TRANSIT POLICE HISTORY

Take a ride into the history of the earliest transit cops...and follow their development into one of the largest specialized police departments in the country, and their successful merger into the NYPD in 1995.

Rapid transit has played an integral part in the lives of New Yorkers for well over 100 years.

The first trains ran at grade level and on elevated structures. Underground trains were added on October 27, 1904 when, after taking four and a half years to build, the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) opened to the public. Since both the IRT and the competing BMT (Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit) lines were privately financed and built, they had no police, but only their own private security personnel. The new IND (Independent) lines, however, which began operating in 1932, were owned by New York City and run by the Board of Transportation. These lines originally had "station supervisors" employed to police them, their names having been taken from the NYC Police Department's hiring list.

On November 17, 1933, six men were sworn as New York State Railway Police. They were unarmed but were still responsible for the safety of the passengers on the IND line, as well as guarding the system's property.

Two years later, 20 "station supervisors, class B" were added for police duty. Responsible for assisting in the opening and closing of doors and announcing destinations, these 26 "specials" were soon given powers of arrest, but only on the IND line. And thus the New York City Transit Police Department was born.

In 1937, 160 more men were added to this police force. Additionally, 3 lieutenants, 1 captain, and 1 inspector from the NYPD were assigned as supervisors. When the privately-run IRT and BMT lines were taken over by New York City in 1940, the small patrol force on the IND line nearly doubled in size. Now part of the Civil Service system, more Transit supervisors were needed. In 1942, the first promotional exam was given for the title of "Special Patrolman Grade 2" - or what is now known as a sergeant.

The Code of Criminal Procedure was changed in 1947 granting Transit patrolmen peace officer status and by 1950, the number of "specials" reached 563. The following year, exams were held for both Transit sergeants and lieutenants. In 1953, the New York City Transit Authority came into being and assumed control over all the subway lines from the old Board of Transportation.

Beginning in 1949, the question as to who should supervise the Transit Police Department was one which was carefully scrutinized over the next five years by various city officials. The issue being considered was, "Should Transit be taken over by the NYPD?"

In 1955, the decision was made that the Transit Police Department would become a separate and distinctly different Department, ending almost two decades of rule by the NYPD. The Civil Service Commission established a new test for Transit recruits, and on April 4, the first appointments from the list were made.

An NYPD lieutenant, Thomas O'Rourke, was also designated the first commanding officer of the Transit Police Department. Soon after, Lieutenant O'Rourke along with 9 others passed the captain's exam. Captain O'Rourke was then appointed as the first Chief of the new department.

With crime on the rise, the number of Transit officers increased so that by 1966, the Department had grown to 2,272 officers. That year, Robert H. Rapp was appointed Chief by the NYC Transit Authority. Under Chief Rapp, and at the direction of the Mayor, an ambitious new anti-crime program got underway. The program had a goal of assigning an officer to each of New York City's subway trains between the hours of 8:00 PM and 4:00 AM. And the Transit Police Department continued to grow. By early 1975, the department comprised nearly 3,600 members.

In 1975, a former NYPD chief inspector and sometime City Council president, Sanford D. Garelik, was appointed Chief of the Transit Police Department.

Determined to reorganize the Transit Police Department, Chief Garelik was also successful in instilling a new sense of pride and professionalism among the ranks. However, the fiscal crisis that began that year was an unexpected blow - especially to Transit cops. Over the next five years, layoffs and attrition would reduce their numbers to fewer than 2,800. New officers would not be hired until 1980. By the early 1990's however, the Transit Police Department had regained all of its former strength and had increased even further. In 1994, there were almost 4,500 uniformed and civilian members of the Department, making it the sixth largest police force in the United States.

Over time, however, the separation between the NYPD and the NYC Transit Police Department created more and more problems. Redundancy of units, difficulty in communications, and differences in procedures all created frustration and inefficiency.

As part of his mayoral campaign, candidate Rudolph Giuliani pledged to end the long unresolved discussion and merge all three of New York City's police departments (the NYPD, the Transit Police, and the NYC Housing Authority Police Department) into a single, coordinated force. Mayor Giuliani took office on January 1, 1994, and immediately undertook to fulfill his promise and end a problem that had defied final solution for almost half a century.

Discussions between the City and the New York City Transit Authority produced a memorandum of understanding, and on April 2, 1995, the NYC Transit Police was consolidated with the New York City Police Department to become a new Bureau within the NYPD. After a reorganization of the Department in February of 1997, the Transit Bureau became the Transit Division within the newly formed Transportation Bureau. The Transportation Bureau dissolved in the Spring of 1998 and in July of 1999, the Transit Division once again became the Transit Bureau.


TRANSIT TRIVIA- CAN YOU GUESS?

Retired Det. Alan Berkowitz has provided the following trivia question.

Can you name this former member of the New York City Transit Police Department?
In 1941, he started his law enforcement career with the New York City Transit Police. Eleven months later (1942) he was called and accepted appointment to the NYPD.

As a member of the NYPD, he rose through the ranks, from patrolman, detective, lieutenant, captain, deputy inspector, inspector, 1 star chief, 2 star chief and finally 3 star chief. He is very famous on the NYPD.

Can you name this officer who started out in "TRANSIT"? Yes, he is alive today!

Answer below.


YOU GOTTA LOVE LARRY

A loyal reader, Ret Sgt Tucker DeGraw, has written in with a little Larry Eggers tidbit.

He noted that the only Larry that he would ever think of that would carry an alligator in his pocket would have to be Larry Eggers.

Some things never change!

He remarked also that he knows Larry spent a lot of time when visiting the Keys searching for Geckos and other wildlife to take back to the squad room.

That would certainly be our Larry!!


REMEMBER WHEN

Along the lines of “Remember when”, Tucker DeGraw, former Squad Commander of the 94 Squad, sent along some entries in the 1987 Official Roster for Brooklyn North.

Do you recall any of these names?

Borough command included DI Charlie Prestia, Magne Byshiem, Tommy Morris and Captains Finn, Bromberg and Billy Gardella.

The Squad CO’s were: 73- Gene Albright; 75- Herbie Hohman; 81- Jose Vasquez; 77- Georgie Duke; 79- John Garry; 84- Jack Hart; 88- James Clancy; 83- Nick DeLuise; 90- Bob Ceccarni; and the 94- Tucker De Graw.

Magne Byshiem’s son, Jimmy Byshiem, was a 75 RIP Sergeant at one point, and retired himself as a Captain from OCCB. We all know George Duke went on to take over first, the 75 Squad, and then Major Case, where he retired not that long ago as a D.I. He still plays golf regularly with Chief Ferrari and Insp Fitzpatrick.


TRIVIA ANSWER

About that Transit Trivia question - He still has his appointment card to the job, from the Board of Transportation!

It's former Chief of Detectives Albert A. Seedman.

Chief Seedman presently lives in Florida, and I am proud to note that I was able to get him to autograph my copy of the book about him, CHIEF. It’s one of my prouder pieces of my true crime collection.


10-13: BENEFIT AND BIKE RUN FOR GABRIELLA AURICHIO

Please try to find a way in your heart to help out this 10 year old.

Gabriella Aurichio is the granddaughter of Anita and Norm Horowitz. Norman is the renown Retired Sergeant of the 90 Squad.

Gabriella is in Schneider’s Children’s Hospital for Aplastic Anemia. She is undergoing chemotherapy and will then receive a bone marrow transplant from her sister, Alexandra. She is expected to be in critical condition for at least a month after the treatment and will not return to school or visit her friends for 8 months!

Her treatment will then need to continue for another 1-3 years.

The financial burden is astronomical, not to mention the emotional strain on everyone involved.

The NY Chapter of the Untouchables Motorcycle Club, of which Norman – and many NYPD MOS- are members of, will be hosting a Benefit and Bike Run on Saturday, August 18, starting at 10 am.

The Bike run will begin at 10am at Roosevelt Beach, in Oyster Bay and will end at the Tack Room in Bethpage, NY.

