September/October 2013 Newsletter

Columbia Association of the Police Department, City of New York

COLUMBIA NEWS

Hello all of Columbia:

Welcome back! I hope that you

all have had an enjoyable and

safe summer. The summertime

was a very busy time for all of

us. The Columbia Association

held its annual Giglio Feast lift

on Sunday July 21, 2013 at Our

Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Williamsburg Brooklyn.

Notable Columbia members

that attended this event and

participated in the Giglio lift

were retired Chief of Department Joseph J. Esposito,

Chief of Intelligence Thomas Galati, Deputy Chief

Chaplain Robert J. Romano, Inspector John

Corbisiero, Inspector Peter Deblasio, Doctor Joseph

Ciuffo, Board Officer Emanuel Rossi and myself. This

was the 126th Giglio Feast. The street festival was

brought to Brooklyn by Italian immigrants more than

100 years ago to celebrate the return of Saint

Paulinus from captivity. Thousands of families come

out for the festival and many say the best part is

celebrating their Italian heritage.

On Thursday July 25, 2013 Chief of

Organized Crime Control, Chief Anthony J. Izzo had

his walk out from Police Headquarters. Bureau Chief

Anthony J. Izzo dedicated over 40 years to the New

York City Police Department and the City of New

York. The Columbia Association wishes Bureau

Chief Anthony J. Izzo and his family a healthy and

happy retirement.

From Sunday August 4, 2013 until Friday

August 9, 2013 the Columbia Association held its

annual Lake George Trip. The weather at Lake

George was beautiful! All that attended this event

had a wonderful time. The cherished time spent

together with all the families will last a lifetime.

Personally, I had a wonderful time with my sister

Angela and my beautiful daughters Caterina and

Alivia. My brother John attended the event again this

year and had a spectacular time with his girlfriend

Sue and her kids, Michael and Grace. Board Officer

Tony Quagliariello attended the event with his wife

Eileen and their two children Christopher and

Jennifer who had a wonderful time. Retired Columbia

member Mike Villa and his wife Noel and their two

children Henry and Charlie had a blast. Retired

Columbia Board Officer Marc Marino and his wife

Kim along with their two children Sal and Jenna had a

great time. Columbia member John Giangrasso and

his wife Celeste and their two children Adriana and

Anthony had a spectacular time. I would like to

personally thank all of the Columbia members along

with their families for their continued support and

for helping to make this year’s event successful.

September 10, 2013 was Fraternal Day at the

Police Academy. I would like to express my gratitude

to Board Officer’s Kendra Damante, Chris Pizzo,

Mike Alfieri, Louis Corrente and Anthony Burgio and

Columbia Delegate’s Anthony Mannuzza and Charina

D’Aiuto for helping to sign up over 150 new

Columbia members from the recruitment class.

On September 29, 2013 we held our 6th

Annual Motorcycle Tour in remembrance of

Detective Anthony J. Venditti. This year marked the

27th anniversary of Detective Anthony J. Venditti’s

passing. The Columbia Association will never forget

our fallen heroes. Detective Anthony J. Venditti’s

mother, Anna Venditti, his wife Patricia and their

four daughters along with their children participated

in this event and it was our honor to have them all

with us. We rode past Anthony J. Venditti Square

located on Myrtle Avenue and Saint Nicholas Avenue

in Ridgewood, Queens. The square was revitalized and looks spectacular. The most recent project

created more open design elements and planting

areas around the plaza. The Detective Anthony J.

Venditti Clock Tower is still working and a carillon

plays Westminster chimes on the quarter hour. On

the memorial plaque is the inscription “Down these

mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean;

who is neither tarnished nor afraid”. The post-party

barbeque was held at The Elks Lodge located at 3250

Richmond Avenue in Staten Island. Detective

Anthony J. Venditti was one of the founders of the

Blue Knights Bronx chapter. I would like to

personally thank all of the Blue Knight Chapters for

their participation in this event. Very special thanks

to Columbia Board Officers John Peruffo, John

Delgaudio and Rocco Ruscitto and to Columbia

member Lieutenant Tony DiPalma for making this

event memorable.

