The Long Road to Gold

Book excerpt: I entered the New York Police Academy in 1965 and my first assignment was to the 23rd Precinct and then 13th Precinct on patrol and also with their Anti-Crime Unit. In 1970 I attended the Criminal Investigations Course and was assigned to Plainclothes duties with the Organized Crime Control Bureau investigating Gambling, Prostitution and Narcotics violations in Queens County. In 1974 I was transferred to the Special Operations Section. This unit was tasked with the investigation and surveillance of the Five New York Crime Families (Gambino, Columbo, Genovese, Giganti and Luchese). For several months I operated in an undercover capacity posing as a corrupt officer during which time the operation netted over $50,000 in cash and merchandise including an all- expense paid trip to Las Vegas for myself and my partner. We were being tested to see if we really were corrupt. As a result of this investigation over 40 members of Organized Crime were arrested and convicted. In 1979 I was promoted to Detective 3rd Grade and transferred to Queens County District Attorney’s Squad, where I continued my investigations of Organized Crime with the investigation of John Gotti and his crime family. This investigation led to my promotion to Detective 2nd Grade. In 1985 I retired after 20 years of service.