Perhaps you can make it out for the Bike Run? Or maybe you can join everyone for the after-festivities at the Tack Room?

They are asking for a $20 per person donation for the food, raffles and band that will take place at the bike run’s completion.

If you cannot make the event, you can still help Gabriella by making donations to:

Gabriella Auricchio
150-12 21 Ave
Whitestone, NY 11357

Every once in a while, when you think how bad things are, you get a smack of reality in the face! Please try to help out any way that you can.




CONDOLENCES

Please take a moment to remember in your prayers the family of P.O. RUSSELL TIMOSHENKO, who was recently killed in the line of duty, shot down during a car stop on July 9, 2007 in the 71 Precinct. He succumbed to his injuries on July 14.

A note of gratitude to all who worked so hard in bringing the killers to justice. Working side by side with these ladies and gentlemen once again proved why NYC Detective’s are “The Greatest Detectives in the World”.


“LEST WE FORGET…” THE NYPD MEMORIAL

July 15, 1977 PO Edward Mitchell, 34 Pct, Shot:Robbery
July 16, 1987 PO George Scheu, 115 Pct, Shot:Robbery,off duty
July 17, 1938 Ptl Harry Padian, 32 Pct, Shot by prisoner
July 17, 2000 PO John Kelly, PBSI, Auto accident on patrol
July 18, 1992 PO Paul Heidelberger, PSA4, Shot:Off duty
July 20, 1857 Ptl Eugene Anderson, 14 Pct, Shot:Burglary in progress
July 20, 1964 Ptl John Polarolo, Harbor, Auto accident on patrol
July 21, 1950 Ptl Alfred Loreto, 24 Pct, Shot:Off duty pursuit
July 22, 1921 Ptl Charles Potter, 27 Pct, Drowned during rescue
July 22, 1922 Ptl Arthur Loewe, 78 Pct, Shot:Robbery in progress
July 22, 1983 PO James Rowley, Aviation, Helicopter accident
July 23, 1983 PO Charles Trojahn, Aviation, Helicopter accident
July 24, 1876 Sgt James McGiven, 17 Pct, Stabbed, Robbery
July 24, 1951 Ptl Albert Polite, 94 Pct, Motorcycle accident
July 24, 1971 Ptl Robert Denton, 73 Pct, Stabbed during investigation
July 26, 1923 Ptl Frank Romanella, 29 Pct, Shot during investigation
July 26, 1923 Ptl Charles Reynolds, 116 Pct, Shot
July 26, 1924 Ptl John Hyland, 42A Pct, Shot:Robbery in progress
July 26, 1957 Ptl Edward O’Leary, 7 Div, Auto accident transporting prisoner
July 27, 1942 Ptl Michael Keene, Traffic A, Auto accident on patrol
July 27, 1950 Ptl Roderick O’Connor, Mcy2, Motorcycle accident on patrol
July 27, 1964 Ptl Richard Walburger, 9 Pct, Shot:Burglary in progress
July 28, 1929 Ptl William Kerlin, ESU, Auto accident on patrol
July 28, 1930 Ptl Dominick Caviglia, 20 Pct, Shot:Burglary in progress
July 28, 1930 Det Thomas Hill, 48 Sq, Shot during investigation
July 29, 1906 Ptl William Hederman, 35 Pct, Drowned during rescue
July 30, 1945 Ptl Howard Hegerich, 28 Pct, shot during investigation
July 31, 1947 Ptl William Panczyk, Traffic Unit, Auto accident on patrol
July 31, 1965 Ptl. Maitland Mercer, 76 Pct, Shot-off duty arrest

THE FLYING SQUAD

The Flying Squad is a branch of London's Metropolitan Police force.

It was formed in 1919 as the "Mobile Patrol Experiment", a branch of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), in response to a crime wave that followed the end of World War I.

Its officers were originally nicknamed the "thief takers".

It consists of police officers trained in high-speed driving, whose task is to detect and prevent armed robbery and similar crimes. The name reflects the fact that when the squad was first formed it was equipped with two old Crossley tender cars that had formerly belonged to the Royal Flying Corps.

Flying Squad officers operate across the boundaries of London's police divisions. In 1978 it was renamed the "Central Robbery Squad". Its most popular nicknames are "the Sweeney" (Cockney rhyming slang for "Sweeney Todd"/"Flying Squad") and "The Heavy Mob".

The squad's work was dramatized in the 1970s British television series The Sweeney.

This was the era in which the Sweeney's close ties with the criminal underworld, which had always been a necessary part of its strategy, were being exposed to public criticism. A number of scandals involving bribery and corruption were revealed, and on 7 July 1977, the squad's commander, Detective Chief Superintendent Kenneth Drury, was convicted of five counts of corruption and jailed for eight years. Twelve other officers were also convicted and many more resigned. These and other scandals led to a massive internal investigation by the Dorset Constabulary into the Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Police – code named Operation Countryman.

The squad now forms part of the Serious and Organised Crime Group of the Specialist Crime Directorate.



MORE SERPICO FOLLOW-UP- TARGET BLUE

A reader of this site, David Nadle, mentioned that On page 9 of "Target Blue" by Robert Daley it is stated that Serpico was taken to Greenpoint Hospital, then later transferred to Brooklyn Jewish Hospital. The patrolmen he was with are not named, and the book doesn't mention who drove him.

This book, TARGET BLUE, happens to be an EXCELLENT text on 1970’s NYPD policing. It was written by Robert Daley, who was the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information under Police Commissioner Patrick Murphy, following the Knapp Commission hearings – and the era of police assassinations in this city!

If you have never read it, you must!

I’m sure you can find a copy on a used book site, such as abebooks.com or bookfinder.com, as well as on Amazon.

This book was a valued part of my true crime library, but, alas, was loaned to a friend who never returned it. I’ll be re-stocking soon, and sure to make this book part of my collection once again. (I must admit that I do, sadly, anticipate it’s return some day – naiveté on my part, perhaps?)



AN IRISH BAND FOR COPS

Another reader has passed on this information, about an Irish band that has recently recorded a new album, featuring a song dedicated to the NYPD.

The band, The Moonshiner’s, includes a drummer who is a Detective in the 6th Detective Squad.

The band has been around since the early 90’s, and have been known as a staple in the New York Irish-punk scene. Their new album contains the song “The Boys & Girls in Blue”, dedicated to their many friends in the NYPD. The album is due to be released this summer.

You can learn more about the band at their web site:

www.myspace.com/moonshinerssi



SEQUEL TO RED HOOK: COMING SOON

The sequel to Gabriel Cohen’s book Red Hook, which is titled The Graving Dock, is coming out from St. Martin’s Press in November.

Red Hook was a great piece of police fiction that took place in – where else, Red Hook! - and made great use of chronicling the efforts of Brooklyn South Homicide, and Brooklyn locations.

Look for it this fall!


FROM THE HUMIDOR

I had the pleasure of meeting the one and only Rocky Patel – of Rocky Patel cigars – at the recent cigar event at the great Cigar Inn on 1st Avenue (71 St) in Manhattan.

I’ve been enjoying his Vintage Series Churchill cigars – excellent cigar that I give a high recommendation to. This will not replace my absolute all-time favorite smoke, the La Gloria Cubana Charlemagne and Corona Gorda, but it is certainly ranking right up there at the top along with them.

It was interesting to note that another loyal reader passed on his recommendation for Rocky Patel as well.

Noting to be an amatuer cigar smoker, he found the Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 box press a great smoke. He also raved about the Hoyo De Monterray Excalibur. I must add that I also find the Excalibur No. 1 to be a great smoke as well. It was Dennis Noso’s favorite, and I recall fond times watching Lynbrook Lacrosse whenever I light up an Excalibur.

Perhaps I should think of getting some of the local gumshoe cigar aficionado’s together to make some of their own recommendations. Certainly could do well hearing from Jimmy Bodnar, Pat Lantry, Andy Torlincasi and the rest of the 90 Squad, for some of their best smokes.