On October 13, 2013 we held the annual

Columbus Day Wreath Laying Ceremony in

Columbus Circle. I want to thank all of the Columbia

Association civil service groups that participated in

Affiliated with the National Council of Columbia Associations

In Civil Service, Inc. and the National Coalition of

Italian American Law Enforcement Organizations

Fraternity n Integrity n Charity

VOL.47, NO. 2 September - October 2013 SINCE 1932

Our President’s Message….

this event and the Italian Consulate General, Natalia

Quintavalle, for her attendance. A special thanks to

Joseph A. Guagliardo, the President of the National

Council of Columbia Associations in Civil Service, for

coordinating the entire event.

On October 14, 2013 we held our Columbus

Day Parade on 5th Avenue. The Columbia Association

celebrated mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral with his

Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of

New York. The Columbia Association then formed

up on 47th Street and 5th Avenue and led the

Columbus Day Parade up 5th Avenue. This year’s

Columbus Day Parade was a huge success! It was a

beautiful day for a Parade. I want to take this

opportunity to thank this year’s Columbia

Association’s Columbus Day Parade Grand Marshal,

retired Chief of Organized Crime Control Bureau,

Anthony J. Izzo, for accepting the Grand Marshall honor and marching in the parade with us. We want

to thank him for all of his support for the men and

women in the New York City Police Department

Columbia Association. I also would like to express

my gratitude to the following people who marched

with the Columbia Association along 5th Avenue; The

Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, the

New York City Police Commissioner, Honorable

Raymond W. Kelly, the Chief of Internal Affairs,

Charles V. Campisi, Chief of Intelligence Thomas

Galati, Deputy Chief Chaplain Robert J. Romano,

Department Chaplain Monsignor David L. Cassato,

Inspector Joseph Gallucci, Inspector John Corbisiero

and Inspector Peter DeBlasio, President of the

Detective Endowment Association Michael Palladino,

Vice-President Paul DiGiacomo and the Vice-

President of the Patrolman’s Benevolent Association

John Puglissi. I would like to thank the Italian Police

Officers that marched in the Columbus Day Parade

from different parts of New York, such as Suffolk

County, Nassau County and different parts of this

country, such as New Jersey, Boston and

Connecticut. I would like to thank the Police Officers

that marched from Italy, especially the Italian

Caribinari and the Italian Polizia Di Stato. I would be

remiss if I did not thank the whole Columbus Citizens

Foundation that puts this whole Columbus Day

Parade together. Most of all I would like to thank all

the members of the Columbia Association who

marched along 5th Avenue and showed support to their organization. The luncheon held again this year

at Wallace Hall. This new location was enjoyed by all

that attended. The air conditioning was an excellent

touch! I would like to thank Cono Colombo, the

owner of LaLocanda Restaurant in Brooklyn, who

catered the event. The food was excellent. The event

would not have been a success if not for the

generous donation made by Jason Rapport of ICC

Mortgage Services. The Columbia Association would

like to express its biggest gratitude to Board Officer

Manny Rossi and his family and to Board Officer

Salvatore Ferrante for all that was done to make this

event successful. I would like to take this opportunity

to personally congratulate Salvatore Farrante on his

promotion to Detective. Buona Fortuna.

Congratulations are in order for the most

senior uniformed member of the Police Department

and an outstanding Columbia Association member,

Lieutenant Anthony “Tony” DiPalma. On Friday

October 25, 2013 Lieutenant Tony DiPalma had his

walk out from the 123 Precinct. Lieutenant Tony

DiPalma dedicated over 40 years to the New York

City Police Department and the City of New York.

The Columbia Association wishes Lieutenant

Anthony DiPalma and his family a healthy and happy

retirement.

Save the date for the Columbia Association’s

Children’s Christmas Party being held on December

8, 2013 at the Italian Charities Building located at 83-

20 Queens Boulevard. Monsignor David L. Cassato

will host the mass at 10:00 AM and the Children’s

Christmas Party festivities will begin at 11:00 AM.

Santa Claus will be there to hand out presents to all

the children in attendance.

These are some of the upcoming events that

are on the radar. Check the Columbia website

frequently to keep abreast of all pertinent

information.

The end of the year is right around the

corner! It is the time of year for happy events. Take

the time out to enjoy family and friends during this

holiday season. The Columbia Association would like

to wish all of their members a Happy Thanksgiving.

The next General Meeting will be held on Tuesday

November 26, 2013 at the Italian Charities of America building located at 83-20 Queens Boulevard.

