As for the Internal Affairs Bureau itself, since I left there’ve been some cutbacks in integrity testing and proactive arrests and debriefs of suspects to seek out incidents of police corruption and misconduct. I’m no longer on the scene, and it’s not my place to second-guess, but I know a little bit about the subject, so let me offer this observation: Crime and misconduct by cops is the same as any other kind of crime. If you’re only reactive, if you don’t constantly and proactively seek it out or, better yet, actively try to prevent it, police crime and misconduct is going to increase. Enough said.
And finally, I have one other area of serious concern about the NYPD of the future, and maybe even the NYPD of the present. That is the very real possibility that the NYPD will be infiltrated by sympathizers or even sleeper agents of ISIS or al-Qaeda or some other terrorist organization—cops who are intent on either committing overt terrorist acts themselves or on accessing top-secret NYPD intelligence files and antiterrorism methods and practices to help facilitate another September 11–level mass attack.
Has the Internal Affairs Bureau or any other counterterrorism element of the NYPD ever investigated a case of a suspected terrorist-cop? If they have, I wouldn’t tell you—and if they haven’t I wouldn’t tell you that, either, since that also could have potential intelligence value.
But the prospect of a terrorist infiltration of the NYPD ranks isn’t just some vague, half-formed nightmare on my part, a plot from a “Manchurian Cop” movie script. Throughout this book I’ve described case after case of cops who crossed to the other side, engaging in drug trafficking, gunrunning, money laundering, and every other kind of criminal activity—and in most cases, their motivation was just money. So how hard is it to imagine that there could be an NYPD cop out there who’s willing to cross to the other side when motivated by a murderous and misguided but powerful ideology? A cop who would use his shield and his authority to attack otherwise inaccessible high-value targets, such as high-level government officials or critical infrastructure facilities? Or a cop who could use the trust built up over the course of years to penetrate the NYPD’s world-class intelligence and counterterrorism apparatus to access classified files or plant false information?
The answer is that it’s not at all hard to imagine. Given my experience, it’s harder to believe that it can’t happen than to believe that it can. Currently there are over thirty-six thousand cops in the NYPD, and to believe that not a single one of those thirty-six thousand cops harbors some level of anti-American, pro-terrorist beliefs and connections would be naïve—and trust me, after more than forty years as a cop, and twenty years in Internal Affairs, one thing I’m not is naïve.
Let me make this clear: My worries about a terrorist individual or small cell lurking in the NYPD ranks is not directed at any broad ethnic or religious group. While the current major terrorist threat is posed by radical, anti-American Islamic fanatics, to automatically suspect all of the hundreds of Muslim cops in the NYPD of having jihadist sympathies would not only be stupid and wrong, but also counterproductive. It would be the same mistake the Department made a century ago, when Italian Americans were only grudgingly accepted into the NYPD ranks, and even then were often suspected of having ties to the Mafia—this at a time when it was Italian American cops who were capable of penetrating the criminal elements of the New York City Italian American community, and who were busily putting mobsters in jail. The fact is that to guard against external jihadist threats, the NYPD needs more cops who are familiar with the cultures and languages of the Muslim world, not fewer.
So how can the NYPD protect itself, and more important, the people of New York City, against an internal terrorist threat?
There are already certain counterintelligence procedures in place to help guard against infiltration or internal subversion of the NYPD; again, I can’t talk about those. But I can offer some general observations.
For one thing, the Department needs better screening and background checks of potential applicants—and a tougher, more pragmatic attitude toward applicants who don’t make the grade. Again and again in this book I’ve described cases of bad cops who never should have been cops in the first place, although nobody seemed to realize that until after they got caught committing crimes. In most of those cases it wasn’t a matter of the applicant screening process actively ignoring red flags in the cop’s background—obvious things like a prior criminal conviction, family and neighborhood criminal associations, and so on. Instead it was a question of the screening process not doing enough to actively seek out the red flags. In the rush to fill the ranks after layoffs or downsizing, or to increase diversity or acquire special language and cultural skills, the Department too often allowed a lack of negative information in the record to serve as proof that there was no negative information to be found.
