Community Service

 

   
Labor and Delivery:

In my ten years in the 30th Precinct, I was to handle almost every type of assignment. The one that stands out is the female in labor. My partner and I got that call in a snowy winter day. We had to climb 5 flights of stairs as there are no elevators on 5 story walkups. Upon entering the apt we were greeted by the entire Hispanic family and taken into the bedroom where a young female was in labor. Soon we found out that the grandmother wanted us to perform a Cesarean as she brought a boiling hot water pot with a large knife in it. I looked at my partner and wrapped a blanket about her and a kitchen chair and carried her down the 5 flights of stairs to our car. She delivered about an hour later at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. It would not be until I was a Sergeant in the 90th Precinct that I would assist a woman in a natural childbirth.

Note, I was always amazed at the faith and trust that people had in the police early in my Police career. I really don’t know when that lack of confidence occurred.

Summer Camp:

There was an area in the Precinct known as Sugar Hill. This area housed some of the most influential leaders in the Harlem community. It was part of the Harlem Renaissance which included many historical residences from the Roaring 20s.
Well there was a Sugar Hill men’s club which sponsored a trip to the Adirondacks.

Two officers were assigned to 8 male Black teenagers and were to go camping along the Saranac River. I don’t remember all the details, but I did bring my camper trailer to the site. A local forest ranger would check on us and bring us some firewood for the nightly campfire. I think we were given $500 for the trip, gas and food. we arrived on Sunday and left on Saturday.

Somehow, we survived and the program was a success. We were on duty all the time, and armed. We did not encounter any bears or ticks. The teenagers slept in pup tents and one day a raccoon came to the campfire.

I spoke with my 30th Precinct partner Kenny Mac, also a McClancy grad, who refreshed my memory, actually he was amazed about our memories.

Kenny said I cooked breakfast every morning, he remembers the bacon and eggs over the open campfire. We went to town for supplies and had sandwiches for lunch. Dinner was usually hot dogs and hamburgers. We were given sporting equipment and played football and softball. One night we took the kids to a drive-in movie. One kid said he never took a bath, so we went swimming in the river. The kids had a good time listening to my stories at the nighty campfire meeting, even then I was good at embellishing hunting stories.

It was either 1971-2 and the program lasted all summer, the police officers were given comp time for their days off. Apparently 500 dollars went a long way. Although the program was a success the city did not continue it in the following years. The Community affairs officer arranged for the Sugar Hill men’s club to sponsor the trip and provided us with an itinery, and supervision. There were no cellphones only a dime phone in town.

Christmas Party:

It was a tradition to hold the annual Christmas party at the neighboring school basketball court. This party was not only for the kids of the police officers but also for the kids in the precinct. At this party one officer P.K. played Santa, he loved Budweiser and one of my daughters said, Santa smells of beer. One of my Sergeants would bring his 8-yr old niece to sing and dance, later she became a tv star as the Nanny, Fran Drescher. I was fortunate to have many good sergeants who mentored me. ###

Fran Drescher

###

Gun Safety

Gun Safety

I believe that the opening clip of Law and Order sums up what police work is really about. In that scene you see a female Police Officer rendering Aid to a victim. I thank GOD that in my 24 years I did not discharge my service revolver. However, I think there were about 5 incidents where I could have.

The following Monday after I was sworn in, I had to report to Firearms section at Rodmans Neck in the Bronx. My instructor was a Camp Perry champion and he told my class a few things. First, keep your mouth shut and ears open for what I tell you might save your life. He then put a dime on his red barreled gun and pulled the trigger 6 times without the dime falling. Next, he said, once you pull the trigger you can’t have the bullet come back. Finally, he said you only have six bullets, learn to count them. Next we were taken to the firing range for qualification and told to aim at the center of mass on the Ugly man target. We shot at different ranges and with both strong and weak hand. Finally, after certification, we were told that in most Police related shootings, you could actually touch the opponent.

Shortly after my first arrest, the Department came up with the idea of steady tours from 6pm to 2am. Me and about 15 other officers “volunteered” for this new assignment. I was given Patrol Post #4, which encompasses the Jumel Mansion. When you step off w162 st and St Nicholas Ave it’s like going back to revolutionary war times. This mansion was in the northeast section of the precinct, a relatively low crime area.

It was here on my post that I met a Black entrepreneur named Bill Bailey and his wife Mimi. He had a takeout chicken and shrimp market. His business had a plywood wall with a small takeout window and it was here I almost discharged my revolver.

As I was sitting behind the wall eating my dinner with his wife, two young men came in and said it was a robbery. I started to pull my gun and she admonished me, telling the robbers that they should not fool around as she recognized them. They never knew what danger they were in.

This post included 555 Edgecombe Ave, the former home of Joe Louis, and across the street was a staircase down to the now removed Polo Grounds. It was here that I earned the trust of the Community and one parent passed on info re. drug dealing. This led to the recovery of a kilo of heroin and the removal of a major drug dealer by the Narcotics Division

We had been taught about the dangers of the job, but there was a new phenomenon where the Police were now the targets.There is a famous gate at the rear of Columbia or City university overlooking Morningside park. Well, during the Vietnam protests me and two other officers were assigned there. All of a sudden two male Blacks rode up on bicycles and one attempted to draw a holstered gun. What he did not know was that I had a second gun on me and outdrew him, his eyes went wide open and he had an immediate Afro.

We radioed for a supervisor and upon checking found he had a plastic gun and was trying to provoke an incident. The boss said get rid of the toy and make no arrests. The perpetrator had come maybe 1-2 seconds of losing his life if he had pulled the gun. No difference from 1972 till today.

###