There will be 10 turkeys raffled off at this meeting

Let us push for memberships! If you have not paid

your dues for 2013 please see your delegate or any

Board Officer and support your organization. The

expression goes: “we are only as strong as our weakest link”. You can download a membership

application on the Columbia website which is

www.nypdcolumbia.org. You can now register online

through NYCAPS Employee Self-Service (ESS) for

automatic payroll deduction for membership in the

Columbia Association. The website is www.nyc.gov/

ESS. We are the first fraternal group that has

automatic payroll deductions for its members. Please

take advantage of this historic option! Instructions on

how to get registered for the automatic payroll

deduction are on the Columbia Association’s website.

Until next time, stay true to the Columbia

Association.

.

PAGE 2 Columbia News September -October 2013

President’s Message Continued….

http://www.nypdcolumbia.org

http://www.nyc.gov/ESS

http://www.nyc.gov/ESS

“Mr Italy”

Ciao, My Fellow Paisans

A lot has happened since our last issue. We lost two good men to retirement Chief Materasso and Chief of the Department Joseph Esposito. Both of these true Italians will be missed dearly. I had the op-portunity to attend Chief Esposito’s walk out and I must say that it was the largest attended walkout in my career and most say the largest ever. Unfortunate-ly I was unable to attend Chief Materasso’s retirement party due a death in the family, but I heard it was awesome 600 plus attended.

Recently I was contacted by someone who claimed to be related to me, Lieutenant Ralph Cilento. We had a conversation about some people I might know but his name came up blank. So I did some fami-ly research and spoke to my mother. My mom said “I know a Cilento, he was Aunt Rosie’s husband your grandfathers sister on your father’s side”. I said, “Wow what a small world, I guess I am related”. I followed up with him on a phone call and was able to chat with on being his third cousin. He also put me in contact with another cousin, Doug Cilento. Doug Ci-lento is a retired Agent in charge of the New Jersey Office for ATF. The reason this is all interesting and pertinent is that he was, thru his federal connections, able to trace the “Balsamo” name and history. Turns out I was able to trace my “Balsamo” lineage and find my ancestors came from the beautiful town of Sorren-to. Sorrento is case you didn’t know is a beautiful fish-ing village located along the Amalfi Coast, just south of Naples Italy. It was an ironic discovery to meet a family member who was also in law enforcement and a wonderful personal opportunity for me to learn where my family came from in Italy. What a great experi-ence!

Please take the time out and visit our Facebook

page at :

https://www.facebook.com/groups/

NYPDColumbiaassociation/

Join our mailing list and stay informed:

http://www.nypdcolumbia.org/geninfo/

joinemaillist.html

Until next issue, Ciao!

