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1994 by Det. Jim Bosco,
Garden City PD, NY
Edited by Laraine Bosco
(Established
in 1845)
In 1625, Johan Lampo from
Cantelburg, Holland, was Schout-Fiscal (Sheriff); his
jurisdiction was from New York to Albany. On January 8,
1975, under Mayor Beam, a Bill was enacted by the City
Council to redesignate year 1625 as the founding date of
the City of New York; before this it was 1664. In 1783,
New York City became the first capital of the United
States. During 1845 a Uniformed Municipal Police Force
was enacted by the New York State legislature with 800
men. In 1875 the police were called for the first time
"The Finest" - the cops' own favorite sobriquet
- by Mayor William Havermeyer. In 1882 the Detective
Bureau was created with the approach of the "Gay
Nineties."
| "New York City
Police Academy Museum" and "Spring 3100
- February 1964" |
|
| Police Department
Current Shoulder Patch |
|
| Harbor Precinct -
(Est.1858) - First Harbor Patch |
|
The shoulder patch that
currently adorns the uniform of the men and women of the
New York City Police Department is more than simply a
method of identification. Introduced to the members of
the service on July 1, 1971, the patch with its rich
history and symbolism serves as a reminder to every
officer who proudly wears it that this is not just
"another job." The official Police Department
seal in the center of the patch unites the Department's
past with its present. This is attained by joining the
first representatives of the city, the Dutch and the
Indians, with stars symbolizing the five boroughs. The
eagle in the center of the patch is a vigilant defender
prepared to protect the city - the mission of New York's
Finest. The scales of justice atop the stars depict the
delicate mission of the department - the balancing of
individual rights with those of society.
| "New York City
Police Academy" |
|
The Harbor
Unit, one of the oldest units in the police department,
dates itself back to March 15, 1858, when a dozen men
were sent to sea in row boats to combat the river pirates
preying on the waterfront. On February 1, 1863, the
Harbor Unit, then known as the Marine Division, launched
its first steamer, the Seneca, a side-wheeler. On July
20, 1966, the first of ten steel hull, fifty-two-foot
twin screw diesel launches was placed into service. In
1983, four thirty foot aluminum hall, twin diesel
launches were added to the fleet. Skilled mechanics and
carpenters kept all equipment and craft in condition at
Randalls Island.
| "Harbor Unit -
NYPD" and "Spring 3100 February
1964" |
|
| Harbor Precinct -
(Est.1858) - Current Harbor Patch |
|
| Scuba Team- (Est.1967) -
Current Unit Patch |
|
The New York City Police
Department is responsible for patrolling 146 square miles
of navigable waters and 576 miles of waterfront. From
blazing hot summer days to cold frigid winter days, the
Harbor Unit performs patrol 24 hours per day, 365 days a
year. Members assigned to the Harbor Unit for marine
patrol are selected from the regular street patrol force.
Prior marine experience, knowledge in small boat handling
and operation, or previous employment in the maritime
industry are
desired qualifications for this unit.
| "Harbor Unit -
NYPD" & "Pamphlet BM 103 (Rev.
12-84)-5" |
|
Unit
patches are not commissioned by the police department.
Members of the unit have them made up and sometimes sewn
on caps. Other versions of the unit patch exist.Created in 1967, the underwater Recovery Unit
performs at the scenes of submergings, ice rescues and
evidence searches. Scuba Teams have varied experence and
swim circular, longitudinal and grid patterns in their
searches. One of their first jobs, the recovery of a
cache of guns sought by the FBI, was accomplished beneath
the George Washington Bridge.
|
| Bomb Squad - (Est.1903)
- Current Unit Patch |
|
| Aviation
Bureau - (Est.1929) - First Aviation Patch |
|
Unit
patches are not commissioned by the police department.
members of the unit have them made up and sometimes sewn
on caps. Other versions of the unit patch exist. Roots of the Bomb Squad were formed under the
leadership of Lt. Guisseppi Petrosino. This unit, known
as the Italian Squad was composed of five officers. It
was created in response to extortionist bombings directed
against merchants of the Italian community. Through its
years of existence, the Bomb Squad has successively
combated the secret society, the anarchist, the saboteur,
and the demented. The new foe, the racial terrorist, has
provided new challenges for this squad.
| "Spring
3100 - February 1964" "Bomb Squad -
NYPD" |
|
The Aviation
Bureau began in 1929 when the Police Air Service Division
was established from funds donated by Rodman Wanamaker, a
famed World War I ace. One of the first planes purchased
was a three-seated Loening Commuter Amphibian, powered by
90 horsepower engine. The third seat, was called the
"Angel" seat, which was kept vacant for the
angel the crew hoped would ride with them on each flight.
