o/d dispute
April 2, 1914 Det Joseph Guarneri, DetDiv, Shot-arrest
April 2, 1930 Ptl Thomas Harnett, 13 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
April 2, 1978 PO Christie Massone and PO Norman Cerullo, 79 Pct, Shot-car stop
April 3, 1953 Ptl John Pendegrass, 32 Pct, Shot-robbery
April 3, 1972 Ptl Phillip Cardillo, 28 Pct, Shot-investigation
Monday, March 20, 2006
�The key to any leader is the team he or she has.�
James Dallas, CEO Georgia Pacific
DEPARTMENT MEDALS & THE HONOR LEGION
Thanks to Ret. Sgt Mike Bosak, and Ret Det1 John Reilly, for some historical information of interest.
It seems that up to the present, the belief has always been that the first department issued medals were issued in 1871, and the Honor Legion�s date of inception was 1900.
Their research has indicated otherwise. The correct date of origin for both should be May 26, 1855.
On that date, the N.Y.C. Municipal Police Department had its first ever police parade and review, along with a medal day ceremony on the steps of City Hall.
Almost the entire department, somewhere between 900 to a 1,000 police officers, attended the ceremonies, where seven silver medals were awarded by Mayor Fernando Wood and NYC�s first 'Chief of Police' George W. Matsell.
Later that night there was a formal dinner to honor these seven medal winners and induct them into the newly minted NYC Police �Legion of Honor�.
WHAT ABOUT THAT SHOOFLY?
In an earlier posting I asked some of our senior readers to try and answer a few questions regarding derivation of some common NYPD terms. I received the following regarding �hairbag� and �shoofly�.
Keeping in mind that a clear-cut definition and derivation is hard to establish, these certainly seem to make sense. For now, anyway.
It seems that for as long as most can remember "hairbag" was used to refer to an older cop who was a complainer.
"Hairbag" was probably derived from the fact that his older wool uniform was starting to pill or show loose threads from lack of care or replacement. The assumption was that he had no pride in his appearance to take care of it. To be considered a "hairbag" was not a good thing, although today some younger cops say that that's not true anymore. A "hairbag" is just a veteran cop. Likewise a "buff" used to be a civilian who was cop fan or collector of police memorabilia. Today, though, a cop's cop can be called a "buff" - and it is a compliment.
The origin of "shoo-fly" is a little more difficult to discern. It has been assumed by many that it was like the Pennsylvania Dutch Shoo-fly pie. Shoo-fly pies are very sticky and you'd have to constantly shoo away the flies from it while it was cooling down or they would stick to it. Shoo the flies away and they would scatter. Cooping cops would likewise scatter when the inspector came around hence "shoo-fly"?
Anyone have any better idea, please pass them along to:
Ltjac77@yahoo.com
FOR THE FASHIONABLE DETECTIVE: GET A HAT?
The March 2006 issue of GQ had a rather interesting letter to �The Style Guy�, that I thought was worth repeating here.
The writer states that he �is a 33 year-old-white-male-detective at a major metropolitan police department� who �recently purchased a black fedora to wear with my suits at work.� Apparently he has been receiving the �typical amount of ridicule from coworkers� � if you can believe that!
The response from the GQ Style Guy follows: �Those attempting to ridicule you are probably alarmed that you are injecting style into their midst and therefore making them look even more noticeably lame. The best had advice I ever got was from my grandfather, a senatorial homburg wearer: �Always tip your hat when you meet a lady, when a funeral passes, and when you walk past a church. And never buy a car that you have to take your hat off to drive.�
It was noted as well that the hat worn by Popeye Doyle � the character played by Gene Hackman in French Connection � was a porkpie hat. That was a short-brimmed hat that is not a fedora and which connotes a lower class and a shorter fuse!
INVESTIGATIVE ROLODEX
Don�t forget the ability of the Real Time Crime Center to seek �Reverse Phone Listings� during an investigation.
You may have to specifically ask them to do so, but they have the ability to research in two separate databases a telephone number you may be trying to identify.
When seeking subscriber information, be sure to ask them to check the phone number in both �ACCURINT� and in �INTERSEC� databases.
Doing so may help to identify a subscriber to a phone number you are seeking.