Ciao, Louis J. Balsamo… Editor

Executive Board

President ...............Anthony Cesarano............... (212) 274-4162

1st Vice President .....Rich Angeletti...................(718) 822-5815

2nd Vice President ......Emanuel Rossi.................(845) 902-0175

Executive Secretary .....R.J Coleman..................(212) 258-2840

Treasurer ................Kendra Damante.................(718) 972-7871

Recording Secretary.....Christopher Pizzo........ (212) 477-7444

Corresponding Secretary....Tony Quagliariello. (646) 210-9170

Sergeant At Arms ....Sal Ferrante….....................(718) 875-6850

Editor .......................Louis Balsamo................... (718) 845-2201

Public Relations Dir….....John DelGaudio............(917) 757-1456

Financial Secretaries

Manhattan …………...Anthony Burgio….… (212) 741-4811

Brooklyn……….……..Vincent Aprea……... (718) 629-1220

Queens …………….....Matthew Cioffi…….. (718) 476-7595

Bronx………………....Steven Berger……… (718) 548-1250

Staten Island ……....John Peruffo..……… (718) 876-7606

Retiree’s………….…..Nat Infurna ………… (516) 747-1389

Life Member………….Phil Repaci Sr……... (718) 758-4475

Trustees

Manhattan………….Russ Maturo………...…(212) 239-9801

Manhattan………….Louis Corrente……...…(212) 477-9790

Manhattan………... Andrew Carraro…..….(212) 927-3200

Brooklyn…………....Michael Mongelli……..(516) 732-5961

Brooklyn…..………….Brett Raso…………….(516) 476-2752

Brooklyn…………….Michael Spezio………..(917) 531-7787

Queens………………Stephen Salazer……….(718) 533-2011

Queens………………Dyanne Marzano…..….(718) 279-5200

Bronx……………. ...Richard Citarella…… .(718) 292-6161

Bronx………………..Rocco Ruscitto….…….(914) 755-0606

Staten Island ……...Michael Alfieri...…… (917) 575-0009

Citywide………...Alessandro Pizzirusso…(718) 876-8959

Directors & Advisors

Special Assistant to the President: Phil Panzarella …(631) 965-7290

Travel..................................John Martini.............(718) 848- 1858

Health……………………….………Dr. Brian Mignola (718) 816-9056

Legal…………………………...….Stuart Salles…..…...(212) 267-9090

Legal………………………...….James Moschella….…(212) 233-3800

Spiritual……………...DC Msgr. Robert Romano....(646) 610-6472

Spiritual…………………..…Msgr. David Cassato…(718) 259-9146

Past Presidents

Frank Ventura………………………...… (212) 610-6910

Paul DiGiacomo………………………..….(212) 587-1000

Giovanni Porcelli………………………....(718) 702-2200

Stephen P. Chiarini.............................(516) 887-5737

John Bucalo.........................................(631) 669- 9023

Editor’s spot

New York City Police Department

Columbia Association

Board of Officers wwwnypdcolumbia.org


http://www.nypdcolumbia.org

Financial Secretaries Corner

Manhattan

Anthony Burgio

Greetings Everyone! Please be sure to submit your 2013 Columbia membership dues asap to your pre-cinct delegate or via ESS if you haven't done so already. It is not too late. Offering a word of thanks to Manhattan Trustee Louie Cor-rente for coordinating the Scholar-ship exam which was held in March. Please show your support by attending our meeting and

events.

Until next time, be safe and wear your vests!!

Fraternally,

Brooklyn

Vincent Aprea

Bongiorno, Spring has finally decided descend on our fine city. Let me take this final note to once again push the value of member-ship on our association. Our Ital-ian heritage is rich and should be celebrated. As always, stay safe and be well. Vincent

Queens

Matthew Cioffi

Greetings from Queens! I want all the delegates to keep up the great work!! and welcome the following new delegates: Nick Romano Qns Gang ,Maria McSweeney Medical Division, Charlie Sadler, Lisa Ve-lotta, Chris Spagnola 104 Pct. Con-grats to Anthony, Andy, Vinny and John for their mega appetites in defeating the FDNY Columbia As-sociation at the Ravioli eating con-test at the new Times Square res-turant Buca di Beppo. Thanks to our President , Anthony, and Buca Di Beppo our scholarship fund is

$5,0000 richer ! Mangia!!! Members please support our upcoming events: See you at the next meeting.

Financial Secretaries Corner

Bronx

Steven Berger

To all members of the Bronx, our numbers are down from last year. If you have not paid you dues, please see you delegate, ASAP. Member-ship is what keeps our organization strong. Anyone who is interested in becoming a delegate, contact :Steve Berger, Bronx Financial Secretary, 917 440 6206. Thank you stay safe!

Staten Island

John Peruffo

See you in November.

Please pay your dues.

Life Member

Phil Repaci Sr.

I had the fortune of missing most of the coldest winter in awhile. I was in Florida a month and a half but not neglecting the Columbia Association. We had a mini Co-lumbia meeting in Lake Worth FL. as the picture below shows. These fellows are all from the nypd bowling league Left to right: AL Shreck (visited Italy once), Phil Guarnaccio, Mike Buonacore, and yours truly Phil

Repaci. And keeping with tradition we had a pizza party. We're all back now and back to normal. Happy Easter to all. PS. In case you don’t want your name published in the news about having a firearm contact your union for the form and send it in to your local municipality. Very simple.


RETIRED DESK:

By Nat Infurna

Retired Financial Secretary

Retired Members Financial Secy

MEMBERSHIP as of Apr.30, 2013

RETIRED ...........................406

LIFE...................................1027

DELINQUENT.................. 45

LIFE MEMBER................EDWARD RANIERI

SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS..................JOSEPH OLEARY

PAUL PETRO

THE FOLLOWING MEMERS HAE NOT PAID THEIR DUES FOR 2013:

JOSEPH ALAGNA CHRISTINA FRASCO

MATHEW MIONE PHIL ATWELL

THOMAS FRAUMENI JAMES MORAN

ANNETTE BENEVENTO PAUL FRIEDLANDER

VINCENT MOSSA SAL BONAVENTURA

THOMAS GANGONE SCOTT NASTAZIO

BRUCE BOVINO DEBORAH GANGONE

AL NERI JAMES CAPUTO

THOMAS GAVIGAN STEPHEN NICASTRO

FRANK CAPOGROSSO MICHAEL GUARRIELLO

ROBERT OMALLEY CHRIS DELSANTE

HELEN IEMOLA PAT OSTUNI

ANDREW DESTEFANO ANTHONY LACORAZZA

JOHN PAOLUCCI ANTHONY DIGIORGIO

JOHN MARONE ROBERT PASQUALONE

EDWARD MARTELLO JOSEPH WEIBEL

MICHAEL ROCCO LOUIS ELROSE

PETER METTI JERRY ROSIELLO

WILFRED ROY ROSEANN RUSSO

TONI SCARITO JOSEPH TANNUZZO

DAN TORTORELLI PETER TOSCANO

LAURIE UNICK JOSEPH VALDINA

THOMAS DIMARCANTONIO

DUES IS $25.00. Make Check Payable to Columbia Association NYPD.

Mail to Nat Infurna 188 Brown St Mineola NY 11501.

EVENTS

GENERAL MEETING NOV 26 7PM

PRAYERS FOR ALL MEMBERS SICK AT HOME OR CONFINED TO A NURSING HOME AND ALL MEMBERS ON PATROL TO KEEP THEM SAFE

UNTIL THE NEXT ISSUE..............CIAO!!!!!!!

Death Announcements

The Columbia Association Mourns The Loss Of:

۩Pray for the repose soul of

Frances Calderone wife of life member and past board officer William Calderone

۩Pray for the repose soul of Life Member Michael Caccavale ۩Pray for the repose soul of

Life Member Samuel Santangelo


Life Member Anthony Borriello


Life Member Carmelo Farese


Life Member Frank J. Rossi


Life Member Peter Taormina


Mary Armellino Mother of Life Member Anthony Armellino


Life member Carmine Manzolillo


Life member Blaise J Sciame


Life member Nicholas Rungo


Rafael's Biganini, Godmother of

President Anthony Cesarano and also his Aunt Carmelina Cesarano.


Salvatore Ferrante, father of Board Officer

Sal Ferrante

Birth Announcement

PO George Bonura, TD34 and wife Julianne welcome their baby George II, born November 26, 2012

Sgt. Giuseppe Nero, 105 Pct and wife Danielle along with big brothers Joseph and Michael welcome baby Isabella, born May 23, 2012

Sgt Angelo Gentile Springfield Gardens Auto Pound and wife Christine along with big brother John welcome baby Ryan, born on March 6, 2013

Sgt Robert Morabito 105 Pct and wife Victoria welcome baby Isabella, born August 26, 2012


