Sarges, officer called us ho's - female cops
(‘Nappy Haired Ho Slurs’ - First Alleged Incident Involves 70 Pct. Sgt. Carlos Mateo On Complainant of Police Officers Tronnette Jackson, Maria Gomez and Karen Nelson; Second, Qns. Narcotics Sgt. Michael Cantatore on Complaint of Det. Aretha Williams)

BY ERNIE NASPRETTO - Monday, April 23rd, 2007 'The New York Daily News' 

Two NYPD sergeants and a Brooklyn officer are under investigation for allegedly calling female colleagues "nappy-headed ho's" in two separate incidents that came days after radio jock Don Imus uttered the same racist jab, officials said yesterday.

 One of the sergeants already has been booted from his Brooklyn post and stripped of supervisory duties, NYPD brass confirmed yesterday.

 The women - three are black and one is Hispanic - have each filed complaints with the NYPD's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, NYPD officials said.

 "Don't give me no lip before I have to call you a nappy-headed ho," a Queens narcotics sergeant barked at Detective Aretha Williams, according to Williams.

 Williams, a 15-year veteran who is black, said yesterday she was "ripped to the core" by the crass remark that came "a week and a half ago." Imus was fired April 12 for referring to Rutgers University's women's basketball players as "nappy-headed ho's."

 In a separate case, three female officers in Brooklyn's 70th Precinct have accused a sergeant of calling them "ho's" before roll call April 15, according to Lt. Victor Swinton, president of the NYPD Guardians Association. 

A male officer chimed in with "nappy-headed ho's," Swinton said.

 The details of the incidents remain under investigation, but Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly condemned the use of the insults in any situation.

 "This language is unacceptable under any circumstances and even more egregious when it comes from individuals in positions of authority," Kelly said.

 City Councilman Charles Barron, speaking yesterday at a press conference organized by 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care to discuss the Queens incident, called on Mayor Bloomberg and Kelly to meet with Williams.

 "This language simply cannot be tolerated, but I have confidence in Commissioner Kelly to swiftly investigate these complaints and take appropriate action," Swinton said.

The female cops in the Brooklyn incident also plan to file a federal discrimination lawsuit, Swinton said.

 The Queens sergeant was described by Barron as a white male eligible for retirement. The male sergeant and officer in Brooklyn's 70th Precinct are Hispanic, according to Swinton.

 The sergeant in the Queens case is due to be interviewed by investigators tomorrow, Assistant Chief Michael Collins said. The Brooklyn officer also will be interviewed.

Utica police questioning two suspects in killing of officer

Unnamed Author (The Associated Press) - Saturday, April 21, 2007, 8:16 PM EDT 

UTICA, N.Y. -- Two suspects have surfaced in the shooting death of a Utica police officer, but investigators are frustrated by a lack of cooperation from some members of the city's Hispanic community and no charges have been filed yet in the killing, authorities said Saturday.

 Utica Police Chief C. Allen Pylman said two of his officers were in Puerto Rico interviewing Jose Cirino about his possible involvement in the shooting of Thomas Lindsey on April 12. Cirino is believed to be a native of Puerto Rico who frequently travels to Utica.  

Pylman said police can place him in the Utica area on the night Lindsey was shot in the head during a routine traffic stop in the city's rough Cornhill neighborhood.

 The chief also said that Sammy Rivera, the driver of the red Dodge Neon that Lindsey had stopped minutes before he was fatally wounded, is now regarded as a suspect in the shooting.

 Police were still investigating whether Cirino and Rivera are connected in any way.

 Rivera drove from the scene after Lindsey was shot and was apprehended about five blocks away. He's being held in Oneida County Jail on $10,000 bail on charges of criminal impersonation, possession of a controlled substance, criminal use of drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of marijuana.

 A visibly frustrated Pylman said at a morning press conference that his department has not been getting the cooperation needed from some segments of the local Hispanic community to bring to justice those involved in the killing. He again appealed to the public, especially the Hispanic community, to contact Utica Police with any information they might have. All calls will be kept confidential, he said.