Unfortunately, sometimes gaps in a potential cop’s background are impossible to fill in, especially when recruiting applicants from immigrant communities. For example, an NYPD applicant who came to the US from Syria as a teenager, a guy who seems perfect in every way, may say that he had no criminal record or terrorist connections in the old country, but how does the screening process prove that? Given the chaos in that part of the world, you can’t just call the Damascus PD and ask them to run a RAP search (Record of Arrests and Prosecutions) on the guy—and even if you could, how trustworthy would that be? And even if the US national security and intelligence agencies don’t have the guy on their radar, that doesn’t necessarily prove that he shouldn’t be on their radar.
So in cases where there are blank spots in an applicant’s record, until those blanks can be filled in the Department should assume the worst—and it shouldn’t matter whether the applicant is an immigrant from the Middle East or a suburban kid from Long Island. Yes, that might deprive the Department of some applicants with critical cultural and language skills. And it may not be fair to some individuals. But the threat of infiltration by an ISIS-style terror group is too serious for the Department to cut corners.
Of course, all the preemployment background screening in the world can’t detect a cop who becomes radicalized after he’s on the force. To guard against that threat requires the same sort of vigilance that should be applied to any form of police corruption or misconduct. Part of that vigilance involves constant, proactive Internal Affairs or counterintelligence monitoring of everything from Department computer systems to individual officers’ on- and off-duty conduct—a level of scrutiny that might not be acceptable to civilians, but should be applied to police officers because of their special status within society.
And the other part of that vigilance against potential terrorist infiltration comes down to the old admonition: If you see something, or hear something, or even just suspect something, then say something.
Is a cop you know spending time looking at Islamic jihadist websites—or violent right-wing Christian-oriented websites, for that matter? Well, maybe he’s just curious. Or maybe he’s applying for a job with the Intelligence Bureau and is trying to get some background information for his interview. Or maybe, just maybe, there’s a problem there. Has your partner sitting next to you in the patrol car become increasingly bitter or angry about American policies in the Middle East, or perceived injustices toward a religious or ethnic group? Hey, this is America, and everybody’s entitled to their opinions—but not everyone is entitled to be a cop. If a cop is acting strangely, we have to find out why.
Sure, probably 99 percent of the time this sort of behavior will not turn out to be anything sinister. But the potential threat posed by that other one percent, or even one-tenth of one percent, could be devastating.
Like I said at the beginning, as chief of Internal Affairs Bureau I was kept awake at night by only a small group of potentially bad cops.
Even now, as a private citizen concerned about terrorists attacking my city and my country, I know that the numbers are small, but that doesn’t help me sleep any better.
* * *
/> Since retiring from the NYPD I’ve kept busy—so busy that sometimes I think I should go back to full-time employment just to get some rest. I’ve worked as a consultant on Internal Affairs and security issues for a number of US and international police departments and private companies; I’m also working part-time as the Nassau County Commissioner of Corrections. I’ve always regretted not completing my PhD in criminal justice, so I’m planning to knuckle down and finish that dissertation. Having never had quite enough time for fishing, I’ve also traveled to various remote areas of the world to personally investigate reports of game fish that haven’t been taken into custody—although once caught I usually ROR them (released–own recognizance). And after so many missed birthdays and hockey games and holidays and family events during my years as a cop, I’ve made sure I don’t miss anything with my four grandchildren. The old joke is true: If I’d known how much fun grandchildren are, I would have had them first.
And I’ve also taken the time to write this book.
As I said at the beginning, by necessity much of this book has been about bad cops—the small group of criminals who betrayed their oaths and tarnished their NYPD shields. That’s because for almost half of my NYPD career, protecting the public and the good cops from those bad cops was my job.
But those bad cops aren’t the ones who usually come to mind when I think about the NYPD. The bad cops are easily forgotten. It’s the other NYPD cops that I remember.