Sorrento On The Almafi Coast


Famous Italian Americans

A singer, songwriter and Oscar nominated actor, he aimed at the American dream. He married a teen movie queen, but then found out that his sister was really his mother, and died young. Walden Robert Cassotto was the son of an Italian-born cabinetmaker, and an accomplished musician who could play many in-struments. He made his debut on 14 May 1936 in the Bronx, New York. As a child, he suffered from severe rheumatic fever, which led to a scarred heart and an overprotective childhood. He was the focal point of a loving family who encouraged his love of music. He briefly attended Hunter College, then supported himself as a singing waiter and musician at a Catskills resort. After scratching out an existence as a commercial-jingle composer, he changed his name to Darin, and became a professional singer in 1956. He sent a demo record to up-and-coming record executive Don Kirschner, which resulted in a contract. Three flop singles later, Darin half-jokingly recorded a nonsense number titled 'Splish Splash', which turned out to be his first bonafide hit. Not wishing to be a typecast rock-and-roller, Darin adapted the old Kurt Weill and Bertoldt Brecht ballad, 'Moritat' into the top-selling 'Mack the Knife' (1959); this enabled him to break away from the bracket of teenage idol and broaden his appeal to adults. 'Mack the Knife' won a Grammy Award as Record of the Year, and Darin was voted Best New Artist. This sin-gle stayed in the top ten for 52 weeks, with nine of these being spent at number one. Darin was eventually picked up by Universal Pictures, to star in a series of lightweight but popular musical films, often co-starring his first wife, Sandra Dee. He starred in his first film in 1960 and wrote the soundtrack for 'Come September'. Darin met his future wife Dee while filming the movie. She was at the height of her career at the age of 16. They got engaged two months after meeting and wed on 7 March 1960. Their son Dodd Darin was born a year later. After turning in powerful dramatic performances in 'Pressure Point' (1962) and 'Captain Newman MD'(1963), Darin graduated from pop personality to serious actor; in fact, he was Oscar-nominated for his work in 'Newman'. He missed out on the award to Melvyn Douglas. Darin continued to appear in Las Vegas and on TV through the mid-60s, and worked extensively for Robert Kennedy during his 1968 presidential campaign. During this period he appeared in episodes of 'Wagon Train' (1964), 'Burke's Law' (1965) and 'Run For Your Life' in 1966 to name but a few. In 1967, he asked Dee for a divorce with the actress saying at the time that he woke up one morning and no longer wanted to be married. In reality, their careers had kept them apart as Darin toured night clubs across the US. The following year, Darin discovered his "mother" Polly was actually his grandmother and his "sister" Nina was really his mother. This painful revelation altered him for the rest of his life. After spending a year in seclusion, he decided to return to the public eye and started his own recording company called Direction Records. In 1969, he released the album 'Born Walden Robert Cassoto' before returning to TV. He was struggling with ill-health over this period, suffering a minor heart attack in January 1971, but he went on to enjoy roles in 'Ironside' (1971) and 'Night Gallery' in 1972 before making what would be his final appearance in 'Happy Mother's Day, Love George' in 1973. Darin even had time to remarry, wedding Andrea Joy Yeager on 26 June 1973 before returning to the Las Vegas stage. They divorced in October that year. Bobby Darin was in the process of making a comeback when he died in 1973, at the age of 37, following open-heart surgery. One of his heart valves needed to be replaced and a five-man team worked for over six hours to save his life. He died a few minutes after returning to the recovery room without regaining consciousness. It was ruled that he was just too weak to recover from the surgery. He had no formal funeral ceremony as he donated his body for medical research purposes. Darin's legacy lives on as his voice was used in 'Sesame Street' between 1989 and 1993 singing 'Splish Splash'. His voice and songs have also been used on the soundtracks of 'Goodfellas' (1990), 'Apollo 13' (1995), 'You've Got Mail' (1998), 'American Beau' (1999) and 'Nip/Tuck' in 2009.

I recommend seeing the motion picture “Beyond The Sea” Directed by Kevin Spacey who also stared with John Goodman. The movie was a brief biography about Bobby Darin. I give it 4 Stars “****”


The President addressing the future of the Columbia Association All of these fine officers joined the Association that day .

Great Job!!! Anthony, your doing a fine job being a Stewart of this Great organization.

Rising Star Promotion Sergeants class at Italian Charities

with instructor Captain Anthony Raganella.


Ravioli Eating Contest @ Buca di Beppo

The FDNY -vs- the NYPD and of course the NYPD won.

Thank god for John Delgaudio who ate 50 Raviolis

and Won the Prize. Can you believe that little guy ate so much.

Mangia Johnny Mangia !!!!

PAGE 10 Columbia News September -October

Columbia News September -October 2013

Support of NYPD Officer Richard DiGuglielmo

Please read and then go to http://www.richarddiguglielmo.org to sign the petition. Also, if you would like to write to the Governor also send us a copy of the letter at [email protected]

One day almost ten years ago, a tragic series of events took place in Dobbs Ferry, New York, that

would end one person’s life, ruin another man’s life, traumatize two families and shake up a community. There is a well-known

version of these events essentially authored–”spun” if you prefer–by Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Not sur-

prisingly, since reporters rely on the DA for so much of their information, Pirro’s version of the story was the one portrayed for the

most part in the media. An objective review of the facts, based on police reports, court documents and transcripts, tells a more

accurate, truer story. We invite you to make up your own mind, among other ways by imagining that you were Richard D. DiGug-

lielmo Jr.–”Richie”—an off-duty 11-year veteran of the New York City police department working at his family’s deli in Dobbs Ferry,

New York, on October 3, 1996.

October 3, 1996

At approximately 5:15 p.m., Charles Campbell left his Corvette in the parking lot of the DiGuglielmo’s Venice Deli. With just eight

parking spaces to be shared by three businesses, there were “Parking for Patrons Only” signs posted. As Mr. Campbell began

walking across the street to a pizza parlor, Richard DiGuglielmo Sr., Richie’s father, let him know that he had to move his vehicle.