Look for this feature in upcoming postings.

Perhaps you have a fond smoke you’d like to recommend? Not as scientific as the Cigar Aficionado cigar tasting board, but welcome nonetheless – send me your recommendations, and we’ll pass it along.



STUCK IN THE 80’S?

Who’s the detective who appears to be stuck in the 80’s? The one that prompted Matty Lamendola’s query “Where’d you park your time capsule”?

Don’t get me wrong, I love this guy like a little brother, but it sure is funny watching the ribbing he gets from those around him.

Notes left behind reminding him of the Miami Vice marathon on the Sleuth TV channel, or the TV Land special on The Facts of Life or The Dukes of Hazzard.

“Did you see last nights episode of Dallas?”, someone will ask. “These new Impala’s don’t handle as well as the Gran Fury’s we used to have”.

Certainly a stylish sleuth, he’s always good for a good laugh. Every office should have someone like him around!

Note- Who was recently referred to by the resident detective-gourmand as a “Greta Van Susteren look-alike”?

REMEMBER- TO CONTACT THE MINISTER OF INVESTIGATION:

Send an e-mail to

Ltjac77@yahoo.com

Perhaps you have a comment, recommendation on a cigar, or investigative tip you'd like to pass along?

“LEST WE FORGET”… NYPD Memorial
“It is not how they died that makes them a hero, but how they lived their lives”.

June 26, 1918 Ptl Joseph Nolan, 22 Pct, Assaulted with brick
June 26, 1930 Ptl Wilson Fields, 62 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
June 26, 1937 Ptl George Mahnken, Mcy Unit, Motorcycle accident
June 26, 1977 Det Henry McDevitt, 48 Pct, Assaulted
June 28, 1927 Ptl Andrew Grennan, 46 Pct, Drowned during rescue
June 28, 1931 Det William DeGive, MODD, Shot during GLA Arrest
June 28, 1963 Ptl. William Baumfield, 4 Div, Shot-Robbery
June 28, 1972 PO John Skagen, TD2, Shot chasing felon
June 28, 1986 PO Scott Gadell, 101 Pct, Shot during investigation
July 1, 1911 Ptl Michael Lynch, 22 Pct, Shot by perp
July 2, 1922 Det John Moriarty, Det Div, Shot:Robbery in progress
July 2, 1970 Ptl Paul Donadio, 75 Pct, Patrolwagon accident on patrol
July 3, 1857 Ptl Thomas Sparks, No info available
July 3, 1917 Ptl John Flood, 31 Pct, Assaulted
July 3, 1966 Ptl Willie Stephenson, HAPD, Drowned during rescue
July 4, 1940 Det Joseph Lynch, Bomb Squad, Explosion during investigation
July 4, 1940 Det Ferdinand Socha, Bomb Squad, Explosion during investigation
July 4, 1993 PO Rudolph Thomas, PSA3, Shot:Off duty

“Nobody left to run with anymore, nobody left to do the crazy things we used to do before…”
Allman Brothers

THE FIRST NYPD TV SERIES

Everyone, I’m sure, has heard of the hit television series, NYPD BLUE, that ran for many years on national television. It’s stars included Dennis Franze as the gritty, stereotypical New York Detective Sipowicz – but did you know that wasn’t the first television series that used the title “NYPD”?

Premiering in September 1967, and running for two seasons, ending in March 1969, the television drama was named “NYPD” (without the Blue).

The cast consisted of New York City Detective’s Jeff Ward (played by Robert Hooks), Det. Johnny Corso (Frank Converse), and squad commander Lieutenant Mike Haines (Jack Warden), from the fictional 27th Squad, as they tracked murderers, extortionists, drug pushers, and other thugs around the Big Apple.

Filmed on actual New York locations which included the Bowery, Wall Street, the Empire State Building, Shubert Alley, Greenwich Village and Times Square, N.Y.P.D. was commended by real life mayor at the time John Lindsay, who allowed the filming of scenes at New York's City Hall. Several episodes were based on actual NYPD cases and the show had full permission from the police department to create them into episodes.N.Y.P.D. was a police series somewhat like "Naked City" with gritty action, personal drama and lots of New York City locations.The show was a landmark in television production, one of the first to use the hand-held style of camera work later popularized by the reality show COPS and the drama series Law & Order.

Among the stars who appeared in the cast were Al Pacino, Harvey Keitel, James Earl Jones and Roy Scheider.



FORGOTTEN NYPD HISTORY

Can you recall a member of the service collecting a department salary, and a pension, at the same time?

Thanks to some research by Mike Bosak, a true department historian, the following story recalls just such incident, in a nutshell.

A few years prior to the consolation of NYC on January 1st, 1898, there was an NYPD detective, who retired from a lower Manhattan precinct and went to work for the Brooklyn Police Department as a newly appointed patrolman.

While on uniform patrol he was hurt and put on clerical duty. He was then transferred to Brooklyn Detective Headquarters (performing clerical duties). Once again he impressed his bosses with his investigative competence and upon being assigned back to full duty was promoted to the rank of detective a 2nd time. He was now lawfully a retired NYPD detective and a working fulltime Brooklyn P.D. detective.

He was then transferred to a Brooklyn squad and assigned to perform investigative duties.

After the Brooklyn PD was amalgamated into the NYPD, he continued to collect his full NYPD detective pension, but the department refused to pay him his salary as a detective.

The NYPD then gave him an order: stay retired and collect his detective pension or continue to work and accept the salary of a patrolman - one or the other. He chose to continue to work as a patrolman and sued the city for his pension as a detective.

The President of the Board of Police Commissioners, Bernard York, vowed to appeal the department's case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. It never made it to the Supreme Court, and ended at the NYS Court of Appeals.

The final ruling was somewhat of a compromise. The court mandated that the city had to pay the retired detective both his full pension as a detective and the full salary of a patrolman as long as he continue working for the department.

What finally happened when he retired from the NYPD for the second time unfortunately has been lost to history.



THE COMMISH

Teddy Roosevelt is known by just about everyone to have served as the Police Commissioner of the NYPD. In fact, the desk he used is still in use by today’s Police Commissioner, Raymond Kelly.

In fact, Roosevelt did not have the official title of Police Commissioner.

He was the President of the Bi-Partisan Police Board.

Certainly “Commish” sounds a little better than President.



LT. FRANK BULLITT, SFPD

Fans of police movies, and Steve McQueen, will recall right away that this is the name of the fictional San Francisco Detective-Lieutenant played by Steve McQueen in the 1968 classic police movie drama’s of the same name, BULLITT.

This movie is surely memorable for one of the two best car chase scenes in movie history – the other being the chase scene in FRENCH CONNECTION.

It’s also noted for the great car driven by McQueen in his role – a green Ford Mustang. All of us true Mustang aficionado’s are very aware of this fact.

Here’s some other BULLITT movie trivia.

Two Mustangs and two Dodge Chargers were used for the famous chase scene. 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 Steve McQueen attempted to buy it. The owner refused to sell to him!

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 – when McQuuen is driving, the mirror is up – and visible; when the stunt driver Ekins is driving, it is down – and not visible.

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. (Buff note: In San Francisco, the investigator’s are called Inspector – NOT Detective).


A FORGOTTEN LINE OF DUTY DEATH: SHADOW GEORGE TRENCHARD

Once again, thanks to the work done by Mike Bosak, it is revealed how the first NYC Detective to actually die in the performance of his duties will never be listed on an official NYPD or FDNY Memorial as having “Died in the Line of Duty”.

How can this be?

During the course of researching NYPD Line of Duty Deaths, both the late Ret. 1st Grade Detective John Reilly and Ret. Sgt Mike Bosak ran across the account of the first NYC police Detective ever to be killed, in what was felt was taking proper police action and performing his sworn police duty.

On May 31, 1853 while assigned to the NYC Municipal Police as a detective, Shadow George Trenchard (the actual job title for Detective then was “Shadow”) died under the following circumstances.