BENEFIT FOR A FRIEND
Once again I ask that you open your hearts & your wallets for our extended family.
On March 23rd at 7:00 pm there is a 10-13 party for one of our own.
The location is Mulcahy's Pub and Music Hall located at 3232 Railroad Ave,Wantagh, NY. FOP Lodge #317 member Detective Michael Hopkins, of the Brooklyn South Homicide Squad & formerly of District 34, needs our help. He and his wife had triplets 2 years ago, but unfortunately one of them, his young son Joseph, has been diagnosed with a raredisease, Tuberous Sclerosis. Michael's medical bills have become astronomical and his friends are coming to his aid.
Donations of $40 perp person will allow your entry, which includes door prizes, raffles, hot and cold food as well as some great musical entertainment.
If you are unable to attend and would like to make a donation, you may do so by contacting Lt Bob Casazza, BSHS or any BSHS MOS. I will also be collecting and selling tickets from BNHS.
In addition, Sgt Mike Fanning of Hate Crimes, an FOP Board Member, has indicated that he would be happy to collect these funds & make sure they are delivered to Michael & Suzanne.
You can mail them to:
Hopkins 10-13
c/o FOP #317
PO Box 40
Bethpage, NY 11714
LEGAL BRIEF: THE DAVIS RULE
What should you do when a suspect who waived his Miranda rights says he might want a lawyer?
This is the question that the US Supreme Court recently ruled on.
WHILE I AM PRESENTING THE FACTS ACCORDING TO THE US SUPREME COURT RULING, THIS IN NO WAY IS MEANT AS A GUIDE IN A NEW YORK STATE COURT! ALWAYS REFER TO THE DEPARTMENT�S LEGAL BUREAU, OR THE DA OFFICE, FOR PARTICULAR RULINGS. THIS IS MEANT FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF THE INVESTIGATORS LEGAL KNOWLEDGE!
A fairly common scenario, you obtain a valid Miranda waiver from a suspect in custody and begin interrogation. Part way through your questioning, the suspect begins to feel uneasy about going forward and says something about remaining silent or talking to a lawyer. What then? Must you stop interrogating? Do you need to clarify his wishes? Or can you keep talking?
The US Supreme Court gave the answers in Davis v. U.S.
The Supreme Court acknowledged its earlier ruling in Edwards v. Arizona that a statement obtained through police custodial interrogation will not be admitted to prove guilt at trial if it resulted from questioning that continued after the suspect�s request for an attorney. But where it is not necessarily clear that a suspect who has already waived his rights is asking for an attorney, the court declined to place burden of resolving the ambiguity on the police.
�If a suspect makes a reference to an attorney that is ambiguous or equivocal in that a reasonable officer in light of the circumstances would have understood only that the suspect might be invoking the right to counsel, our precedents do not require the cessation of questioning. Rather, the suspect must unambiguously request counsel. He must articulate his desire to have counsel present sufficiently clearly that a reasonable police officer in the circumstances would understand the statement to be a request for an attorney.� Finding that the statement, �Maybe I should talk to a lawyer,� was not an unequivocal, unambiguous invocation of the right to counsel, the court upheld the admission of Davis�s statements and unanimously affirmed his conviction and sentence.
The five-member majority held that it is not necessary for officers to stop an interrogation when the suspect makes an ambiguous reference to invoking his rights.
There are no magic words that a suspect has to use to constitute a clear and unambiguous invocation of Miranda.
Certainly a statement such as �No more questions�, or �I want a lawyer� are unambiguous.
Wishy-washy qualifications such as �I think�� or �Maybe I should�� would normally be ambiguous enough to come within the Davis rule that there is no need to clarify the suspect�s wishes and no need to stop questioning.
It is further noted that the Davis ruling only applies where the suspect initially gave a clear, unambiguous waiver when given initially given his Miranda rights. Once he has waived, the burden shifts to him to clearly, unambiguously assert his rights if he wants questioning to cease.
For example, if the suspect responds to the Miranda admonishment by saying something like, �I think maybe I should get a lawyer,� you should not proceed without clarifying whether or not you have an invocation of counsel. It�s only after a clean waiver has been obtained that the Davis rule kicks.
NOTE: NOT all states follow the US Supreme Court rulings on exclusionary issues. States are free to interpret their own constitutions as providing greater protection to criminals than the US Constitution provides. Where do you suppose New York State falls??