One of the first rescues was made when two swimmers were
carried away by the tide. The water was too choppy for
landing, so the copilot leaped from the flying plane into
the water and both swimmers were towed to shore.
| "Spring 3100 -
February 1964" |
|
| Aviation Bureau -
(Est.1929) - Current Patch |
|
| Mounted
Unit (Est. 1871) Headquarters Troop Patch |
|
This
is the current Aviation patch with the word Police added
to the top. The
Aviation Unit acquired the first helicopter to be used in
police work in 1948. In 1967 it entered the jet age with
the acquisition of a single turbine engine helicopter.
The current fleet of aircraft includes seven (7) turbine
helicopters. The NYPD Aviation Unit is the oldest
airborne law enforcement unit in the world. Two (2) -
Bell 41SP heavy duty, twin engine helicopters; One (1)
Bolkow BO 105 light duty twin engine helicopter; Four (4)
Bell 206B light duty, single engine helicopters.
| "Pamphlet
BM 524 (Rev. 1-93)-H1, Aviation Unit - NYPD" |
|
On July 10, 1871, the Board of Police
established the first Mounted Police Unit to contend with
the reckless galloping of saddle and carriage horses, a
common problem of the day. At first, their official
duties centered around Central Park and the avenues
adjacent to it. The unit consisted of one sergeant, 12
officers and 15 horses. Stables were located on 87th
Street and 1st Avenue in Manhattan and on 152nd Street
and 7th Avenue in the area known as Carmansville.
| "Mounted Unit -
NYPD, New York City Police Foundation" |
|
| Mounted Unit (Est. 1871)
Troop A Patch |
|
| Mounted Unit (Est. 1871)
Troop B Patch |
|
| As the size of the Mounted Unit was increased,
its duties were expanded. Mounted officers were
effectively utilized for parade duty by leading the
parade to clear the line of march, and the tradition
continues today. By the early 1900s, the Mounted Unit was
also assigned to demonstration duties and strikes, which
is a practice still useful today in maintaining peaceful
assemblages. The unit grew to almost 700 and became a
battalion. MOUNTED
BATTALION - 1919: During the mid 1900s, the unit was reduced in
size. However, it still maintained some formidable
numbers. Mounted officers have served with distinction
during visits of presidents, premiers, kings, queens and
other world leaders. During the visits of pope Paul VI
and John Paul II the unit deployed almost 400 officers.
As stable space disappeared, the Mounted Unit was reduced
until it reached its current six troop facilities.
| "Mounted Unit -
NYPD, New York City Police Foundation" |
|
| Mounted Unit (Est. 1871)
Troop C Patch |
|
| Mounted
Unit (Est. 1871) Troop D Patch |
|
Old
Movietone newsreels clearly indicated the extensive
utility of the Mounted Unit. In the 1920s, Charles
Lindbergh was protected from the adoring throng by a
formation of mounted officers, during his Broadway ticker
tape parade. The same was true for numerous other ticker
tape parades from General Douglas MacArthur's to the
World Series Mets'. In 1937, New York City hosted the
American Legion Parade, the longest in the city's history
lasting 17 hours.
| "Mounted
Unit - NYPD, New York City Police
Foundation" |
|
The NYPD archives show mounted officers
maintaining order at long lines in front of Depression
Era soup kitchens, 40s, and 50s labor disputes and 50s
teenage crowds at various theaters such as the Brooklyn
Paramount and the Ed Sullivan Theater. The Unit boasts
three Department Medal of Honor winners. All were awarded
posthumously, two for gun battles and one for saving
passengers' lives in a runaway carriage.
