I was assigned to Transit Police District One, located in the subway station at the Columbus Avenue subway station. I happened to be assigned to patrol that station one day, when a train pulled in blowing a "Long-short, long-short" whistle, which meant that a police prescence was needed. It turned out that a woman who wanted to commit suicide-by-subway-train (not unusual) jumped to the tracks as the train entered the station. I responded, used my radio to have the transit authority remove power to the "Third rail", for the protection of the would-be suicide attempter and myself. When I was on the trackbed attempting to tend to the woman, I was suddenly joined by my captain, wearing his silk sharkskin suit - and his name was George Latimer, who is seen promininently in this video. He was known as "Chicken George" only for the fact that he raised chickens, and certainly not for his heroic assistance. After about 4 decades or so, it's good to see him again, even if just in a YT video.
This is a question that I have pondered -- why does the NYC Transit Police not patrol ON the subway trains; just outside of them? I'm not from NYC but I used to visit it very frequently in the early 2000's. I only saw NYC police on board.
Idk if you'll ever see this but if you do I'd like to ask, with no offense meant, but why transit police? That doesn't seem like the most glamorous of positions, though of course very important. So why there? Thanks in advance!
That Caprice was a great unit. In 91 the body style was changed to the inverted bathtub that was Fugly, but still a great unit. The best Caprice I drove was the 94 with the 5.7 LT1 powertrain. Some of the guys on my squad got theirs up to 140 and the unit was solid at high speeds. We had no problem keeping up with Mustangs and Firebirds, and criminals thought twice about running from the PD and SO when being chased by one of these.
@@0159ralph the late 80s Chevy & Ford LTD were the best. I would love to have an 89 Caprice & do a PIT on a Brand new Vet or mustang watch it open it up like a tuna can.
I drove both the 88 chevy and ford and both were horrible! The chevy thru transmissions and the ford's over heated while idling! Both had horrible seats
@@RoadCone411 Well, you could get options which made them more luxurious. I know my neighbors was pretty nice inside. My father almost bought it from him.
“The front seats will be clad in cloth which is better than vinyl, more breathable, comfortable and more aesthetically pleasing than vinyl 100%; the rear seats that will transport prisoners will be vinyl” These videos are great!
It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas.
I trained on the Chevy Caprice 9C1 police cars when I got hired by the Portland Polive Bureau in 1991. They were decent cars. They felt fast-ish for what they were, they handled well, they were easy to see out of, they had large trunks, decent rear seat space, and were easy to get in and out of. I've never been to New York City, but I can't imagine choosing Suburbans to use in heavy city traffic.
I drove both for those years and both were junk! The ford's did hold up better but I would take today's explorer. Way way way more comfortable for 12 hrs shifts and they don't over heat.
@25yrsotj no way I drove them for 20 yrs and the seats did not have the technology for a 8 to 12 hr shift! I had 3 back surgeries because of those seats
Say what you want about the USPS, but our Grumman LLV’s were just coming on line service then and will be in many places for several years to come. I love asking the new hires: “How old are you?” “I just turned 23.” “Well the truck you’re driving today is 10 years older than you.”
And it caused a big issue between Transit and the NYPD. From what I was told transit was not allowed to use the NYPD range after the switchover and had to use either Nassau or Suffolk range to qualify.
@@gregorybentley5707 At the time the NYPD did not want to switch over to semi autos for a variety of insane reasons and IIRC the logic is if we're not doing it then nobody else should. When the NYPD switched in 1993 they implemented a 12 lb trigger pull and went with the Glock 19 instead of the 17 due to slightly less magazine capacity.
@The718Motorpoo bear in mind, this is also the same department that didn't allow officers to use speedloaders until the mid 80s. Just about everyone in the PD ignored it, especially in the busiest commands, but there were white shirts that busted balls about it. Oddly enough, you were authorized a semi automatic weapon off duty on your badge, some guys, my dad included, had their backup weapons on their duty belts. Dad had a Browning Hi-power. So did our family friend, a cop I'll refer to as Howdy Doody.
@@The718MotorpoolThe few NYPD officers who transferred to my job, weren’t well trained in their firearms. They learned how to field strip the Department issued Glock 19 and become proficient with their firearm. I heard the NYPD authorized the G17 pistol which use a 15 round magazine. I guess they want to save money on ammunition.
First patrol vehicle I ever drove in 1993. Drive a F-150 Responder and will retire driving it…. Drove Crown Vic’s, Torpedo Caprice’s, two models of Charger’s, and Explorers in-between. Explorer best pursuit with the Ecoboost V6…Responder most room. Department never bought a Tahoe.
@@afcgeo882 It's also the reason why I mistook them for Fire Vehicles instead of Police Vehicles when I first visited NYC 20 Years ago, when I am from all of our Police Vehicles are Blue/White Lights including the Unmarked Vehicles too.
@@DreadWing7777 Yes. All emergency vehicles in NY are required to use red lights. Blues are for volly fire and green for volly ambulance, but those lights aren’t emergency and you’re not required to pull over for them.
Seeing WTC twin towers still makes my breath catch. Is interesting seeing the early days of modernizing LE. Spund of the accent, the cars, amd even the sound of the sirens is flashback to my childhood. No i didnt live in the city but living in another city in ny we always knew ppl from downstate and any movie or tv show based in NYC when i was a kid left me marveling at my downstate brethren. I dont marvel at them any more. I used to enjoy trips to the city but dont any more......
@@The718Motorpool Bratton later on went to become the Los Angeles Police Chief. He was having difficulty with the Beretta 92F during range qualification and authorized the Glock pistol. Even though he was anti gun, he brought improvements to patrol.
