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Randy Jurgensen was born and raised in New York City. He served in the U.S. Army
as a Paratrooper and Green Beret. Randy received numerous medals for his military duty, including three Bronze Stars; and
the Purple Heart. After returning from his military service in Korea, he joined the New York Police Department. During his
tenure with the NYPD, Randy worked as an undercover Narcotics Detective and a homicide detective in Harlem. During his Harlem
years, the murder of Police Officer Philip Cardillo became the catalyst for one of the largest scandals in the history of
the NYPD.
Randy Jurgensen, along with his co-author Robert Cea (retired NYPD), give an account
of the scandal in “Circle of Six: The True Story of New York's Most Notorious Cop-Killer and the Cop
Who Risked Everything to Catch Him.” According to the book, ‘On Friday, April
14, 1972, the police were summoned to Mosque Number 7 in Harlem, led at the time by the Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan,
for a ten-thirteen: officer in need of help. The turn of events after this police officer distress call has become perhaps
the most legendary story in NYPD history. Police entered the Mosque and a conflict occurred, leaving Office Cardillo dead;
and, the city on the brink of a full-scale riot. Sensing a potential crisis and conflict with the Nation of Islam and the
Black Liberation Army, New York City Mayor John Lindsay, Commissioner Benjamin Ward, and Congressman Charles Rangel acquiesced
to the city's black leaders and ordered the police out of the Mosque.
Subsequently, the details of Officer
Cardillo's murder and the events of what happened at the Mosque were covered up and an investigation was never truly launched
until NYPD detective Randy Jurgensen began his own investigation. For four years, he would not rest, taking on the Mayor,
his superiors in the NYPD, the Nation of Islam, and seemingly at times, the entire city of New York, before he could affect
an arrest. His investigation revealed the tragic and shameful story of the political scandal and cover-up that rocked the
NYPD and the Nation of Islam.”
According to one reader of Circle
of Six: The True Story of New York's Most Notorious Cop-Killer and the Cop Who Risked Everything to Catch Him,
“As a murder cop and fellow NYPD retiree, I want to personally thank Randy Jurgenson for writing this shameful story
of a brutal murder and the official cover-up that was instituted under Police Commissioner Patrick Murphy. I was in police
service during this despicable conspiracy to conceal the truth and was elated that the true story has finally been told. As
I read the book it brought back vivid and painful memories of the treachery and deceit practiced by the "political charlatans"
of the NYPD who disappeared in Police Headquarters while the street cops were under attack.
The racism that permeated events during
this violent time is alive and well in the antics of the current racial racketeers who continue to use the Race Card"
for their personal agendas. What I think is really important in this book is that the "key" players who were responsible
for this injustice have been named and identified and will hopefully be held responsible for their actions. At least the "truth"
has finally been documented in a well-written and factual account of one of the darkest days in the history of the greatest
police department in the world. Those who remain alive from the Circle of Six should hang their heads in shame now that their
actions have been exposed. This is the ultimate "Cold Case Homicide" story.”
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From the
History of the New York City Police Department By act of the legislature, passed April 8, 1808, any person convicted of petit larceny
before any court of general sessions of the peace, should be punished by fine, not exceeding $200, or imprisoned in the county
jail or prison any term of time not exceeding three years, or by whipping not exceeding thirty-nines lashes for one offense.
This law made it the duty of any of the courts of general sessions of the peace, where any corporal punishment should be directed
to be inflicted, as aforesaid, to direct any Constable or Constables attending such courts to inflict said punishment, which
direct such Constable or Constables were required to obey.
In 1810 it was ordered that Watchmen
should be stationed nightly at the Potter's Field. This is a significant order. It may easily be inferred that the young
doctor's of those days found the same difficulty as those of to-day in obtaining a sufficient supply of dissecting material.
But now the salary question comes up again, and now at last something practical is done. On February 26, several petitions
were received from citizens, asking an increase of pay for the Watchmen. The city fathers took almost a year to think it over;
but on March 25, 1811, the Police Committee reported the draft of a memorial to the legislature, and a bill to be enacted,
which were approved, and ordered to be engrossed and presented by the Mayor to the legislature. The following is a copy of
the memorial:
That a perfect Police, is in the opinion
of your memorialists, of extreme importance in every city, and particularly in one daily and rapidly increasing like the City
of New York. In perfecting such a police, the activity of the inferior officers and agents of the police magistrates is every
way important and competent. Rewards are consequently necessary to stimulate such activity. At present there are constables
and marshal in the service of the city police, whose compensation arises from very trivial fees which are allowed them by
law, and which are the same in all cases, whether such cases are important or unimportant. It is very apparent to your memorialists
that in cases of difficulty and importance, the established fees of office can hold out very little inducement for increased
exertion, and that, therefore, capital criminals may, through the want of competent remuneration to these inferior officers
of justice, baffle pursuit and escape the penalties of the law.
Source: Our Police Protectors Holice and Debbie
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