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About the New York
Police Department (NYPD): The first law-enforcement officer began to patrol the trails and paths of New York City when it was known as New
Amsterdam, and was a Dutch settlement and fort in the year 1625. This lawman was known as a "Schout – fiscal"
(sheriff – attorney) and was charged with keeping the peace, settling minor disputes, and warning colonists if fires
broke out at night. The first Schout was a man named Johann Lampo. The Rattle Watch was a group of colonists during the Dutch era (1609 - 1664) who patrolled from
sunset until dawn. They carried weapons, lanterns and wooden rattles (that are similar to the ratchet noisemakers used during
New Year celebrations). The rattles made a very loud, distinctive sound and were used to warn farmers and colonists of threatening
situations. Upon hearing this sound, the colonists would rally to defend themselves or form bucket-brigades to put out fires.
The rattles were used because whistles had not yet been invented. The Rattle Watchmen also are believed to have carried lanterns
that had green glass inserts. This was to help identify them while they were on patrol at night (as there were no streetlights
at that time). When they returned to their Watch House from patrol, they hung their lantern on a hook by the front door to
show that the Watchman was present in the Watch House. Today, green lights are still hung outside the entrances of Police
Precincts as a symbol that the "Watch" is present and vigilant. When the High Constable of New York City, Jacob Hays retired from service in 1844, permission was
granted by the Governor of the state to the Mayor of the City to create a Police Department. A force of approximately 800
men under the first Chief of Police, George W. Matsell, began to patrol the City in July of 1845. They wore badges that had
an eight-pointed star (representing the first 8 paid members of the old Watch during Dutch times). The badges had the seal
of the City in their center and were made of stamped copper. Source: nycpolicemuseum.org /html/faq.html#begin
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Robert Leuci joined the New
York Police Department in 1961. Readers are likely familiar with some of the story of Leuci’s career
because part of it was told in the best-selling book and movie “Prince of the City.” As a narcotics
detective, Leuci worked undercover for prosecutors investigating police corruption in the 1970s New York Police Department. Robert Leuci retired
from the New York Police Department in 1981. He began a second career as a writer, lecturer and teacher.
Leuci is frequently called upon to lecture at universities, law schools and police academies on police corruption.
In addition to his writing, he is an adjunct professor of English and Political Science at the University of Rhode
Island. In his most recent book, “All Thee Centurions: A New
York City Cop Remembers His Years on the Street, 1961-1981,” Leuci fleshes out the details of his role in “Prince
of City.” On reviewer rather harshly noted that Leuci “traces in detail the incremental steps
that turned him from a naïve and idealistic beat cop into an arrogant dirty one, who easily rationalized ripping off
drug dealers and playing along with rampant graft. To his credit, Leuci doesn't sugarcoat or paper over his lies, his
betrayal of the public and his family, or pretend that he was unaware at the time that what he was doing was wrong. These
flaws make him a classic tragic figure, especially when he begins to make a belated effort to redeem himself by cooperating
with the Knapp Commission.” A second reviewer was somewhat kinder when he commented Robert Leuci’s
newest novel was “as vivid and entertaining as the best crime novels, All the Centurions is the story of a man descending
into a hell of his own making who ultimately finds his way out through truth and justice.”
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