First Arrest

It had been more than two weeks since I had been assigned to the 30th Precinct and I had not effected an arrest. Well my time was soon coming but I had not expected how it turned out. I was assigned to a 4x12 shift and after reporting for duty, I was assigned to the Central Park detail, not unusual for rookie or young officers. Well I got back early, and the desk officer reassigned me to Patrol post #6.

I actually went out to w145 street to w152 street and Convent Ave. Note this was the house post and I did not know that I was supposed to go to the locker room and complete my tour. About 2300 hours I witnessed a woman crossing an intersection and two males jumped her and stole her pocket book. I was about a block away, and it happened so fast. They fled and I approached the woman and asked her if she was alright. She said yes, and then I saw that their footprints led into a 5 story walk up. [It was March and there must have been snow on the ground]

She accompanied me as we went to the roof in order to recover her pocket book. Now on the roof, I saw that their footprints led to the fire escape. Lo and behold as I looked over, I saw the two robbers going thru her bag and I told them "police, my partner is at the bottom of the fire escape." They walked up to the roof where I handcuffed them right hand to right hand and said if they fought or tried to escape I would shoot them. I walked them about 5 blocks back to the precinct and once again stated that I would shoot them if anybody tried to assist them.

When I walked into the precinct, the Lieutenant asked where I was as they were looking for me. I said I got two under for Robbery. He said good job and take them up to the detectives.

Somethings I recall: the detectives helped me process the arrests and fingerprints. I think the patrol wagon took me and the prisoners to court. I met the female complainant in the room where the court docket was typed up, a very long process. Then had to wait in courtroom for arraignment. First the prostitution cases were heard for their pimps paid $50 to get the girls back on the streets. A tax even then in this money making scheme. Then my case was heard, I don’t recall much, propbably remanded to Rikers for later court appearance, or they might have plead guilty.

The female stayed with me and I think we took the subway home, she told me that she was about 3 buildings from her residence when she was robbed. I think I kept my first memo book, I will check today to refresh my memory. [see image]

Looking back, it was the element of surprise that assisted me, as it could have gone very bad. In 1969 I could have shot them. This policy started to change in about 1972, with the Knapp Commission. In 1969 I guess I had stupid courage but that’s what Cops do. When the word got out in the Precinct, I went from being a rookie to a seasoned veteran, and respected by all.

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Note: I was attempting to recover the woman’s pocketbook, I never expected to find the two robbers going thru it on the fire escape.   

 

First Day: 30th Precinct

The 30th Precinct is a section of West Harlem called Washington Heights. It encompasses the land from west 141th street to west 165th street and bounded by the Hudson River to Edgecombe Ave. The streets run east to west while the named thoroughfares run north to south in this order, Edgecombe Ave, St Nicholas Ave, Amsterdam Ave. Broadway, Fort Washington Ave., and Riverside Drive. The 30th precinct was located on 1854 Amsterdam Ave, the northwest corner of w.152 street, later a new building was built a block away at 451 West 151st street, the current location.

Upon graduation I was given instructions on how to get there. From Queens by car, the Triboro bridge to w 155 St. exit on the Major Deegan, (Yankee Stadium exit) proceed over the Macoombs Dam bridge and up the viaduct to Amsterdam Ave, left turn to w.152 street.

I think I took my dad’s 1956 Oldsmobile as we were told not to bring new cars to the precincts. I was to report at 0900 hours, in uniform and salute the desk officer, usually a Lieutenant and say my name and reporting for duty. Go up to the first floor to the clerical office for your assignment, Rookie. In 1969, they didn’t coddle you and you had to learn quickly what was not taught at the Police Academy. 

First day:

The clerical office is the command center of the precinct. In it are three major police officers who run the daily operations.

1- the Roll Call man, he types the daily work sheet which includes, assignment to the radio motor patrol sector cars, foot patrols and other assignments.

2-the Captain clerical man is responsible for handling all communications; ie, future assignments to special details like parades.