| "Mounted Unit -
NYPD, New York City Police Foundation" |
|
| Mounted
Unit (Est. 1871) Troop E Patch |
|
| Mounted
Unit (Est. 1871) Troop F Patch |
|
| UNION
BLUE AND CAVALRY GOLD: The mounted tradition stems from the very proud
heritage of the United States Cavalry. At the time the
Unit was formed, there were many Civil War veterans in
the police ranks, and the influence of these former
soldiers is apparent. In fact, the events of the 1860s
had a tremendous impact on the operation of the modern
Police Department in areas such as training, discipline
and uniforms. A
horse's position in the unit has not changed since the
cavalry elements that founded it. The horse comes first!
Before and after patrol, the care, feeding and stabling
of the horse is the first concern of the officer;
personal comfort is secondary. Officers are accountable
for the condition of their horses, and inspections are
frequent.
| "Mounted
Unit - NYPD, New York City Police
Foundation" |
|
| Mounted
Unit (Est. 1871) Squadron 1patch, replacing Troop
patches |
|
| Mounted
Unit (Est. 1871) Squadron 2 patch, replacing
Troop patches |
|
THE
NEW YORK POLICE SADDLE: The New York City Mounted Unit developed a
unique saddle design in 1871, which is similar to the
Army saddle. The influence may have been the result of
the presence of many Civil War veterans in police ranks.
However, the saddle is distinctly the "New York City
Police Saddle." The bridle, specially designed for
NYPD use, has heavy harness leather and brass hardware,
with bits and bridoons attached.
| "Mounted
Unit - NYPD, New York City Police
Foundation" |
|
DONATION
PROGRAM: At
one time, New York's Mounted Unit, with 300 horses and
seven stables was the largest mounted police unit in the
country. But in 1976, with the city in financial crises,
the unit was at serious risk of being disbanded. In
response to a plea from Police Commissioner Michael J.
Codd, the Police Foundation launched a major program to
encourage donations of horses, supplies and funds. Over
five thousand dollars and thirty horses was contributed.
| "Mounted
Unit - NYPD, New York City Police
Foundation" |
|
| Mounted
Unit (Est. 1871) Mounted Squadron 1 patch,
replacing Squadron 1patches |
|
| Mounted
Unit (Est. 1871) Mounted Squadron 2 patch,
replacing Squadron 2 patches |
|
The New
York City Mounted Unit is part of the Special Operations
Division and is primarily assigned to street patrol. It
patrols such diverse areas as Midtown Manhattan, Coney
Island, City Hall, the South Bronx and Brownsville in
Brooklyn. Mounted officers are also assigned to Queens
and busy 42nd Street where patrols include day and
evening coverage of the Theatre District.
| "Mounted
Unit - NYPD, New York City Police
Foundation" |
|
Assignment
to the Mounted Unit is on a voluntary basis, and there is
a lengthy list of applicants. Presently, the unit numbers
over 145 uniformed officers, 37 civilian department
members and maintains over 100 horses. These resources
are organized and deployed from six stables, called Troop
A, Troop B, Troop D, Troop E, Troop F, Troop G and
Mounted Unit Headquarters.
| "Mounted
Unit - NYPD, New York City Police
Foundation" |
|
| Mounted
Unit (Est. 1871) horse facing to the right
replacing all Squadron patches |
|
| Mounted
Unit (Est. 1871) horse facing to the left
replacing horse facing right patches |
|
The
Mounted Unit's primary function is to protect life and
property, to impartially enforce the law and to actively
fight street crime both by preventing it and by pursuing
violators. Also included in the unit's wide range of
responsibilities is crowd and traffic control, as well as
active participation in the New York City Police
Department's Community Policing Program.
| "Mounted
Unit - NYPD, New York City Police
Foundation" |
|
The
horse facing to the left, when displayed on the left
shoulder, will face forward. A recent Police Department
project was conducted to determine the effectiveness of
the Mounted police in reducing street crime. Each Mounted
officer was assigned, on a regular basis, to patrol the
posts of several foot officers in five business districts
of the City. In the areas patrolled by the mounted
officers, serious street crime was dramatically reduced.
| "Mounted
Unit - NYPD, New York City Police
Foundation" |
|
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for page two |
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