I remember the cops in the Seven-Three who risked their lives to protect people in the neighborhoods that no one else in the city cared about. I remember the cops walking beats or working details in the cold rain while everybody else was warm and safe inside. I remember cops like Lenny Swindell, cops who never grew cynical, cops who from their first day to their last always followed Lenny’s credo: If ya got a job, do the job!
I remember cops like Detective Luis Lopez and so many others who risked and lost their lives in the service of the people of New York City, and the thousands of cops standing at attention at the funerals, eyes filling with tears as a member of the NYPD honor guard knelt down to present a folded American flag to yet another grieving widow or mother or child. I remember cops like the Anti-Crime Unit guys I used to ride around with in the Sixth Precinct, cops driven by the sheer joy of taking dangerous criminals off the streets, and cops in ESU who were never afraid to be first through the door. I remember cops who weren’t only great cops but great leaders and innovators, like Ray Kelly and Jack Maple, and the young cop who broke the Blue Wall of Silence in the Louima case not to save his own skin but simply because he saw a wrong that had to be righted.
I remember the cops who didn’t fail the integrity tests, the vast majority of cops who did the right thing simply because that’s the kind of cops and the kind of people they were. I remember cops rushing into burning buildings, and current and former cops like George Ferguson sneaking onto The Pile to search for their brothers and sisters, and cops in Hazmat suits sifting through rubble in The Landfill, and cops smiling as they rang the Found Bell and took another name off the missing list.
And I remember the cops of the Internal Affairs Bureau, men and women who, however unwillingly at the start, took on the tough, sometimes dangerous and almost always thankless job of making sure that the law applies to everybody, other cops included.
They are the cops I’ll always remember when I think of the NYPD.
And that’s the kind of cop I always wanted to be.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost, I want to thank my family, beginning with my father, Charles “Chappy” Campisi, who always preached honesty and integrity and who taught me to work hard for anything I wanted in life; and my mother, Josephine Lamanno Campisi, who told me to face my mistakes, make sure I didn’t repeat them, and fight like hell when I thought I was right. My deepest appreciation also to my beautiful wife, Arlene, and my sons, Charles and Vincent, who like every cop’s family had to put up with the 2:00 a.m. phone calls, the late suppers, the holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and hockey games missed. Their unwavering support carried me through the toughest times and gloomiest nights.
I’m also grateful to the overwhelming majority of good, hardworking, honest New York City cops who day in and day out keep our city safe, and especially to the men and women of the Internal Affairs Bureau. They were selected to do one of the toughest and most important jobs in policing, and they responded with true professionalism and dedication. Their courage was exemplified by IAB Detectives Sandra Adrian and Thomas Weiner, whose work during and after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center led to their untimely deaths because of 9/11-related illnesses.
Writing a book is a team effort, and this book was blessed with a great team. Rick Horgan, executive editor at Scribner, was a guiding light and a firm hand throughout the process; my deepest thanks also to Scribner editor in chief Colin Harrison, art director Jaya Miceli, David Lamb, Sally Howe, and production editor Katie Rizzo. Ruth Pomerance, Mike Harriot, and Molly Jaffa of Folio Literary Management were instrumental in developing this book; their foresight and suggestions proved right at every turn. Jill Menza from Umami Entertainment was the first person to believe in this project, and her encouragement and support never wavered. Eric Lasher and Maureen Lasher of the LA Literary Agency offered wise counsel along the way. Daniel Paisner was a great help in getting the project started. Gordon Dillow helped me focus my thoughts and coordinate my remembrances to tell this story; our friendship developed over the months and I’m sure it will continue into the future. My thanks also to Debbie Weil, Annie Dillon, and Terry and Patty Dillow for their support.
* * *
I had the pleasure and honor to serve under some outstanding police commissioners during my time in the New York City Police Department. My thanks to Raymond W. Kelly, the architect of the Internal Affairs Bureau, whose concept of a dynamic, ever-evolving Internal Affairs Bureau was the foundation of our success; William Bratton, whose continued support of IAB was instrumental to the bureau’s growth; Howard Safir, who never wavered in difficult times and brought the Internal Affairs Bureau into prominence with clear direction and guidelines; and Bernie Kerik, who gained international recognition in the aftermath of 9/11.