3-the payroll officer, he sees that you get paid for regular and overtime work.

The roll call officer then assigned me to a squad and said I would be doing mostly foot patrols and fill in as a sector partner. The clerical officer then took me one flight up to the locker room. As this was a very old building there was only one light on a black wire in the center of the room. Finally I was given a map of the Precinct which included both sector and foot assignments. I was told to go home and report for tomorrow 4x12 tour.

I had not hit the street as of yet, but that would soon come.

As I reported for the 4x12 tour I entered the sitting room where the Sergeant would give you your assignment. Before this a veteran Black officer said “what’s your name Rookie?" I replied Ptl. Joe DeStefano. He then said shut up that’s the last time you talk for the next month. Another, veteran Italian officer said don’t mind him I got your back Kid. Well I think I was assigned a foot patrol and not much happened and I was required to write in my memo at the conclusion of the tour, Nothing to report.

Every police officer wants to get that first arrest under his belt, mine would take another two weeks. In between that time I got assigned to a sector car. This is where you respond to all the calls from Central. After receiving the call you had to acknowledge it by ending with a “k” code. This signifies that you are finished talking. Note the Dispatcher handles all my precinct's sectors as well as 3 other precincts. Not an easy job before the computers. If the dispatcher used the words, “in the” you stopped what you were doing and your ears perked up for this was the signal 10-13 officer needs assistance. This call was not used lightly but for the most serious calls.

Note: the Macoombs Dam viaduct overlooked the old Polo Grounds where the NY Giants played. It was torn down and replaced by housing projects. Later, members of the Black Liberation Army, today they would be called a domestic terrorist organization, would call in phony police emergency calls to time response time. It would be here that they brutally assassinated Patrolman Waverly Jones and Patrolman Joseph Piagentini for no other reason than they were Police officers. They would go on to murder 10 more Police officers in their year and half reign of terror. Recently their leader Joanne Chesimard would die in Cuba.

Note: the 30th precinct had a dry moat around the building. That building was a classic and inside was a 4x4 plaque which we had removed and placed in the lobby of the new station house.The community was given the building.

Next up my first arrests, you have to remember it was 1969. ###

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.


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Capo

Soon after I made Sergeant, the precinct Commanding Officer took notice of my work ethic. He promoted me to the prestigious post of Anti crime Supervisor. In this capacity I would supervise two shifts of plainclothes officers who were assigned to address serious crimes; ie, Robbery, gun possession and burglary. Soon after I got this assignment I got a 10-2 (report to command) this was not usually good. What had I or one of my officers done? Well this was different as there was a contingent of Hasidic men talking to the boss. It seems that their mother had her purse snatched and some one had called her and said they had the purse. They thought this was a trap. Since I had grown the Anti crime beard, they wanted me to dress up black hat and long coat and recover the purse. Well we arranged for the exchange and everything went ok, as an elderly Puerto Rican family was the ones who had called. We got the purse and gave them a few bucks. All of a sudden, one of my Italian officers said, “Hey Capo, can we go now”. No sooner had he said that, the elderly mother, who was a Holocaust survivor snapped to attention and with her head bowed said, “German Nazi, where is he”. She was frozen as she had a flash back to Auschwitz, one of her sons told her, ”no mom he is the good Kapo, who takes care of the community. The name Capo stayed with me for the rest of my career.

In1986 I was transferred to the Brooklyn South Narcotics Division. About a year later one of my lieutenants in the 90th precinct was now a Deputy inspector and assigned to our unit. After about a month, he had a meeting and commented on our work performance. However, he then said he had a gripe in that he thought that the use of nicknames was unprofessional. Turning to me he said isn’t that right Sgt. Capo. Well all the bosses and investigators started to snicker and laugh. Again he looked at me and said what’s up, I respectfully said Sir, my name is Sgt. DeStefano not Sgt. Capo. He lowered his head and turned around and simply said carry on. He called me into his office and I had to explain how I became the Capo. He laughed and said all these years I thought you were Sgt Capo. 

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