How I Became a NYC Patrolman

I was a senior at Iona College and I was married and already had my first daughter, with my beloved wife Anita. One day I saw a large flier in the lunch room for the upcoming NYC Patrolman exam. Well, I took the exam and scored 100%. I used to pump gas and was a part time auto mechanic. I loved working on cars but I did not like getting my hands dirty, in those days you did wear gloves but washed your hands with gasoline and a strong soap. I didn’t want to go to Vietnam which was heating up as I had a kid already.

Note, upon graduation from my high school, Monsignor McClancy in Queens, I tried to enlist in the US Air Force as I wanted to be a fighter pilot. I failed the fighter physical and I gave up my desire. I now would give the Police Department a try. On October 25,1968 I was sworn in and assigned shield # 28179. It was a first issue as the City was expanding the police Department.

For the next 4 months I was assigned to the Police Academy. It was here that I learned police procedures, firearm training and police discipline. Probably one of the most important items was how to search a prisoner for hidden weapons and how to cuff two prisoners with one set of handcuffs. This would aid me in my first arrest in the 30th Precinct. More on that later.

It was in the academy that I met Carl. He was a fellow Rocky like Italian who could not run like Rocky. Actually me and another officer had to carry him during the final qualifying run. Upon graduation he arranged for our class to join him in Rao’s restaurant. As Carl was related to the owner, he said just buck up for the tip. At the end of the dinner, we said good byes and said what precincts we were assigned to. Out of a class of 1000, I was the only one assigned to the 30th Precinct in west Harlem, and as Robert Frost said in the road not taken, that made all the difference.

Note, I was a Patrolman, Ptl., the term Police Officer, PO, would come later as the department encouraged females to join the force.


###