At approximately 1830 hours on May 31, 1853 Shadow George Trenchard responded to a fire in the basement of a private residence on Essex Street between Delancey and Rivington Streets as the 'Foreman' of FDNY Hose Company # 16.

George Trenchard, besides being a detective in Chief Matsell's office was also a volunteer FDNY fireman for almost a quarter of century. Now at the time, it has to be noted here, the FDNY had no paid firemen.

The New York Times, reporting on the fire the next day, noted that a Police Officer was hurt, and included the following story.

"While engaged at the rear of the house he (Trenchard) fell through the grating in the yard into the cellar below, where the fire originated, and received a severe contusion on the back of his head, with other injuries, besides being very much burned."

Detective Trenchard died three days later on June 2, 1853 from those injuries.

On June 5, 1853 in a huge funeral procession led by Chief of Police George Matsell, Detective George Trenchard’s casket, mounted upon a horse drawn hearse, was paraded down Broadway with an official honor guard formed from both the NYC Municipal Police and the FDNY.

Now here’s the Catch-22.

The FDNY does not honor any FDNY firemen from the volunteer department that were killed while fighting a fire on their memorial. Their rules state that only paid firemen are to be honored.

The NYPD committee led by 1st Deputy Police Commissioner Joseph Dunn that passed judgment of the list of those members of the service that John Reilly and Mike Bosak felt died in the line of duty ruled that Detective George Trenchard, even though serving in the employment of the NYC Municipal Police, died as a volunteer fireman, and consequently should not go on the NYPD Memorial Wall.

This despite the 1846 ' RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR DAY AND NIGHT POLICE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK WITH INSTRUCTIONS AS TO THE LEGAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF POLICEMEN' that mandates a police officer duties at the scene of a fire. He was legally mandated, on or off-duty, to protect life and property and assist in the extinguishment of the fire.

Unlike the NYPD committee, both Bosak and Reilly believed that George Trenchard was acting within the scope of his employment. So, apparently, does the NYC Detective Endowment Association, who lists him as the first detective killed in the line of duty.


“LEST WE FORGET”… NYPD Memorial
“It is not how they died that makes them a hero, but how they lived their lives”.

June 11, 1925 Ptl James Cullen, 37 Pct, Motorcycle accident on patrol
June 12, 1991 PO Kenneth Hansen, Harbor, Drowned
June 13, 1938 Ptl Warren Smith, NFI
June 14, 1960 Ptl William Ramos Jr, 80 Pct, Shot- robbery
June 15, 1944 Ptl Eliote Holmes, 13DetSq, Line of duty injury
June 15, 1967 Ptl Walter Ferguson, DetDiv, LOD heart attack
June 15, 1979 PO Ted Donald, PSA7, Shot- burglary arrest
June 15, 1980 PO John Patwell, 43 Pct, Assaulted
June 15, 1983 PO John Mandia, 25 Pct, Fell under train
June 15, 1984 PO Juan Andino, 40 Pct, Shot- robbery arrest
June 16, 1934 Ptl Herbert Haucke, 103 Pct, struck by auto on patrol
June 16, 1967 Ptl Lloyd Innes, TD30, Shot by person he previously arrested
June 16, 1988 PO Gary Peaco, PSA7, Auto accident response to 1013 call
June 16, 1927 Sgt Joseph Weckesser, 71 Pct, Fire rescue
June 17, 1912 Ptl Thomas O’Connell, 29 Pct (17Pct), Water rescue
June 17, 1923 Ptl Cornelius Platt, Mcy2, Motorcycle accident
June 17, 1973 PO Ralph Stanchi, 32 Pct, Shot-investigation
June 18, 1932 Ptl Joseph Burke, 32 Pct, Shot- Robbery in progress
June 19, 1917 Ptl Samuel Cunningham, 42 Pct, Shot- GLA arrest
June 19, 1980 PO Joseph Keegan, TD1, Shot- investigation

Ed. Note: If you haven’t already done so, go to http://www.nypdangels.com/, and bookmark the site – an EXCELLENT tribute to all our fallen brothers and sisters!!

A CAMP FOR COPS FAMILES

Readers will recall my postings concerning the Police Camp, an upstate retreat in the Catskills that saw many police families during the 50’s & 60’s find a relaxing week in the country.

If you were there, you remember!

A reader contributed the following memories of this place.

He recalled enjoying the Police camp and the fun he had on vacation there as a kid.
The things he remembered the most about the police camp was how the first day or two you were usually bored because you didn’t know anyone, but by the time to go home you’d be having such a great time that you didn’t want to leave. Memories of hunting for snakes, frogs and lizards down by the creek were always impressionable to a “city-kid”.

The dining hall staff always had a weekly softball game against the guests that always saw a huge turnout – and could usually be counted on to provide some sore aches for those who should have known better than to play against a bunch of college kids!

There was always the summertime romance that a week away in the country could provide! Remember the Peppermint Lounge? How about the A-frame hall that was built, as the site of many a dance night?
I remember the garage that housed a fire truck – that I never actually saw get used – that was also used as the movie theater, and the church on Sundays. The pool that always seemed so big as a kid, and was always ice cold, provided a lot of summer recreation as well.

A recent visit upstate by a reader noted that he took a drive to the camp with his family to show them the site of so much fond memories. He met the people that took over the site. The people at first weren’t so friendly until he told them he had stayed there as a kid; they asked if he was a policeman, then they became very nice and spoke to them about themselves. A religious group now owns the land, and they manufacture products for handicapped children. The group made some changes to the place and all live together in the main house.
I thank Chris Massaria for his contributions, and encourage others with Police Camp memories to pass them on.

Remember the box-lunch day-trips to Howes Caverns, the Catskill Game Farm, and Hunter Mountain? The music playing over the loudspeaker all day? The daily raising, and lowering, of the American flag at the main hotel?

CENTRAL OFFICE SLEUTHS

In the early history of the department, it was the detectives that were assigned to the Central Office (Headquarters) who were the first to carry a gold-plated shield.

The Central Office Detectives performed the investigative functions of the department.
Back in the 1930’s, there were approximately 300 Detectives in the department, performing citywide investigative functions.

The local precincts had Plainclothes Men who performed duty in – you guessed it, plainclothes! These officers were selected by the precinct Captain, and detailed on “temporary” duty in civilian clothes to enforce gambling, prostitution, and other vice offenses.

The public, who then – and still – calls anyone who works in civilian clothing a Detective, often got these tasks mistaken. It was the Detective who had the Gold Shield!


THE LINEUP

A daily roundup of professional crooks was performed each day at Police Headquarters, and was a staple of the department up until the early 1960’s.

This roundup, and parade of all those arrested the previous day, was known as The Lineup.

Detectives were sent from throughout the city to observe this lineup each morning.

On a raised platform, the crooks walked by, so that the detectives could review their peculiarities, characteristics, and their criminal MO.

It was known as a simple and effective system for familiarizing detectives with the personal appearance, voice, mannerisms, physical attributes and defects of the criminal.




DETECTIVE SPECIALIZATION

It was in 1906 that Colonel Arthur Woods was appointed a Deputy Commissioner, and designated to reorganize the Detective Bureau.

One of the first moves he made was to create a Homicide Squad.

Up to that time there was no specialization in investigations, and no specialized training. Cases were assigned to Detectives not in any rotation, but according to a particular aptitude one might have.

After organizing the Homicide Squad, other specialized commands soon followed. Pickpocket, Safe & Loft, Narcotics, Missing Persons, and the Radical Squad all soon followed.



GATEWAY TO AN INSIDE JOB

As he noted in his autobiography, New York Detective, which he penned in 1938, Ernest Van Wagner had a rather interesting introduction to working at Police Headquarters.

Coming on the job in 1896, he spent 36 years here and retired in 1932 as an Inspector, Commanding Officer of Detectives.

Teddy Roosevelt immediately saw good use of Van Wagner, even while he was still attending recruit training.

You see, Van Wagner came on the job with an unusual skill – amanuensis.