IN MEMORIAM: PTL. THOMAS SCHIMENTI
On August 17, 1979, PO Thomas Schimenti of the MTS Precinct was killed in the line of duty.
The young bandit had just bolted from an East 41st Street bank and turned north towards Grand Central Station when a passerby yelled to PO Schimenti, �Hey! That man just robbed the bank.� PO Schimenti, who was on foot patrol, drew his service revolver and gave chase, shouting into his walkie-talkie as he ran. While PO Schimenti pursued, two detectives passing in an unmarked car joined the chase. They corned their man at the 42nd street store entrance in the Terminal building where the gunman turned and opened fire point blank. PO Schimenti took a fatal bullet in his chest, and Detective Gregory P. Demetriou, NYDAO, was wounded. The suspect sprinted away but was caught, slightly wounded, under a car nearby. PO Schimenti is survived by his wife Diane and daughters.
In the 1981 book, STREET COPS, author Jill Freedman, who spent time working with the MOS from MTS and the 9 Pct, had this to say about PO Schimenti:
�Male sure you tell about Tommy,� he said.
�How it was true what they said at his funeral, he was a good man and everyone loved him. How the people on his post cried when they heard. He was good, Tommy. Put that in your book.�
Tommy Schimenti had a steady foot post. He loved being out there on the street, knowing everybody, everybody knowing him. This was his last one and it was a gorgeous day. As soon as he finished, his wife and kids were picking him up in the camper, packed and ready to go. Two whole weeks in the mountains. One of the guys offered to work for him so he could take off early, but he said no thanks, he wanted to say goodbye to some people. Then there was a bank robber running down the street and when they cornered the guy he shot Tommy in the chest. It was the first time he ever fired a gun. Tommy died. Now his plaque is up in the station house next to the other ones. He�s smiling, like he always used to.�
A NOTED PASSING OF A MOB FIGHTER: KENNETH MCCABE
I saw recently that KENNETH MCCABE, a retired Detective and investigator with the US Attorney�s Office, passed away this past month, after a year-long battle with cancer.
Kenny McCabe was the premier figure in law enforcement�s fight against organized crime in New York City.
I first met Ken several years ago, just prior to John Barba�s retirement from the 77 Squad, while we were looking into an old homicide from the 77 that had mob connections. I have never met a more knowledgeable, professional investigator with such a memory for names, facts, and locations. A very unassuming character, as big as he was, who would take the time to help out another detective whenever asked.
For more than three decades McCabe handled government cooperators, making cases against the mob while following their every move with a camera. His work provided the backbone for dozens of successful prosecutions, including those of the late John Gotti and his brother Peter Gotti, that have left the city�s Mafia families weakened to the point of near extinction.
According to a story in the Daily News, McCabe�s intense preparation and his shun-the-spotlight manner won the 6-foot, 6-inch former college basketball player the respect of colleagues, and of the mobsters he arrested. They would regularly counsel their attorneys not to ask McCabe a question when he took the witness stand, said former Manhattan US Attorney David Kelley.
�The mob is all about playing by the rules,� said Kelley. �He didn�t lie. He dealt with them fairly. They got arrested fair and square.�
A story that went around has McCabe conducting surveillance from his car when a wiseguy ambled up to him and said �You know, Kenney, I�m thinking of retiring. I�m getting too old for this.� To which, McCabe repled, �Make sure it�s someplace warm because I�m tired of freezing out here.�
Mob informant Michael (Mikey Scars) DiLeonardo, testifying at the recent Junior Gotti kidnapping trial, was asked to identify a surveillance photo and noted �it was probably taken by McCabe, he was relentless.�
It was these surveillance photos that helped allow prosecutors to piece together mob associations and link them together at key moments in a conspiracy. In some of these shots, smiling mobsters wave hello to McCabe. McCabe was also known to scour the death notices for the names of mobsters so he could be sure and pay his respects; he would even turn up at their weddings, where they�d greet him with a slice of cake and coffee that he always refused.
Kenneth McCabe was only 59 years old when he died. The law enforcement community lost a legend. We salute you, Ken.
HELP FOR THE FAMILY OF PO HARRY RYMAN
Please go to the site listed to sign the �Online Petition Against the Parole of the killers of PO Harry Ryman�.