The New York Police Department was blessed with dedicated first deputy commissioners. Among them were Tosano Simonetti, Tough Tony to those who really didn’t know him, a man with a heart of gold who always had time to listen, advise, and mentor; Patrick Kelleher, whose hard work, long hours, and attention to detail made him a force multiplier within the Department; Joe Dunne, a commanding presence and very talented man to work with; and George Grasso (now a New York Criminal Court judge) and Rafael Piñeiro, who carried on the traditions of the office. Chief of Department Joe Esposito (now the New York City Commissioner of the Office of Emergency Management) is one of the top operational planners in the entire city, and although we didn’t always agree on things, I know he loves the New York City Police Department and always had the Department’s best interest at heart.
Deputy commissioners are appointed civilian members of the Department; they play a variety of roles and bring vast years of experience. Among the best was Jack Maple, a true visionary who ushered in the CompStat system and worked with the Internal Affairs Bureau in numerous ways to enhance our abilities to use statistically informed data to plan and execute proactive measures; Dr. Elsie Scott, one of the toughest, most demanding, and best bosses I ever worked for; Walter Mack, who took the reins of the new Internal Affairs Bureau at a very difficult time and kick-started the bureau; and Michael Farrell, a brilliant man and the go-to guy on any problem. I don’t think there was a problem that Mike couldn’t solve.
My appreciation also to Chief of Staff Joe Wuensch, an honorable man with a wicked knuckleball, who could see all sides of a problem and develop solutions that were beneficial to all. Also Chief Allan Hoehl, one of the hardest-working chiefs in the New York City Police Department, always willing to should
er any task and mentor those under his command, a leader who stood out in front of those who proudly followed him. Chiefs James Waters and Tom Galati are leaders with great potential who are just hitting their strides.
During my career at the Internal Affairs Bureau, I had a number of executive officers, and each brought their own special skills to the position. They include Assistant Chiefs John Moakley, who navigated the inner workings of the New York City Police Department like a master seaman, and Gary Strebel, a dedicated man who looked at all sides of an issue and worked tirelessly to ensure that cops were treated fairly. Also Mike Ansbro (who later retired as Chief of the Transit Bureau), Bill Calhoun, Bill Crawley, Ray King, Tom Fahey, and Jack McManus, all of them diligent and dedicated professionals.
There were many other chief executives who deserve to be singled out as well. Assistant Chief Lowell Stahl, a friend and a stalwart of the New York City Police Department, had the ability to resolve problems and maintain his cool under pressure. Also Deputy Chiefs Sal Comodo, Alan Cooper, Tom Mason, and Ed Thompson—nobody could ask for a better team. Inspectors Vito Colamussi, Joe DiBartolomeo, Ariana Donovan, Dave Grossi, Pat Keane, Tim McCarthy, Bill Monteleone, Terry Moore, George O’Brien, Joe Pfister, Phil Romanzi, Tom Scollan, Christine Servedio, and Bob Sharpe, all of whom helped carry the load day in and day out, and Barry Fried, who had many hidden talents that he shared when we needed them most.
My thanks also to Chief of Detectives Phil Pulaski, an invaluable ally whose expansive knowledge of forensics and willingness to share resources was always welcomed, and to Chief Joanne Jaffe, a committed professional who could always be counted on to face any challenge. Thanks also to Chief Ray Spinella, who turns into a whirlwind when given any job or assignment; Chief Carlos Gomez, an extremely efficient leader who has unlimited potential; and Organized Crime Control Bureau Chief Tony Izzo, a strong boss and a good friend. All of New York owes thanks to Chief of Detectives Bill Allee, who helped transform Times Square from a crime-infested war zone into the safe and tourist-friendly place it is today. My gratitude also to Chief Mike Scagnelli, an avid outdoorsman and a great cop, and to Lieutenant Tim Murphy, a trusted confidential aide and someone I could always count on.
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