The Dean of the Academy thought this was a disease, and called him down to the office shortly after his training started. The Dean learned otherwise – this meant that he could write shorthand!

Van Wagner went right into Headquarters, working for Roosevelt and other high ranking members of the department, taking notes for them utilizing his knowledge of shorthand.

It was the experience he gained working for the executive staff that helped propel him through the ranks, to eventually become the department’s Chief Detective.

All because he was an amanuensis!


LEGALLY SPEAKING

Exculpatory: Evidence and/or statements which tend to clear, justify, or excuse a defendant from alleged fault or guilt. (“I didn’t do it”).

Inculpatory: Evidence and/or statements, that which tends to incriminate or bring about a criminal conviction. Holds responsible for criminal misconduct. (“I did it”).



INTERESTING WEB SITE

A free site that links to thousands of free public records sites, including people finder, criminal records, professional licenses, voter registration records, military records, email address look-up and much more, can be found at:

http://www.freeprf.com/


Free Flight Tracking Services

http://www.flightaware.com/

FlightAware offers free flight tracking services for both private and commercial air traffic in the United States. Proven to be extremely capable and reliable.


GLOSSARY OF SOME 1930’S SLANG

BEEF: to betray another, or for a victim to make a fuss over his loss.

BELCH: same as beef.

BIT: a prison or jail term.

BOOK: pocketbook.

BULL: a policeman.

BULL-OUT-OF-HARNESS: a plain-clothes man.

CADGER: a beggar. (Cadging: begging)

CALL THE TURN: said of a criminal after a detective has identified him.

ELBOW: detective.

FLY-COP: a detective.

FRONT OFFICE: police headquarters.

HOLLER: to tell or report to the police.

MOLL: a girl.

MOLL-BUZZER: a pickpocket who robs only women.

MOUTH-PIECE: a thief paid by the police for information; also a criminal lawyer.

PERCENTAGE COPPERS: policemen who protect thieves for a percentage of their plunder.

PETER: a safe.

PETERMEN: safe-blowers.

PORCH-CLIMBER: second-story workers.

SPOT: a term in prison; Ten spot = 10 years.

SWAG: plunder other than money (as jewelry, etc.)

SWEAT-BOX: the third degreeTHIMBLE: a watch.

YEGG-MEN: tramp thieves.

FROM THE MUSTER ROOM

Some detectives make a noticeable impact when they arrive. Just ask Johnny K, who made an impression on his arrival at the scene of a Homicide-CUPPI in the 77 recently… Retired sleuth Nicky Dimonda was around town recently. He’s been working a security job in the 23 – his old stomping grounds from patrol. Anytime Nicky and Vito get together is sure to produce a memorable event!... How’s Larry doing with the “Reality Tour” events?... The addition of a pet gecko to a squad room brought back memories of Larry walking around with a pet alligator in his pocket; or the time(s) he came in with a frog in his jacket. Larry, we surely miss you!... Which Detective recently found himself being kicked out of a motorcycle club he helped to form?... Is that just another example of “not wanting to be a member of a club that would have me as a member”?... Was that Ret Det Joe Guerra seen on recent news footage of the Don Imus incident? Seems that Joe has been working for Bo Dietl, and was guarding Don Imus. You look good, Joe… By the way, did Joe have to drive Imus around? … Great turnout at the recent 83 Squad retirement function. Lots of retirees came out to join brothers and sisters alike. Always good to see everyone at these “happy” events. Same to be said for the recent dinner honoring a great man, Joseph F.X. Cunneen. Wonderful turnout for a truly honorable man! Good luck in all you do, Chief! … Has anyone ever seen Insp Joe Campbell without a smile?... Who remembers when a certain squad commander was used as a speed bump to slow down someone trying to hot-foot it out of the cells in the 77 Precinct?? …


MARK YOUR CALENDAR

The Annual Antique Police Car Show will be at the Police Museum on Saturday and Sunday, June 9th and 10th.

Also at the Police Museum, on May 16, starting at 6PM, will be a book signing and presentation by the author of the new book (and most recent addition to The Minister’s True Crime Book Collection) BOMB SQUAD: A Year Inside The Nation’s Most Exclusive Police Force.

Authors Richard Esposito and Ted Gerstein had exclusive access to the Bomb Squad starting on December 31, 2003. They will be joined by members of the Bomb Squad to discuss their work, and this new book.

Brooklyn North sleuth’s will certainly enjoy the passages from Retired Inspector Charlie Wells’ time in the Bomb Squad.

My suggestion is to get a copy of the book. I’ll be bringing mine, and have already told Charlie I’m leaving a spot for him to sign!

The Police Museum is at 100 Old Slip, between Water & South Streets.

http://www.nycpolicemuseum.org/

Admission is free to MOS.

A good motto to live by: “Under promise, and over deliver”.


WHO LOVES’ YA, BABY?

Hard to believe, but there are many who don’t know of – or who haven’t seen – an episode of Kojak!

Who, exactly, is Kojak? What about his boss, Inspector McNeil?

Lieutenant Theo Kojak is the famed television detective squad commander of 1970’s television stardom. The show ran from October 24, 1973 through April 1978, a total of 115 one-hour televison episodes.

The storyline for the series is as follows.

When they started out together in the New York Police Department, Theo Kojak and Frank McNeil had worked closely together and, for a number of years, been partners.

Over the years Frank had worked his way up the hierarchy to the point where he was now Chief of detectives for Manhattan South. Kojak, who had a cynical sense of humor and was determined to do things his way regardless of what his bosses thought, was nowworking for him. Kojak commanded a detective squad in Manhattan South, believed to be that of the Midtown South command, but one that pretty much took place all over south Manhattan (never Brooklyn!).

Kojak was outspoken and streetwise, and was not above stretching the literal interpretation of the law if it would help him crack a case.

Working closely with him was Detective Bobby Crocker, as close to a regular partner as he had.

The supporting role of Detective Stavros was played by Telly Savalas' brother, George, who, during the first two seasons of the show, was billed as Demosthenes in thecredits rather than his real name. Considerable on-location filming was done in New York with Kojak seen all over the city licking his trademark lollipops.

Kevin Dobson played Detective Crocker, with Dan Frazer playing Inspector McNeil.

Beginning life as an award winning 1973 TV Movie “The Marcus-Nelson Murders”, which was based on the true life Wylie-Hoffert case, and played with charismatic charm by long established movie actor Telly Savalas as the New York cop with a penchant for sucking lollipops, the series went for a graphic 'street level' realism which turned it into an instant top-ten hit in it's first season.

Lt. Kojak was a tough cop with a smart mouth and wits even sharper than his top flight dress sense. “Who luv’s, ya – baby” was his famous catchphrase.

The series was a global hit and even after it's five year run it was brought back in a succession of television movies, the last being made in 1989. By this time Theo Kojak had been promoted to the rank of Inspector.

The show continues to play on cable channels, and is still a hit worldwide. A box set of DVD’s is also available (yes, I already have it!).



INVESTIGATIVE TECHNOLOGY: HAND-HELD DOCUMENT SCANNER

I’ve noted previously on this site the evolution in hand-held investigative technology, including a hand-held document scanner.

This following scanner, reviewed recently on another investigative web-site, is billed as a “lawyer’s dream” – but can just as easily be considered the same for any investigator seeking to have the ability to scan and download documents from the field.

The new Planon Docupen RC800 scanner is a lawyer's – and investigators - dream magic wand.
It is the size of a fat ball point pen, except that it is 8 1/2 inches long, but don't let its svelte size fool you. This is a complete color scanner, that you drag over a document, book or magazine, and can hold up to 100 letter sized pages in its built-in memory.

The really cool feature of this new pen scanner, however, is that it has a Micro-SD card slot, which holds external memory. The memory door on top of the docupen is a little tough to remove, but once you do, there is infinite storage available. Carry this in your pocket, and the built-in rechargeable battery is enough to give you scanning capability anywhere.