It still hurts after 35 years            
(The 1972 Murder of 28 Pct. P.O. Phil Cardillo)
'French Connection' detective blasts city over mosque cop killing

By: Ernie Naspretto - Thursday, April 12th, 2007 'The New York Daily News'

It was one of the darkest days among the many dark days that the NYPD has had to endure throughout its history, so believe many New York cops, past and present, when discussing the murder of Police Officer Phil Cardillo at the Harlem Mosque in 1972.

 Saturday will mark the 35th anniversary of the shooting that reeked of racially charged politics and polarized cops.  

“Political expediency won over cops’ lives and justice, said retired Detective Sonny Grosso, 76, of “French Connection” fame who responded to the infamous shooting and penned “Murder at the Harlem Mosque” in 1977 detailing the horrific treatment the Cardillo murder got from then Mayor John Lindsay and the police hierarchy.  

Lindsay was campaigning for the Democratic Presidential nomination and didn’t want his image tainted in any way, explained Grosso.  

“(Lindsay) sacrificed this cop in hopes of getting black votes,” he said.

Then and now, all bets are off when a signal 10-13 - cop needs emergency assistance - comes over the police radio. At 11:41 AM Cardillo and his partner, Vito Navarra, along with every other cop working in the 28th precinct that day, rushed to assist the “detective” who called for assistance on the second floor of 102 West 116th Street -the Harlem Mosque.   

Cardillo, Navarra and another team from the bordering 25th precinct, Police Officers Victor Padilla and Ivan Negron, were the first to arrive and rushed inside on a mission to find and rescue their fellow officer. That call would turn out to be bogus but the violence and bloodshed that erupted within seconds were all too real and would leave an indelible scar on the NYPD.   

As Cardillo and Navarra rushed up a staircase toward the second floor they were intercepted by 15 to 20 men who forced the officers back down to the hallway just as Padilla and Negron ran in. More mosque members appeared from inside and a group now numbering 20 to 25 started pummeling the cops with fists, feet and blackjacks. Cardillo and Padilla would have their service revolvers taken from them as shots rang out. 

Padilla was beaten into semi-consciousness while Cardillo was shot point blank in the chest. Other responding cops would fire their weapons at the murderous mob. To this day, it is not known if any of the cops’ bullets hit anyone as the mob scattered.  

The murder of a fellow cop was bad enough. But, the political posturing by Lindsay, fueled by Congressman Charles Rangel and Minister Louis Farrakhan, prevented a thorough investigation of the shooting which would have resulted in a swift arrest, said Grosso. Neither Rangel or Farrakhan responded to a request for a comment.  

The most basic crime scene preservation procedures were not followed. At least 17 suspects being held after backup cops, including Grosso, stormed in were released without being interrogated on direct orders from Lindsay and then Police Commissioner Patrick V. Murphy, said Grosso.  

“There was a riot within minutes of the shooting. Police cars were overturned, bricks came flying off of rooftops, TV reporters were assaulted. It was a riot, plain and simple, yet Lindsay refused to even call it that. Bad press would hurt his (presidential) chances and Murphy wanted to be the next FBI director. What a joke,” said a still angry Grosso.

Even after Cardillo, a 31 year old father of three children, died six days later, Lindsay and Murphy were no where to be seen.  

“What bothers me the most was that he was lying in his death bed and neither Lindsay or Murphy came to visit him. Then after he dies, they are conveniently out of town and don’t attend his funeral,” said Vito Navarra, 63, who retired as a detective in 1995, and lives “with this every day of my life.”  

A Mosque member was arrested four years later but was acquitted after two trials, the first ending in a hung jury with 11-1 for conviction. Cardillo’s young widow, Joy, would win 4 million dollars from the city in a wrongful death lawsuit. The city had offered her one million to settle.   

The Blue Knights, a police fraternal organization of motorcyclists, will have a memorial ride on Sunday which will pass the Harlem Mosque after stopping at Cardillo’s grave at Calvary cemetery. Hundreds of active and retired cops from as far away as Virginia will participate.  

“We’re not out to open wounds or disturb the community, but we want everyone to know we’ll never forget this murder and the fact that politics allowed the killer to get away with it,” said retired Police Officer John Malandrino, 67, president of the Blue Knights Nassau Chapter.  