Online Petition - "Petition against parole for New York cop killers"
http://www.gopetition.com/region/237/8160.html
On August 14, 1980 PO Harry R Ryman of the 60 Pct was off duty and sleeping in his residence, located within the confines of the 63rd precinct in Brooklyn.After being awakened as the result of suspicious noises on the street, PO Ryman equipped himself with his shield and off-duty revolver and went to investigate. He observed 3 males attempting to steal a car.Officer Ryman identifed himself as a police officer and was fired upon; he immediately returned fire. Although fatally wounded, officer Ryman was able to wound one of his assailants before falling unconscious.The suspects fled in an auto but the wounded felon was arrested when he sought aid. The two remaining perpetrators were subsequently arrested.
Please take the few minutes to sign this online petition!
KATE WARNE � FIRST FEMALE PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
In 1856, a female walked into the offices of the Pinkerton Detective Agency and asked to see Allen Pinkerton for a job. Her name was Kate Warne.
Mrs. Warne was a widow simply looking for work. She had come to apply for a job as a secretary.
However, on the day she walked into Pinkerton's the secretary job had already been filled. Allen Pinkerton interviewed her and become impressed by her. No one knows for sure if Mrs. Warne had asked for a job as a detective but the following day, Allen Pinkerton appointed her as one over the strong objections of his brother who was his partner.
To learn more about her exploits, check out the following web site:
http://www.pimall.com/nais/pivintage/katewarne.html
INTERESTING WEB SITE
http://www.pimall.com/nais/pivintage/pivintage.html
From the personal collection of Ralph Thomas, this link brings you to the PI VINTAGE, a collection of old � and current � spy and PI gear. It also has some great links to other investigative sites, and will probably find itself bookmarked on your computer once you start browsing!
Computer Forensic Investigators:
Are you involved in the investigation of computer crimes?
Computer forensic investigators may want to take note of a new product released by Hot Pepper Technology, Inc.
The new software, Email Detective 3.0.5, provides investigators with a rapid method for retrieving Americaq Online e-mail messages and photos stored on a user�s computer disk. It features built-in key phrase search, automatic hash value tagging, and quick scan capability.
You can check out the company�s web site for more information, at:
www.hotpepperinc.com
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
March 11, 1930 Ptl Joseph Scott, 32 Pct, auto accident on patrol
March 11, 1947 Ptl Winthrop Paris, 30 Pct, Shot-Investigation, off duty
March 11, 1959 Ptl Robert Forrest, 24 Pct, Off duty LOD heart attack
March 11, 1987 Det Louis Miller, FTU10, Shot-Burglary in progress
March 12, 1909 Lt Joseph Petrosino, Det Div; Shot � Investigation in Italy **
March 12, 1931 Ptl James Flanagan, 25 Pct, Shot- off duty investigation
March 14, 1872 Det Phillip Lambreck, 19 Pct, Assaulted
March 14, 1967 Det John Pollins, Narc, Arrest- narcotics buy/bust
March 14, 1996 PO Kevin Gillespie, SCU, Shot � investigation
March 15, 1922 Ptl James McMail, 85 Pct, Assaulted during arrest
March 15, 1930 Ptl Walter DeCastillo, 84 Pct, Shot- robbery in progress
March 15, 1934 Ptl Philip Clarius, 78 Pct, Shot � robbery in progress
March 15, 1936 Ptl Dioniso Pasquarella, 75 Pct, Shot � off duty altercation
March 16, 1940 Ptl Francis Dolan, 10 Pct, Fell from auto
March 17, 1956 Ptl George Lessler, 10 Pct, LOD heart attack
March 18, 1926 Ptl William Higgins, 13 Div, LOD injury
March 18, 1948 Ptl John Casey, 20 Pct, LOD injury
March 18, 1972 Ptl Elijah Stroud, 80 Pct, Shot � robbery
March 19, 1943 Ptl James Donovan, 75 Pct, Shot � investigation, off duty
March 20, 1804 Ptl Hugh Enright, 24 Pct, Shot- burglary arrest
March 20, 1963 Ptl John Tuohy, TD2, Heart attack chasing felon
** Noted that Lt Joseph Petrosino is the only MOS who has been killed in the line of duty on foreign land. I have written about him previously on this site.