Once you get back, just plug the USB 2.0 cable in, and the included software downloads the scanned images. The Docupen comes with PaperPort SE for document filing and handling. The software bundle makes this a bargain at $299. Many of you will want to throw one of these in the briefcase. You will never have to say "email it to me again".



ZODIAC- NEW YORK STYLE

A recent movie to hit the screens (it may already have ran it’s course, and soon-to-be available on DVD) focused on the infamous Zodiac killer from California.

The movie is about this most extraordinary serial killer who appeared to have no modus operandi, no pattern in the victims he chose, and left few traces at murder scenes.

Who was the man behind the cryptic ciphers – who was the real Zodiac?

Well, one early morning waking up to the late-night television set that was left on, I was greeted by the face of none other than Det1 (Ret) Louis Savarese – discussing the New York City Zodiac killer.

New York’s Zodiac killer a mystery to you? Check out the full story on the following site:

http://www.crimelibrary.com/about/special/zodiac/index.html



SOME LITTLE-KNOWN SERPICO FACTS

A recent inquiry by a loyal reader had me – and my sources – checking out some facts concerning the “Serpico” case. The following information may be of interest to you.

The location of Patrolman Frank Serpico’s drug bust that resulted in his being shot was at
778 Drigs Ave, within the confines of the 90 Precinct. This five-story multiple dwelling building is identified by the name “NOVELTY COURT”. It took place at Apt# 3-G, on Wednesday, February 3, 1971.

The narcotics team consisted of Serpico, along with his partners Ptl Gary Roteman, and Ptl Arthur Cesare. The fourth member of the team, Ptl Paul Halley, had earlier made an arrest of a drug buyer from the apartment, and remained in the car with that prisoner as Serpico and the other 2 plainclothes narcotics patrolmen went upstairs for the dealer.

The dealer they went to arrest was known as “Mambo”, real name of Edgar Echevaria.

Ptl. Serpico was shot in head as he attempted to enter the apartment, with his partners, to effect the arrest of the dealer. After being shot – remember, there were no portable radios, or cell phones at the time – a call went in from a building tenant reporting “shots fired”.

Roteman went to an apt in the bldg to call for an ambulance; he said that he stated he was a cop, and a cop was shot. The radio job failed to mention that. Cesare went outside to get an ambulance.

Uniformed MOS responded to a 10-10 job; they took Serpico in a radio car to Greenpoint Hospital.

The shooter escaped out a window, and was later caught at a female friends apartment where detectives had be conducting a stake-out for him. The arresting officer was Ptl Maxwell Katz, who shot the perp in the stomach.

At the time of his arrest Mambo possessed the 22 cal pistol he used to shoot Serpico, as well as Serpico’s 38 cal 2-inch revolver, which he had picked up after Serpico dropped it after he was shot. Serpico had been able to fire one round from that gun.

A question regarding who the Patrolman was that drove Serpico to the hospital has resulted in the following answer. Remember, this is entirely “unverified”, but appears to be as best we can know at this time. (If you think otherwise, please e-mail and let me know!).

It is believed that a young Patrolman named John Stendrini drove Serpico to Greenpoint Hospital. This is supposedly the same John Stendrini who retired as a DI from TARU, and became Chief of Staff to Ed Norris in Baltimore.

Ptl. Roteman and Cesare were awarded an Exceptional Merit award, as was Ptl Maxwell Katz.

In May, 1971 Serpico was promoted to Detective. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in the Spring of 1972. He retired by June, 1972, still suffering from his gunshot wounds. His command at the time of retirement is noted as Detective Division, Narcotics Brooklyn South.

I thank Vincent Henry, of LIU’s Homeland Security Institute, for his input to these facts. And I hope Insp (Ret) O’Brian will excuse me for the delay in trying to answer his inquiry – while at the same time I wish him all the best!


FROM A CHICAGO DETECTIVE

Following item is from an anonymous author, described only as a “Chicago Detective”.

While the city may be different, I think you will all see the analogy to New York.

“This is my first time posting, so please be gentle. I am a homicide detective who works in Chicago. I've doing it for several years. I can think of roughly a dozen cases in the last three years that wrapped up in a nice tidy package. Until this year, the unit I work in averaged about 170 murders a year. I usually have knowledge directly or indirectly of about 50 of those murders, so the numbers of nice tidy packages are probably greater. Believe it or not, people do confess. Unlike the nonsense you read in the papers, physical abuse is not used and is not effective. Physical coercion will only "lose" the offender. Creating a bond between the detective and offender is what is needed to gain a confession.

Hours are spent at the start trying to establish this bond. You just have to read the guy and go with what works. You might become his dad, or his priest, or his "homey". Like anything else, some detectives are masters at getting confessions and some suck. Most are someplace in the middle.

The offender usually confesses in stages. It usually starts with "I don't know nothing". After several hours of denials and bullshit that becomes, "I heard about it". That eventually becomes, "I was out there (witnessed it)".
And finally the confession process begins. This can take just as long as the rest put together.

The offender will try to seek out what you know and only admit to that. You're trying to get new info out of him and don't want to let him know what you know. Holding back what you know is how you verify the rest of his story.

I don't think people ever confess 100%. They always try to hold back the little things that will make them look really bad. At some point you have to go with the story he gives you. If you push him too hard, you might lose him. Before he is done, he will have confessed several times to different people. He is usually trying to work his own angle. Trying to make the co-offenders or victim look bad. During rape-murder or kidnap-murder (kidnapping is much more common than you think) confessions it can be difficult to keep your focus. These are usually your only truly innocent victims.

When someone describes in detail for you how he raped and murdered some girl it makes you feel some kind of primal fear inside. Not the kind that makes you want to run away.

You're sitting next to some monster eating hamburgers with him. And you have to say crazy shit that revolts you, such as "did the bitch like it”?

It’s all about keeping him talking. But you feel dirty, jaded, and afraid for people you love afterwards. Murder is a brutal, ugly thing. 80 or 90 percent of the time it involves narcotics or alcohol in one way or another.

Crime scenes can be physically revolting when you first start working murders. Decomposed bodies will always be revolting. One particular murder has given me a life long aversion to eating ribs. The victims usually aren't people you can have a great deal of empathy for. Often times they have worse criminal histories than the offender. Between the low clearance rate and not guilty verdicts, I figure you have 3 out of 4 chances that you will get away with murder.

Knowing who committed murder and charging/convicting them are two different things.

I always think of a confession as going to a bar and trying to get a beautiful woman who has no interest in you to agree to a one time hook-up. It’s really a twisted romance. You talk for hours and hours about meaningless shit, all the time trying to bring the offender back to the murder.

Most people will eventually confess for various reasons that are too numerous to go into. Eventually there will be motions in court to suppress the arrest and the confession. Every good defense attorney will attack your probable cause for arrest (the legality of it) and validity of the confession (you beat my client).

During the motions stage of a prosecution truth is in short supply at the defense table.

They will say whatever is necessary to get the offender off. The thought is if we throw enough shit some might stick. This is where a detective really earns his money.

You have to be able to articulate to the judge what you did and why you did it. The Cook County State's Attorney’s office places great importance on confessions (probably too much). A supervisor from the State's Attorneys Felony Review Unit is the person who ultimately approves 1st Degree Murder charges.

Television gives great importance to DNA, etc.

Physical evidence is rarely present or effective in real world homicides.

Prosecution comes down to witnesses and confessions. That is why confessions are so important.

The Justice Department even offers a seminar for local prosecutors in how to run a jury trial in a "post CSI" world where the jury has unreal expectations.

Usually offenders who have been through the system for serious crimes before won't confess. They know that all you are selling them is decades in state prison.

The system isn't perfect. Many offenders are not prosecuted. The States Attorney, the CPD command structure, and the Criminal Court judges drive the process. The detective just works within the system.

