Uncategorized
Memoir: My perspective, thoughts and feelings during this past year since getting sick with COVID-19
Sunday, March 14, is the first anniversary of when I got sick with COVID-19. It has been a little more than a year that all of humanity has faced the unprecedented challenges of this pandemic. I considered writing about what I believe many people have been going through and what feelings they have been having,…
Read MoreMy dear friend, Mrs. Irene Cox, returns to her daughter Jacqueline on the same day of the year she passed away.
Sharing some sad news, Mrs. Irene Cox, a friend of mine, passing away today. In 2008, I was in McDonald’s on Flatbush Avenue, off Avenue R. A woman who I had seen there before, with the warmest smile and such beautiful eyes, saw the stars on my white shirt under my windbreaker. She asked me…
Read MoreA Person of Service
We remember Chief Steve Bonano, who died six years ago today, from 9/11 cancer. Steve was my Executive Officer in Brooklyn South. A great man, with a strong background in policing, including assignments in Aviation (Steve was a pilot) and Emergency Service. He was also a United States Navy veteran and a Harvard graduate. He…
Read MoreA True Sample of Service, Caring and Bravery
Moments like this remind me that I am not a tall man! 😂🦊🤷🏻♂️. Meet Ed Fernandez, Tom Binstock and Travis Warfield, Kings Transit Task Force. After a nice chat in downtown Brooklyn I checked my email history because I knew I had spoken to each of them a few times to thank them for their…
Read MoreRemembering Two of our Heroes
We remember two of our heroes, who sacrificed their life for us six years ago today. In the wave of anti-police rhetoric NYPD Detectives Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were assassinated in Brooklyn. At Woodhull Hospital that day I looked at the faces of the elected officials, the same ones who are vilifying police officers…
Read MoreThomas “TJ” Curly
I live in an apartment on the beach in Rockaway and every window faces the ocean. At about 4:00 AM on December 3, 2017, having fallen asleep on my recliner, I woke and saw emergency lights flashing onto the otherwise dark boardwalk. I went to my terrace, leaned over and saw fire trucks and police…
Read MoreThe Sentencing
November 8, 2007 – While we await the arrival of the judge from his chambers, there is small talk to my left, someone telling another of renovations on his home, and small talk to my right, possible upcoming indictment of an elected official. Often, we fill painful moments with small talk. As I wait, I…
Read MoreJust one person in the world?
Sharing a phone call I had with a man named Fheal, from the Amazon Support Team. After he helped me with my inquiry I asked him how he was doing. He told me that he was doing well and he just started his shift, and I was his first phone call. We then chatted for…
Read MoreOur Life
On the beach, at water’s edgeThe ocean is calmSoft wavesA few cargo ships miles awayDarkness but for the MoonShining her light on the water belowLook up, stars fill the skyA shooting star just nowAnd our sister planetsMars just to the left of the MoonTo my right, Jupiter and SaturnAnd the Milky Way Beauty, peace and…
Read More“Uncle Joe, that’s awesome!”
On the morning of September 12, 2001, having had a couple of hours sleep, I woke up and put my uniform on and went straight to a memorial service that then New York City Council Member Marty Golden and the community of Marine Park, Brooklyn, put together in the park, right at the flagpole. Like…
Read More