April 10, 2007

This is a wake-up call to all the individuals who were involved in the rescue and recovery mission of September 11, 2001. 

            My name is Detective Ron Richards, I’m a 17 year veteran of the New York City Police Department currently assigned to the Bomb Squad. I’ve recently been diagnosed with Stage 3 Multiple Myeloma. Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of the Plasma cells found in the bone marrow. It represents 1% of all cancers and accounts for 2% of cancer deaths. The Myeloma cells accumulate in the bone marrow which causes anemia, reduction in the production of white blood cells, and also reduces blood platelet counts. Although certain professions have a higher risk factor, many physicians feel that exposure and inhalation of the contaminants during the collapse of the World Trade Center on  September 11^th 2001 and the contamination of the environment in the months that followed contributed to my current condition. During that time I was assigned to Emergency Services Unit and spent 5 months at ground zero and the Staten Island Landfill.

             In November of 2006, I underwent a full body image that was offered through the Detective Endowment Association. Although the body imaging has been a blessing to those of us who suffer from ailments of the heart and other detectable illnesses, the test is not however able to detect certain other debilitating ailments. In December of 2006 as in previous years, I underwent my yearly OSHA physical offered through the Police Department. The test consisted of an EKG, blood work, pulmonary testing, hearing and a vision test. Although these tests identify many abnormalities, my condition however was not identified.

             In late February, early March I began to feel fatigued, I suffered from shortness of breath, and I would wake up several times a night to urinate. I  noticed my urine seemed to be very foamy. My only symptoms at the time. In March I saw my family physician and underwent some additional tests  which included a urine analysis. The results showed evidence of microscopic blood particles in the urine. On March 23, 2007, my physician prescribed outside blood work assuming I had a possible prostate infection. The test results were shocking, My urea nitrogen level was 43 and my creatinine level was 5.8. My December 2006 OSHA blood work results indicated a urea nitrogen level of 14 and a creatinine level of 0.8, which were all within normal reference ranges. I was informed at that time that I had only 15% total kidney function and that I was at “End Stage” renal failure. After a consultation with a kidney specialist, I was admitted to Staten Island University Hospital for a one day kidney biopsy. That one day biopsy turned into an 11 day emotional nightmare, with an 8 day Intensive Care stay.

             During that stay, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma which was later confirmed through a bone marrow biopsy. I was informed that a byproduct of the Myeloma is a protein that restricts the functions of the kidneys, therefore, causing permanent kidney damage. During those eight days in intensive care I underwent a radical procedure called “Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy”to try and regain some renal function. The Therapy consisted of eight straight days of continuous dialysis with only breaks to receive my Chemotherapy. I was discharged from the hospital on Friday April 6^th to spend Easter with my family. The results were not as I had hoped. My creatinine levels have risen again indicating that I am still in Renal failure, with the possibility of receiving Dialysis three days a week, three hours a day from now on in addition to fighting my cancer. I was told that because of my advanced stage 3 diagnosis my only hope of survival is a successful bone marrow transplant. This cancer has blind sided me. I am consulting with a renowned specialist in this type of cancer at Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan later this week. Hopefully the Chemotherapy that I’ve been enduring the past two weeks and will continue to receive for the next two or more months  will put the cancer in remission and give me the opportunity to receive the  bone marrow transplant that I desperately need.. My pregnant wife and three young children depend on the success of this procedure.

             Before this, I was a completely healthy 37 year old Detective with no prior medical conditions. I implore all of you to consult your own physicians and get this necessary testing. We are not invincible. I am truly touched by the outpour of support and compassion from the New York City Police Department, the Detective Endowment Association, all my fellow members of Law enforcement throughout the country and my friends and family.

 My mission is simple, I want to be sure you all understand that the standard tests that are offered will not identify this life threatening condition. Doctors have told me that the most effective way to detect Multiple Myeloma is to measure protein levels in a simple urine analysis unfortunately these levels are not being  measured in the standard tests..

 Keep me in your prayers and God bless you.

 Detective Ron Richards

New York City Police Department
(MOSSEP11@AOL.COM)