Mr. DiGuglielmo made a second request, but Mr. Campbell did not reply and continued on and into the pizza parlor. In accordance

with a procedure approved by the Dobbs Ferry Police Department, Mr. DiGuglielmo then affixed a sticker to the window of Mr.

Campbell’s vehicle. Inside the pizza parlor, told of the parking procedure, Mr. Campbell said, “if he puts a sticker on my car, I’ll kick

his ass.” Then, seeing the sticker being put on his car window, Mr. Campbell ran out of the store and across the street. Richie, who

had come outside to see what was going on, instinctively stepped between Mr. Campbell and his father, whereupon Mr. Campbell,

in a fury, began punching Richie repeatedly in the face. Richie’s father and brother-in-law then entered the fray, which witnesses

described as looking like a “wrestling match.” After much struggle, Mr. Campbell said, “that’s it” and started to walk away. Believing

the incident to be over and that Mr. Campbell would drive away, Richie went back inside the deli to tend to his wounds. But Mr.

Campbell went only as far as the trunk of his car, and removed a metal baseball bat. Mr. Campbell, an amateur boxer in his thir-

ties, swung the bat with “full force swings,” according to an eyewitness, with the first blow landing on the knee of Mr. DiGuglielmo,

who was 54 years old and recovering from a heart attack. Then, as Mr. DiGuglielmo protected his head with his arms, Mr. Camp-

bell landed another mighty swing, fracturing Mr. DiGuglielmo’s hand as it protected his head. Mr. DiGuglielmo was hit so hard that

an eyewitness stated, “you could hear the smack a block away.” Another eyewitness exclaimed, “I was expecting to see Richie’s

head pop off. I was, like, ‘Oh my God.’” Inside the deli, Richie looked out the window and saw Mr. Campbell swing the bat at his

father, who was two or three feet away from Mr. Campbell. Fearing the next swing would kill his father, Richie grabbed the regis-

tered firearm kept beneath the counter, ran outside with the gun at his side, with the safety on, hoping he wouldn’t have to use it.

When he got outside the Deli, he saw his brother-in-law lying face down on the ground, not moving, and thought he was dead, and

Mr. Campbell hitting his father with the bat. Reacting in accordance with his police academy training, Richie fired “three shots to

center mass” at Mr. Campbell, then paused to “reassess the threat.” But it was over. Mr. Campbell had fallen to the ground, and he

died at the scene. Immediately following the incident, Richie contacted his Command at the New York Police Department in com-

pliance with standard procedure, which brought an investigative team to Dobbs Ferry. However, upon arriving at the Dobbs Ferry

Police Department, the team was denied access to Richie (and even denied access to a room with a telephone). Still, the investi-

gators from the city reviewed the facts and were overheard by two people-including a firefighter standing nearby-reporting the inci-

dent as a “clean shoot,” that is, in police parlance, a justifiable homicide. Nevertheless, within hours of the incident, Richie, his

father and brother-in-law were charged with Second Degree Assault and, hours after that, Richie was charged with murder.

http://www.richarddiguglielmo.org/

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Trial and Media

Although Charles Campbell was black, and Richie and his family are white, the chief of police said the incident was not classified

as a bias crime because no witnesses had heard any racial epithets during the extended confrontation that preceded the shoot-

ing. Richie had walked a beat in the Bronx for a decade with no racial incidents and had many black friends and colleagues on

the force, including his own sergeant. The DiGuglielmo family were known to welcome friends and customers of any ethnic back-

ground into their home and deli. Thus, media coverage appeared fairly short-lived, on par with other, similar, unfortunate inci-

dents. This all changed five days after the incident, when DA Pirro held a televised news conference to announce that she was

charging Richie with a “bias crime” based, she said, on a witness who was prepared to testify to having heard racial slurs during

the confrontation. People who knew Richie were confounded. “There’s got to be more to it than this,” said an NYC transit officer

who knew Richie. “He’d never lose his cool and do something stupid.” Not long after DA Pirro’s press conference, the Rev. Al