None of those organizations would ever ask, "what do you need to put offenders in jail?". The real corruption in the police department is not a dirty cop ripping off the dope man. The real corruption is clout. It's the same clout that permeates the state's attorneys office and the judicial selection process. Unqualified people in charge all around you. Phil Cline is the first police superintendent (Chicago Police Department) since Joe DiLionardi during the Jayne Byrne era who knows what he is doing (and it shows). However, he still has to give the devil his due.

Sorry for meandering on. I do love my job. I believe in silly old-fashioned ideas like justice, integrity, and law & order.

No one, no matter what they have done, deserves to be murdered.

I don't believe in the death penalty. Not for moral reasons, I believe special interest groups have turned death row convicts into victims. It distracts from justice. They should be locked up in isolation for natural life. Let them die mentally every day.

I ended up in this profession quite by accident and I can't think of anything else I would rather be doing. Thanks for giving me the chance to write this down. These are all random thoughts that have been floating through my head for the last 6+ years. Work is not something I am not comfortable talking to people about.

Being a homicide detective has had one personal drawback. I have an overwhelming sense of my own mortality. It is mildly depressing. But all that other "cop on the edge" stuff you see on television is a load of bullshit. All jobs become routine.

On a side note; never trust a detective who dresses like one of those TV characters. Detectives should be presentable and professional, like Mr. Big (Chris Noth, who played opposite Jerry Orbach’s Det Briscoe character) during his Law & Order days.

Homicide investigations are about justice, not image. It has been my experience that self-involved people make useless detectives. Actually they make useless cops, and we already have way too many of those”.


THE DETECTIVE’S CALLING

Ernest Van Wagner noted in his autobiography, NEW YORK DETECTIVE, when he wrote it in 1938, the pleasure of the detective.

“There is little monotony in the detective’s life. No irksome repetition of yesterday’s work or that of the week before, such as is found in other callings. There is ever a series of new and alluring problems, no two exactly alike, each requiring new moves to arrive at a solution”.

Try to remember this alluring post the next time you’re standing at the Compstat podium!


FROM THE CIGAR LOUNGE

I’ve recently found a cigar to rival my favorite.

My favorite, the La Gloria Cubana – Charlemagne and Corona Gorda – has recently met a great competitor.

If you haven’t already tried it, you have to check out the Padron Anniversary Series. A box press, hand made cigar to rival the best of them.

Editor’s Note: I am not suggesting, nor do I recommend, actually smoking one of these in a city-owned building, as there are appropriate ordinances against this, making this subject to heavy fines and disciplinary actions.

Smoke responsibly, and always treat an unlit cigar as you would a loaded firearm.


A MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER OF INVESTIGATION

I apologize for delays between posting new items to this site. I'm trying to maneuver around the "new and improved" computer systems we have recently received from MISD. The department is upgrading computers, and has made a lot of progress in this direction. However, internet access is limited.

I have difficulty accessing certain internet sites - apparently filters installed by the department are intended to prevent access to "questionable" sites, and apparently sites with a name "blog" in the title appear as such. I'm sure the intention is to prevent pop-ups which could damage the system - BUT - I have noted that we are also prevented from getting into such sites as Google Earth, and even MapQuest to a large degree. I guess the investigative advantages of knowing where you're going haven't been realized by all those in charge.

Which brings me to another sore point - e mail addresses.

Three such requests to receive an authorized, department e-mail address have gone unanswered. Apparently, there is some sort of "study" underway to limit the number of department e-mail addresses - due to a concern of too many addresses overloading documents on the network. (!!???)

OK, but then... don't ask me to "e-mail your weekly reports" - because I don't have an e-mail account!

Oh, sure, I can get into my private e-mail account and send/receive e-mail - wait a minute, I can't do that either - it seems that (unless you have AOL) it comes up as one of those restricted access sites.

Excpet for my Yahoo e-mail, which I have posted above.

But, wait - that not's entirely accurate either.

See, I an COMPOSE and SEND e-mail f rom my Yahoo account, but I can't actually READ e-mail that comes to that account.

So if you e-mail me something, you have to wait until I get home and read it. Although i could send you e-mail f rom this account from my desktop - I just can't read anything you send back to me. Get it? makes a lot of sense, right?

As much sense as it makes when you're having a discussion with some small, out of town police agency about a wanted person who may be in their jurisdiction. "Just send me a photo of the bad guy, and we'll send a deputy out to check it out". Sounds simple enough, but - wait - remember, I can't actually SEND anything, because the department hasn't given me that capability. What about "scanning" a photo into the computer and sending it out via a private e-mail account? Makes sense, excpet the scanners that we used to have are no longer hooked up to any of the computers - because they're not authorized for the computer terminals.

Try telling Deputy Fyfe at Mayberry Police Department, who can receive anyone's e-mail at some e-mail address that would probably look like deputy.fyfe@mayberrypd.gov, that you'd like him to send his official department mug-shot for verification to you at your private AOL, or Compuserve, account. Nice try!

Ask HIDTA to send you a photo at your private AOL account. It can't be done!

Just wondering how many people in 1PP are experiencing a problem with e-mail accounts and access?



“LEST WE FORGET…” THE NYPD MEMORIAL

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
April 21, 1934 Det James Garvey, 20Sqd, Shot- investigation
April 23, 1977 PO Robert Mandel, 77 Pct, shot-arrest
April 24, 1897 Rndsmn Oscar Rheinhardt, 31 Pct, Thrown from horse
April 24, 1969 Det John Roth, DD, auto accident on patrol
April 24, 1980 PO Robert Sorrentino, 101 Pct, shot-robbery
April 25, 1874 Ptl John Gibney, 1 Pct, shot
April 25, 1955 Sgt Donald Wiseman, 107 Pct, auto accident on patrol
April 27, 1892 Ptl Adam Kane, Bwy Sqd (1Pct), Beaten by EDP
April 27, 1988 Sgt John McCormick, BxNarco, shot-arrest
April 27, 1994 PO Jose Perez, BSTF, auto accident on patrol
April 29, 1945 Ptl Jacob Szwedowski, 24 Pct, Shot – arrest
April 30, 1979 PO Robert Betsch, 76 Pct, LOD heart attack

POLICING NEW YORK’S PARKS

Here’s an interesting story by Mike Bosak that sheds some light on the history of policing New York City’s parks.

NYPD Forgotten History: The New York City and the City of Brooklyn Park PolicePrior to the consolidation of NYC in 1898, both Brooklyn and New York had their own park police with all the lawful police powers and responsibilities of the regular police.

They also had pay parity with their city's police.

New York and Brooklyn 's police departments responsibility for policing its respective city parks stopped at the park line and the park police had their own police station houses.For example: The NYC Park Police had two station houses in Central Park and two in Pelham Bay Park. Bronx Park and Van Cortland Park each had their own police station house. Even Riverside Park once had its own precinct and station house. Brooklyn was the same.After consolidation, their city's park police departments became part of the NYPD. One example would be today's 52 Pct., who owes its origin to the Park Police precinct that worked out of the old Lorillard Mansion in Botanical Gardens.One last thing - the author obviously didn't do his research on Flushing Meadow Park.

Flushing Meadow Park was the home to two World's Fairs and its own police sub-station and NYPD detail to police the park. Later on the building became the headquarters for S.O.D., the Tactical Patrol Force, and Auto Crime. Hundred of cops worked out thebuilding with scores constantly coming or going at all hours of the day and night.

When the tennis center was expanded in the late 80's, the police station was torn down and all the units moved on to the locations that they areat now.


POLICE CAMP

Regular readers will recall me relating fond stories about the “Police Camp” on past postings to this site. This was a really great place for cops families to spend a week’s vacation in the mountains, and anyone who attended will surely have great stories to tell.

I came across this story on PoliceNY.com, that are some fond memories of the Camp from Ret. Det Joseph Gannon.

Check it out – I’m sure you’ll agree.

www.policeny.com/policecamp.html



ONLY IN THE 79: 1967

An entry found in the October 1967 edition of SPRING 3100, under the 79 Pct.’s report, is deserving of mention here.

It notes that Ptl. Mirabito and O’Hara made a nice Grand Larceny arrest – G.L. of a Fire Truck.