Editors Note: It�s hard to believe it�s been 10 years since Kevin Gillespie was gunned down in the Bronx. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to the Gillespie family.
James Dallas, CEO Georgia Pacific
DEPARTMENT MEDALS & THE HONOR LEGION
Thanks to Ret. Sgt Mike Bosak, and Ret Det1 John Reilly, for some historical information of interest.
It seems that up to the present, the belief has always been that the first department issued medals were issued in 1871, and the Honor Legion�s date of inception was 1900.
Their research has indicated otherwise. The correct date of origin for both should be May 26, 1855.
On that date, the N.Y.C. Municipal Police Department had its first ever police parade and review, along with a medal day ceremony on the steps of City Hall.
Almost the entire department, somewhere between 900 to a 1,000 police officers, attended the ceremonies, where seven silver medals were awarded by Mayor Fernando Wood and NYC�s first 'Chief of Police' George W. Matsell.
Later that night there was a formal dinner to honor these seven medal winners and induct them into the newly minted NYC Police �Legion of Honor�.
WHAT ABOUT THAT SHOOFLY?
In an earlier posting I asked some of our senior readers to try and answer a few questions regarding derivation of some common NYPD terms. I received the following regarding �hairbag� and �shoofly�.
Keeping in mind that a clear-cut definition and derivation is hard to establish, these certainly seem to make sense. For now, anyway.
It seems that for as long as most can remember "hairbag" was used to refer to an older cop who was a complainer.
"Hairbag" was probably derived from the fact that his older wool uniform was starting to pill or show loose threads from lack of care or replacement. The assumption was that he had no pride in his appearance to take care of it. To be considered a "hairbag" was not a good thing, although today some younger cops say that that's not true anymore. A "hairbag" is just a veteran cop. Likewise a "buff" used to be a civilian who was cop fan or collector of police memorabilia. Today, though, a cop's cop can be called a "buff" - and it is a compliment.
The origin of "shoo-fly" is a little more difficult to discern. It has been assumed by many that it was like the Pennsylvania Dutch Shoo-fly pie. Shoo-fly pies are very sticky and you'd have to constantly shoo away the flies from it while it was cooling down or they would stick to it. Shoo the flies away and they would scatter. Cooping cops would likewise scatter when the inspector came around hence "shoo-fly"?
Anyone have any better idea, please pass them along to:
Ltjac77@yahoo.com
FOR THE FASHIONABLE DETECTIVE: GET A HAT?
The March 2006 issue of GQ had a rather interesting letter to �The Style Guy�, that I thought was worth repeating here.
The writer states that he �is a 33 year-old-white-male-detective at a major metropolitan police department� who �recently purchased a black fedora to wear with my suits at work.� Apparently he has been receiving the �typical amount of ridicule from coworkers� � if you can believe that!
The response from the GQ Style Guy follows: �Those attempting to ridicule you are probably alarmed that you are injecting style into their midst and therefore making them look even more noticeably lame. The best had advice I ever got was from my grandfather, a senatorial homburg wearer: �Always tip your hat when you meet a lady, when a funeral passes, and when you walk past a church. And never buy a car that you have to take your hat off to drive.�
It was noted as well that the hat worn by Popeye Doyle � the character played by Gene Hackman in French Connection � was a porkpie hat. That was a short-brimmed hat that is not a fedora and which connotes a lower class and a shorter fuse!
INVESTIGATIVE ROLODEX
Don�t forget the ability of the Real Time Crime Center to seek �Reverse Phone Listings� during an investigation.
You may have to specifically ask them to do so, but they have the ability to research in two separate databases a telephone number you may be trying to identify.
When seeking subscriber information, be sure to ask them to check the phone number in both �ACCURINT� and in �INTERSEC� databases.
Doing so may help to identify a subscriber to a phone number you are seeking.
BENEFIT FOR A FRIEND
Once again I ask that you open your hearts & your wallets for our extended family.
On March 23rd at 7:00 pm there is a 10-13 party for one of our own.