Sharpton arrived in town and would be a regular presence, leading demonstrations outside the family’s deli in the year leading up

to the trial, and then in the courtroom. Despite all that, the record shows that once the 33-day trial began, out of a dozen witness-

es, Ms. Pirro failed to produce one who claimed to have heard racial slurs. But that didn’t stop her from walking into the court-

room during the trial and sitting next to Sharpton and Campbell family attorney Randolph Scott McLaughlin and holding his hand

in full view of the jury. Of the witnesses that did exist, some key ones that were supportive of the defense unexpectedly changed

their stories. For example, an eyewitness named Michael Dillon, a cable TV lineman, told reporters just after the incident that he

thought Richie was justified and acted in self-defense. “You see your father getting beaten with a bat, you got to do something

about it. So it’s self-defense from what I saw,” he said in an interview. However, a year later, when asked in court whether he

thought Richie had acted in self-defense, he answered, “After thinking about it, no.” According to defense lawyers, who had origi-

nally listed Dillon as one of their witnesses, Dillon only changed his story after police showed up at his job and told him his story

conflicted with that of his supervisor, who had also witnessed the incident. Dillon said police interviewed him five days after the

shooting, the day before DA Pirro publicly made her racial bias charge.

The Verdict

After three days of deliberations, the jury acquitted Richie of Intentional Murder and acquitted him of Assault. But it convicted him

of Second Degree Murder by “Depraved Indifference” and Richie received a sentence of twenty years to life. All three defendants

were acquitted of the assault charges. How did Richie get convicted of Murder by Depraved Indifference? It’s easy enough to

understand the notion of depraved indifference as it’s applied to an innocent bystander, say, caught in a crossfire. But Richie’s

police training (“three shots to center mass”) is designed to avoid that very possibility. What doesn’t make sense is that Richie

was charged and convicted of acting with depraved indifference in regard to Mr. Campbell’s life. Nobody is saying Richie didn’t

use force that anyone knows is clearly potentially deadly. His intention was certainly to “harm” Mr. Campbell, to the extent that

“harm” in this case means to “stop the imminent threat” of Richie’s father’s death from the blow of a baseball bat to the skull.

Since Richie’s conviction, several appeals courts have reversed cases based on similar scenarios, having concluded that the

DAs cast their net too wide in charging both Intentional and Depraved Indifference Murder and judges had misinterpreted and

misapplied the law regarding depraved indifference. Richie’s lawyers are now working on an appeal based on these precedents.

Has Justice Been Served?

What happened on October 3, 1996 was a tragedy, the culmination of a series of escalating events. Despite the verdict, the facts still beg the question of who caused the events of that day to happen. Was the shooting caused by the assault with the baseball bat, and was that caused by the wrestling, and was that caused by the punching, and was that caused by the sticker, and was that caused by the disregarding of a “no parking” sign? Did Mr. Campbell’s criminal record or the trace of drugs found in his blood at the autopsy play any role in the unfolding of events? Do guns kill? Do baseball bats? Richie did not wake up in the morning planning to shoot anyone. Nor does he deny that he did. Of course he regrets that a man lost his life. Every day of his dreary existence in the Eastern Correctional Facility, Richie regrets what happened that day. But in all honesty, it’s impossible for him to regret his part in it, which was to save his father’s life. Did Mrs. Pirro honestly believe that if the person swinging the metal bat at Richard’s father had been a white man, he would not have shot him, but instead would have let him strike his father in the head? This tragedy was not about race, despite what a DA positioning herself for re-election contended. Unable to produce any evidence of racial bias, prosecutors switched their theory midway to a crime of revenge. But once issues are framed in terms of bias, it’s not so simple to undo them. A defense lawyer said they had to go through some 140 jurors during jury selection be-cause so many local citizens were tainted by the bias charges. Circumstances didn’t help, as the trial got underway around the time of the Abner Louima incident. A man was not killed over a parking space, as some headline writers sensationalistically and blithely wrote. Mr. Campbell made a conscious decision to use deadly physical force, and Richie reacted with split-second timing, based on his law enforcement training, using deadly force against deadly force to protect his father from being killed. The New York State penal code sanctions police officers to use deadly force if they believe their life or the life of another is endangered.

Now in his 17th year of incarceration, Richie will go to his grave believing he didn’t face any good choices that day, because if he

had acted differently there’s a good chance he’d be free today to visit his father’s grave. “What I truly believe is that the decision I

made that day is the decision that saved my father’s life,” Richie has said. Shortly after that October afternoon, Richie told his

mother, “I never could have picked Daddy up off that parking lot.” If you had been in Richie’s place, and it had been your father,

what split-second choices would you have made?

http://www.richarddiguglielmo.org/images/stories/pdfs/PoliceReport.pdf


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