“When a male attempted to drive off with a Hook & Ladder with ladder extended with a fireman on it”.


PINKERTON: FIRST PRIVATE EYE

Allan Pinkerton emigrated from Scotland to the United States in 1842, when he was 23 years old; he soon settled in the town of Dundee, northwest of Chicago.

By the beginning of the 1850s, Pinkerton and a partner had established the North-Western Police Agency, which had its offices at Washington and Dearborn Streets in Chicago.

One of the first private detective agencies in the United States, this company worked for the Illinois Central and other railroads. By late 1850s, Pinkerton employed 15 operatives.

During the Civil War, the company provided intelligence to the Northern armies.

After the war, promoting itself with the slogan “we never sleep,” the company opened offices in New York City and Philadelphia.

Much of its business came from banks and express companies, who wanted to deter robberies. Starting in the 1870s, Pinkerton detectives also began to work for industrial companies as spies and strikebreakers, and they quickly became despised by American labor.

The company's most infamous strike-busting operation came in 1892, when 300 Pinkerton employees fought with workers at the Homestead, Pennsylvania, steel plant owned by Andrew Carnegie. When the two sides exchanged gunfire, nine strikers and seven Pinkerton agents were killed.

By the time Allan Pinkerton died in 1884, his sons William and Robert Pinkerton were leading the company, which had about 2,000 full-time employees and several thousand “reservists.” During the 1920s, annual revenues approached $2 million. In 1937, Robert Pinkerton II, a great-grandson of the founder, ended the firm's antiunion operations.

By the late 1960s, just after the name of the enterprise became Pinkerton's Inc. and the corporate headquarters moved to California, it had 70 branch offices (including central offices in Chicago and New York), about $75 million in annual revenues, and some 13,000 full-time employees worldwide. In the mid-1970s, the company had about 800 employees in the Chicago area. By the end of the century, the enterprise founded a century and a half earlier had become a subsidiary of a large Swedish corporation called Securitas.


CHICAGO DETECTIVE

The name Clifton Wooldridge means little to people today, but to Chicagoans and Chicago criminals, he was notorious.

Wooldridge, a former police officer was described at the time as "the incorruptible Sherlock Holmes of America," and he was on a mission to save Chicago from itself.

He considered Chicago the "wickedest city in the world."

It certainly had the right ingredients.

Chicago was seen as the land of opportunity, or at least the gateway to it. People passed through on their way to homesteading further west, the railroad brought folks to the city, in the hopes they would find one of the many possible jobs in this burgeoning city. It became a hotbed for vice and corruption.

As a police officer on the beat, Wooldridge saw what was happening. He battled everything: quack doctors, prostitution, gambling, investment swindles, insurance scams, fake banks, clairvoyants and marriage agencies. He associated with the down and out and the richest of the rich. Apparently he would stop at little to learn the ways of the criminal. Wooldridge was adept at disguising himself, and would dress for the part, whether it meant posing as a rube in from the country or even donning black face.

In 1906, after 20 years on the police force, he proudly proclaimed a record of 19,500 arrests, with 3,200 criminals locked up, 6,000 people paid fines, 100 girls rescued from prostitution, $100,000 worth of property recovered, and 100 marriage bureaus closed.

He wrote numerous books detailing crimes he'd witnessed in the sincere hope of preventing further victims. Titles included: Hands Up! In the World of Crime," and "The Devil and The Grafter and How They Work Together to Deceive, Swindle and Destroy Mankind."

Wooldridge was a man on a mission, intent on stopping further people from falling prey to thieves.

He wrote a list of tips called "Detective Clifton R. Wooldridge's 'Never-Fail' System for Detecting and Outwitting All Classes of Grafters and Swindlers."

Some of his tips included:

"When a man tries to hurry you into spending your money put it back in your pocket and keep your hand on it."

"If the promoter could do one-half of what he claims he would not need your money, but soon would be rich beyond the dreams of avarice."

"Industry, energy, thrift! These are the dice that win."

While his books read like the pulp fiction popular at the time, they also provide an unparalleled look into the criminal underworld of Chicago


10-13 ASSISTANCE NEEDED

The following has come to my attention, and perhaps you can contribute some assistance.

A group of people are trying to get a law passed regarding repeat-offenders that may be of value.

The law concerns a recidivist offender, who is convicted of a designated amount of misdemeanor offenses, would have subsequent offenses handled in a more serious manner.

Please check out this web site,

www.hillaryandromelloslaw.org

which will provide all of the information about the proposed law and available resources for people to show their support.



“LEST WE FORGET”… NYPD Memorial
“It is not how they died that makes them a hero, but how they lived their lives”.

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, 1880 Ptl James Stone, 3 Pct Brooklyn PD, Assaulted – struck by brick
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
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


Remember to check out – and bookmark – NYPDAngels web site:

www.nypdangels.com

“You manage things, you lead people”.


WHITE COLLAR CRIME

A recent article in FORBES magazine highlighted some of the more recent white-collar crime sentences, contrasting them to some of the more heinous, violent crimes we are more aware of.

You may find this interesting.

Jeffrey Skilling, convicted of conspiracy and fraud in connection with the collapse of Enron – and the loss of many worker’s pension funds – was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison.

Landon Burgin, punched a man and then left him to die, sentenced to 3 years in jail.

Robert Memory, a motorcycle gang member sentenced for stabbing two people in the back during a bar fight that left a third man dead, received a 9 year sentence.

Timothy Rigas, convicted along with his father, of looting family-controlled cable company, Adelphia, received a 20 year sentence.

Joshua Hunter pleaded guilty to setting a fire that killed 2 people, a restaurant owner and his son. He received a 3 year jail sentence.

Melvin Bynum, a North Carolina pastor, received a 7 year sentence after he strangled his wife and left her body to decompose in an abandoned car.

Bernard Ebbers was sentenced to 25 years for conspiracy and securities fraud in connection with World-Com’s accounting scandal.

Walter Forbes ran travel conglomerate Cendant during a time it inflated earnings. In addition to paying $3.3 billion in restitution, he was also sentenced to 12 years in jail.



EDGED-WEAPONS

Did you know that 92% of police injuries are caused by edged weapons?

The most common weapon used to inflict these injuries is a screwdriver.

The minimum safe distance from an assailant wielding an edged weapon is 21 feet.


LEGALLY SPEAKING

Homicide: The killing / death of a human being by another human being.

Murder: Unlawful homicide.

Practically speaking, all “murder’s” are “Homicides”, but NOT all homicides are murders.

For example, death caused by another under legal means – justifiable homicide – is still a homicide, but is not an “unlawful” homicide – NOT a murder. An MOS shoots and kills another during the proper performance of police duties; “Justifiable” Homicide is ruled; the incident is still a “Homicide” – but NOT a murder.

Get it?




INTERESTING WEB SITE

Interested in SEC filing information?

The US Securities & Exchange Commission now offers full text searching at:

http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm

Searches filings of publicly traded companies – for free! The database covers the last 4 years.

Another search, Edgarscan, focuses on retrieval of financial information from 10-K and 10-Q reports.

www.edgarscan.pwcglobal.com/servlets/advancedsearch

Happy searching!



GADGETS FOR THE INVESTIGATOR

A nifty little device acts as a Telephone Recorder Pickup-device, allowing you to easily record telephone conversations.

The single-plug device, the TP-7 telephone Recorder Pickup, can be used with all telephones and requires no physical connection to the telephone.

Just plug the TP-7 into the “Mic” jack of any recorder, and put the earphone device into your ear. When speaking on the telephone this device will capture both sides of the conversation – your voice, picked up by the microphone of the recorder you are using, and the other side of the conversation through the earpiece – which you are holding against the telephones earphone as you speak, recording through the Mic-jack of the recorder.

Best of all, it can be used on landline phones as well as any cell phone.

It is manufactured by Olympus, and can be found at the following site:

Olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_support_accessories.asp?id=700&ct=all