January 19, 2024 Intuition Development Newsletter
A monthly email Vol. 7, #1 published by the Sepoo Press
mod 2/20/2024
The C.O. of the 46 Precinct Auxiliary Police Patrol Force scheduled the monthly supervisors meeting for 2000 hours, after roll call and the patrols were dispatched. She first noticed a difference about the day when she drew up the post list. Normally, the first posts covered were one on the Grand Concourse, then one on Fordham Road. This evening she decided to put both of the first two teams on Fordham Road. Tuesdays were the major duty night making Wednesdays naturally lighter. And it was in the high 90s making fewer patrols likely.
Only enough volunteers for two posts came in. Both teams were assigned to Fordham Road, one from Jerome west to the Concourse, the other from the Concourse West to Webster.
The Supervisors meeting began after the X.O., A/Lt. D'Amico, returned from seeing the patrols on post, shortly after 8pm.
Only one supervisor was not present, A/Sgt. McCray, who would serve in a unique way.
About a half hour into the meeting, it went dark. The A/C.O. picked up the receiver for the phone on the Sgt.'s desk. No dial tone. It was major. Local blackouts did not interrupt phone service. P.O. Tony Sexton, the Auxiliary Police Coordinator, went to start the 46 generator. She assigned all the supervisors. D’Amico and his partner left to set up a command post at Fordham Road and the Grand Concourse. Other supervisors each left with 2 or 3 teams of new arrivals to escort them to posts on Fordham. The remaining A/Sgts. would do likewise as more APOs reported in or went home to return in the morning.
It was too late for the Concourse. Looting began within minutes.
Leaving the office, she encountered an injured woman. She bandaged the woman's severely lacerated arm which had intersected with a descending plate glass window. She strongly urged the woman to go to Fordham hospital and continued to the main desk.
She informed the command desk officer that she was posting the Auxiliary Police desk officer, APO Yvette Aguiar, at the front door to man 3 blotters, one for the APF [Auxiliary Patrol Force], one for AES [Aux. Emergency Services] and one for the Stationhouse to track all visitors in and out. This APO would later serve NYPD as a Sergeant [last known rank].
The regular X.O., Capt. Vignola and the A/X.O. worked well together, directing over 400 regular police officers, as well as 200 APs who would serve in the 46 this night, double the numbers assigned to the 46 at this time. A/Lt. D'Amico, trained in Aikido, also rescued countless teams of regular officers and restored teams to their assigned posts after they were moved by the regular C.O. Still a Captain, he soon decided to let his X.O.s do their jobs and was rewarded with promotion to the rank of Deputy Inspector for his wisdom.
New procedures and practices were invented.
Instant Booking created by Tony Sexton:
Write identifying number sequences on large cards, one card for the person and one with the same number for each item taken. Tape the cards to the merchandise. Have the person hold the card across their chest. Take a polaroid. Move the merchandise to a storage area and put the person on the bus to be transported.
Hit and run teams:
Composed of two regular Police Officers and two APOs. People with stolen items were misdirected to run between two officers. who would hit each one in the arm with a nightstick causing them to drop the merchandise. They usually continued running.
This last was a morale and cooperation builder. It did much to relieve the tension built up from the July 1975 layoffs when 60% of the 46 precinct’s personnel were laid off.
There were only two looting attempts on Fordham Road. Alexander's which had a team of Dobermans discouraging any notion of entry and a Jewelry store near Jerome Avenue which had a window broken but no further damage. The team assigned to this post was nearby went the lights went out. The team leader, petite APO Frances Aiello. was a formidable young woman despite her size. The would be looters hastily departed.
The PBBx Aux. Coordinator, P.O. Bahr, called around 2130 which told her phone service was available. He informed her that A/D.I. Jerry Windman was visiting commands.
She called Lt. Tanzi to confirm he would be in as scheduled for the morning shift. As she expected, that was his plan. She briefed him on conditions up to that point. His immediate concern was his tomatoes with temperatures dropping below 40° F.
Operations in the 46 stationhouse fell into a routine. She got into uniform and left for the command post with A.P.O. Luis R. They walked the block to the Concourse, turning north, walking in the street as the stores were being looted.
The looters attached chains to the gates of a store, then signaled the driver of the truck to which they were attached. The truck would move forward enough to pull off the gates. The men smashed the plate glass windows. The truck would then back up to the next store and repeat the operation.
The two Auxiliaries were about a block past the looters when they were noticed. First, there were 4 men following them, then about 30. She told Luis to go the same speed but take longer steps. There was an anti-crime unit north of them standing on either side of their vehicle, parked at an angle to the curb, with their weapons clearly visible. The mob noticed them and went back to their looting.
After talking with anti-crime, they continued on to the Fordham Road command post.
Fordham and the Concourse was as busy as a Saturday afternoon in December’s holiday shopping season. A.P.s were stopping buses to take on people as drivers refused to stop other wise. A boy who had become separated from his family was brought to her.
As the temperature was 98° F, she asked a store manager for some cold water or lemonade for the APOs. He thought about it for 10 seconds then had 6 large cups of ice and lemonade brought out.
After hearing everyone’s reports, she took the car to return to the house, then drive the boy to the south Bronx.
It was quiet once she left the Fordham and Concourse area, except for the sounds of breaking glass and metal gates.
After checking in at the 46, she drove south along the Concourse to the 40. The boy directed her to his street past blocks with few buildings, mostly empty space except for the fires in the 55 gallon drums lighting up the night.
She stopped near his building where some people were gathered. One recognized the boy and went to get his mother. Mother and son were joyfully re-united. She returned to the 46.
Day break brought a strange sight. The night’s looters were gone. Every single store on the Grand Concourse was bare walls, cleaned out [fixtures, carpets, etc.]. from 188th south to below 182nd Street.
A/Sgt. McCray had had a busy night. She worked for MH Bank. A branch was located on her corner. She told the looters they could leave the computers they took in her building’s lobby. She’d safeguard them. She called Manny Hanny who retrieved their equipment during the day.
Two unarmed teams on Fordham.
No police presence on the Concourse when the lights went out.
No Auxiliaries injured. Training followed.
Many lessons learned.
How does this event demonstrate intuitive living?
Many decisions were made using intuition. These include:
- the initial decision to join the 46.
- the decision to hold a flexible, monthly supervisors meeting, on this date.
- the decision to post only on Fordham Road.
- the decision to have A/Sgts. continuously supervise specific teams.
- the immediate checking for a dial tone.
- establishing the desk at the entrance to the station house.
- calling Lt. Tanzi to verify he’d come in for the morning shift, not before, knowing fresh blood was needed.
- knowing they would not be harmed by the looters.
- knowing APO Luis R. would not return for a while but that he would return.
There was a lack of second guessing and indecisiveness. Discussion but no arguments.
There was great cooperation. Little anxiety. No hysterics. No panic.
Even the fear was calm.
After dismissing the APs who had worked through the night and conferring with the fresh supervisors, at about 0900, she and D’Amico left for home in Rahway, NJ.
Part Two coming soon.
Wanisi do.