The location is Mulcahy's Pub and Music Hall located at 3232 Railroad Ave,Wantagh, NY. FOP Lodge #317 member Detective Michael Hopkins, of the Brooklyn South Homicide Squad & formerly of District 34, needs our help. He and his wife had triplets 2 years ago, but unfortunately one of them, his young son Joseph, has been diagnosed with a raredisease, Tuberous Sclerosis. Michael's medical bills have become astronomical and his friends are coming to his aid.
Donations of $40 perp person will allow your entry, which includes door prizes, raffles, hot and cold food as well as some great musical entertainment.
If you are unable to attend and would like to make a donation, you may do so by contacting Lt Bob Casazza, BSHS or any BSHS MOS. I will also be collecting and selling tickets from BNHS.
In addition, Sgt Mike Fanning of Hate Crimes, an FOP Board Member, has indicated that he would be happy to collect these funds & make sure they are delivered to Michael & Suzanne.
You can mail them to:
Hopkins 10-13
c/o FOP #317
PO Box 40
Bethpage, NY 11714
LEGAL BRIEF: THE DAVIS RULE
What should you do when a suspect who waived his Miranda rights says he might want a lawyer?
This is the question that the US Supreme Court recently ruled on.
WHILE I AM PRESENTING THE FACTS ACCORDING TO THE US SUPREME COURT RULING, THIS IN NO WAY IS MEANT AS A GUIDE IN A NEW YORK STATE COURT! ALWAYS REFER TO THE DEPARTMENT�S LEGAL BUREAU, OR THE DA OFFICE, FOR PARTICULAR RULINGS. THIS IS MEANT FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF THE INVESTIGATORS LEGAL KNOWLEDGE!
A fairly common scenario, you obtain a valid Miranda waiver from a suspect in custody and begin interrogation. Part way through your questioning, the suspect begins to feel uneasy about going forward and says something about remaining silent or talking to a lawyer. What then? Must you stop interrogating? Do you need to clarify his wishes? Or can you keep talking?
The US Supreme Court gave the answers in Davis v. U.S.
The Supreme Court acknowledged its earlier ruling in Edwards v. Arizona that a statement obtained through police custodial interrogation will not be admitted to prove guilt at trial if it resulted from questioning that continued after the suspect�s request for an attorney. But where it is not necessarily clear that a suspect who has already waived his rights is asking for an attorney, the court declined to place burden of resolving the ambiguity on the police.
�If a suspect makes a reference to an attorney that is ambiguous or equivocal in that a reasonable officer in light of the circumstances would have understood only that the suspect might be invoking the right to counsel, our precedents do not require the cessation of questioning. Rather, the suspect must unambiguously request counsel. He must articulate his desire to have counsel present sufficiently clearly that a reasonable police officer in the circumstances would understand the statement to be a request for an attorney.� Finding that the statement, �Maybe I should talk to a lawyer,� was not an unequivocal, unambiguous invocation of the right to counsel, the court upheld the admission of Davis�s statements and unanimously affirmed his conviction and sentence.
The five-member majority held that it is not necessary for officers to stop an interrogation when the suspect makes an ambiguous reference to invoking his rights.
There are no magic words that a suspect has to use to constitute a clear and unambiguous invocation of Miranda.
Certainly a statement such as �No more questions�, or �I want a lawyer� are unambiguous.
Wishy-washy qualifications such as �I think�� or �Maybe I should�� would normally be ambiguous enough to come within the Davis rule that there is no need to clarify the suspect�s wishes and no need to stop questioning.
It is further noted that the Davis ruling only applies where the suspect initially gave a clear, unambiguous waiver when given initially given his Miranda rights. Once he has waived, the burden shifts to him to clearly, unambiguously assert his rights if he wants questioning to cease.
For example, if the suspect responds to the Miranda admonishment by saying something like, �I think maybe I should get a lawyer,� you should not proceed without clarifying whether or not you have an invocation of counsel. It�s only after a clean waiver has been obtained that the Davis rule kicks.
NOTE: NOT all states follow the US Supreme Court rulings on exclusionary issues. States are free to interpret their own constitutions as providing greater protection to criminals than the US Constitution provides. Where do you suppose New York State falls??
IN MEMORIAM: PTL. THOMAS SCHIMENTI
On August 17, 1979, PO Thomas Schimenti of the MTS Precinct was killed in the line of duty.
