New York Chief of Detectives Read Free Page A

the Organized Crime Control Bureau. As a former marine, Ray still wore his hair in a crew cut and had the callous outward demeanor of a rugged marine.  The NYPD Organized Crime Control Bureau is charged with investigating traditional organized crime, as well as gangs, gun trafficking and narcotics. The mafia had been all but crippled by the FBI and the NYPD. There were a few leftover wannabes, but the new gangs and drug traffickers were far more menacing.
    Pat dialed Ray Capese from inside his car.
    “Hey, Ray, it’s Pat O’Connor.  How is Caroline Rodriguez handling this?”
    “Like a true cop’s wife, she’s being very strong and brave. They had no kids, so she’ll be alone in this big city. I don’t think she has any other family here.”
    “I’ll try to check by tonight.”
    “That would be great, Pat. I’m sure it would mean a lot to her.”
    “Ray, I know my guys have reached out, but do we have any idea what Tony was working on last night?”
    “Not really, he had finished the trial of the Banditos brothers for gun trafficking. It was a case he turned over to ATF. It ended up being a plea, with most of them facing deportation after serving some fed time.”
    “We’ll need access to all his files. Can we lock down his desk?”
    “Sure. Consider it done.” 
    “Also, we’ll want to interview his squad. We have zilch on this one.”
    “We’ll do anything to help, Pat. I appreciate you getting back to me.” 
    Pat dropped the cell phone back in his pocket. He knew he could trust Ray Capese.
    As soon as he took his hand off the phone, Pat felt it vibrate again. He looked at it, and saw that the caller ID said “Private.” Most of the NYPD had their numbers blocked to keep complainants and reporters from getting their cell phone numbers. Pat answered the phone.
    “Pat O’Connor.”
    “Hi, Pat, this is Harry Doogin. I know you are all over this Rodriguez thing, but I’m sending an IAB team out to see what this guy was into. I mean, you never know.”
    “At this point, Harry, they’ll be twiddling their thumbs, because there’s not much yet to go on.  I know you have to do this, but tread lightly until we can get our arms around this thing.”
    “Well, we’ll see about that, but I wanted to give you a courtesy call.”
    “Thanks for your thoughtfulness. Good-bye.”
    Pat detested Harry Doogin. He thought Harry was a vulture, who would take something bad and make it worse.  He was Chief of the Internal Affairs Bureau. He was a career IAB guy who had spent most of his career in the “rat squad,” busting cops. Getting on old Harry’s famous ‘shit’ list was equivalent to committing career suicide. When a cop was on the list, absolutely everything he did was scrutinized under the IAB microscope.  It was a necessary job, but with over 40 years on the job, “Harry the Hatchet,” as he was known, enjoyed it too much.

     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 5
     
    Saturday April 3-Day 2
    Chief of Detectives’ Office-One Police Plaza
    Borough of Manhattan, New York
    1400 hours
     
     
    Dickie Davis drove Pat O’Connor back to his office at One Police Plaza. He pulled the Chrysler into the underground parking space marked; “Reserved Chief of Detectives.” They caught the elevator up to the eleventh floor and entered the suite of offices labeled; “Office of the Chief of Detectives.”
    “I need time to sort out things and get ready for some busy days, Dickie.  We need to put a crew together by tomorrow morning to build a short term task force.”  
    “Okay, Chief, I’ll be at my desk if you need me.”
    Pat walked into his spacious office and dropped his radio in the desk charger. Pat was a guy who liked to know what was going on. He almost always had his radio scanning the detective and city-wide channels. He kept the volume low, but was still able to hear what was going on.
    Pat wanted someone he trusted to spearhead this task force. He needed someone with the skills and horsepower to get