The young bandit had just bolted from an East 41st Street bank and turned north towards Grand Central Station when a passerby yelled to PO Schimenti, �Hey! That man just robbed the bank.� PO Schimenti, who was on foot patrol, drew his service revolver and gave chase, shouting into his walkie-talkie as he ran. While PO Schimenti pursued, two detectives passing in an unmarked car joined the chase. They corned their man at the 42nd street store entrance in the Terminal building where the gunman turned and opened fire point blank. PO Schimenti took a fatal bullet in his chest, and Detective Gregory P. Demetriou, NYDAO, was wounded. The suspect sprinted away but was caught, slightly wounded, under a car nearby. PO Schimenti is survived by his wife Diane and daughters.
In the 1981 book, STREET COPS, author Jill Freedman, who spent time working with the MOS from MTS and the 9 Pct, had this to say about PO Schimenti:
�Male sure you tell about Tommy,� he said.
�How it was true what they said at his funeral, he was a good man and everyone loved him. How the people on his post cried when they heard. He was good, Tommy. Put that in your book.�
Tommy Schimenti had a steady foot post. He loved being out there on the street, knowing everybody, everybody knowing him. This was his last one and it was a gorgeous day. As soon as he finished, his wife and kids were picking him up in the camper, packed and ready to go. Two whole weeks in the mountains. One of the guys offered to work for him so he could take off early, but he said no thanks, he wanted to say goodbye to some people. Then there was a bank robber running down the street and when they cornered the guy he shot Tommy in the chest. It was the first time he ever fired a gun. Tommy died. Now his plaque is up in the station house next to the other ones. He�s smiling, like he always used to.�
A NOTED PASSING OF A MOB FIGHTER: KENNETH MCCABE
I saw recently that KENNETH MCCABE, a retired Detective and investigator with the US Attorney�s Office, passed away this past month, after a year-long battle with cancer.
Kenny McCabe was the premier figure in law enforcement�s fight against organized crime in New York City.
I first met Ken several years ago, just prior to John Barba�s retirement from the 77 Squad, while we were looking into an old homicide from the 77 that had mob connections. I have never met a more knowledgeable, professional investigator with such a memory for names, facts, and locations. A very unassuming character, as big as he was, who would take the time to help out another detective whenever asked.
For more than three decades McCabe handled government cooperators, making cases against the mob while following their every move with a camera. His work provided the backbone for dozens of successful prosecutions, including those of the late John Gotti and his brother Peter Gotti, that have left the city�s Mafia families weakened to the point of near extinction.
According to a story in the Daily News, McCabe�s intense preparation and his shun-the-spotlight manner won the 6-foot, 6-inch former college basketball player the respect of colleagues, and of the mobsters he arrested. They would regularly counsel their attorneys not to ask McCabe a question when he took the witness stand, said former Manhattan US Attorney David Kelley.
�The mob is all about playing by the rules,� said Kelley. �He didn�t lie. He dealt with them fairly. They got arrested fair and square.�
A story that went around has McCabe conducting surveillance from his car when a wiseguy ambled up to him and said �You know, Kenney, I�m thinking of retiring. I�m getting too old for this.� To which, McCabe repled, �Make sure it�s someplace warm because I�m tired of freezing out here.�
Mob informant Michael (Mikey Scars) DiLeonardo, testifying at the recent Junior Gotti kidnapping trial, was asked to identify a surveillance photo and noted �it was probably taken by McCabe, he was relentless.�
It was these surveillance photos that helped allow prosecutors to piece together mob associations and link them together at key moments in a conspiracy. In some of these shots, smiling mobsters wave hello to McCabe. McCabe was also known to scour the death notices for the names of mobsters so he could be sure and pay his respects; he would even turn up at their weddings, where they�d greet him with a slice of cake and coffee that he always refused.
Kenneth McCabe was only 59 years old when he died. The law enforcement community lost a legend. We salute you, Ken.
HELP FOR THE FAMILY OF PO HARRY RYMAN
Please go to the site listed to sign the �Online Petition Against the Parole of the killers of PO Harry Ryman�.
Online Petition - "Petition against parole for New York cop killers"
http://www.gopetition.com/region/237/8160.html
On August 14, 1980 PO Harry R Ryman of the 60 Pct was off duty and sleeping in his residence, located within the confines of the 63rd precinct in Brooklyn.After being awakened as the result of suspicious noises on the street, PO Ryman equipped himself with his shield and off-duty revolver and went to investigate. He observed 3 males attempting to steal a car.Officer Ryman identifed himself as a police officer and was fired upon; he immediately returned fire. Although fatally wounded, officer Ryman was able to wound one of his assailants before falling unconscious.The suspects fled in an auto but the wounded felon was arrested when he sought aid. The two remaining perpetrators were subsequently arrested.
Please take the few minutes to sign this online petition!
KATE WARNE � FIRST FEMALE PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
In 1856, a female walked into the offices of the Pinkerton Detective Agency and asked to see Allen Pinkerton for a job. Her name was Kate Warne.
Mrs. Warne was a widow simply looking for work. She had come to apply for a job as a secretary.
However, on the day she walked into Pinkerton's the secretary job had already been filled. Allen Pinkerton interviewed her and become impressed by her. No one knows for sure if Mrs. Warne had asked for a job as a detective but the following day, Allen Pinkerton appointed her as one over the strong objections of his brother who was his partner.
To learn more about her exploits, check out the following web site:
http://www.pimall.com/nais/pivintage/katewarne.html
INTERESTING WEB SITE
http://www.pimall.com/nais/pivintage/pivintage.html
From the personal collection of Ralph Thomas, this link brings you to the PI VINTAGE, a collection of old � and current � spy and PI gear. It also has some great links to other investigative sites, and will probably find itself bookmarked on your computer once you start browsing!
Computer Forensic Investigators:
Are you involved in the investigation of computer crimes?
Computer forensic investigators may want to take note of a new product released by Hot Pepper Technology, Inc.
The new software, Email Detective 3.0.5, provides investigators with a rapid method for retrieving Americaq Online e-mail messages and photos stored on a user�s computer disk. It features built-in key phrase search, automatic hash value tagging, and quick scan capability.
You can check out the company�s web site for more information, at:
www.hotpepperinc.com
�LEST WE FORGET�� THE NYPD MEMORIAL
March 11, 1930 Ptl Joseph Scott, 32 Pct, auto accident on patrol
March 11, 1947 Ptl Winthrop Paris, 30 Pct, Shot-Investigation, off duty
March 11, 1959 Ptl Robert Forrest, 24 Pct, Off duty LOD heart attack
March 11, 1987 Det Louis Miller, FTU10, Shot-Burglary in progress
March 12, 1909 Lt Joseph Petrosino, Det Div; Shot � Investigation in Italy **
March 12, 1931 Ptl James Flanagan, 25 Pct, Shot- off duty investigation
March 14, 1872 Det Phillip Lambreck, 19 Pct, Assaulted
March 14, 1967 Det John Pollins, Narc, Arrest- narcotics buy/bust
March 14, 1996 PO Kevin Gillespie, SCU, Shot � investigation
March 15, 1922 Ptl James McMail, 85 Pct, Assaulted during arrest
March 15, 1930 Ptl Walter DeCastillo, 84 Pct, Shot- robbery in progress
March 15, 1934 Ptl Philip Clarius, 78 Pct, Shot � robbery in progress
March 15, 1936 Ptl Dioniso Pasquarella, 75 Pct, Shot � off duty altercation
March 16, 1940 Ptl Francis Dolan, 10 Pct, Fell from auto
March 17, 1956 Ptl George Lessler, 10 Pct, LOD heart attack
March 18, 1926 Ptl William Higgins, 13 Div, LOD injury
March 18, 1948 Ptl John Casey, 20 Pct, LOD injury
March 18, 1972 Ptl Elijah Stroud, 80 Pct, Shot � robbery
March 19, 1943 Ptl James Donovan, 75 Pct, Shot � investigation, off duty
March 20, 1804 Ptl Hugh Enright, 24 Pct, Shot- burglary arrest
March 20, 1963 Ptl John Tuohy, TD2, Heart attack chasing felon
** Noted that Lt Joseph Petrosino is the only MOS who has been killed in the line of duty on foreign land. I have written about him previously on this site.
Editors Note: It�s hard to believe it�s been 10 years since Kevin Gillespie was gunned down in the Bronx. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to the Gillespie family.
Monday, January 30, 2006
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
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
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.
