By this time of year I believe Long Island is completely dug out of the wicked winter wonder land of snow.  To say the least, we Floridians got our monies worth this year with the exception of a few cold spells.  I have to say that the birds that I maintain a bird bath for were very confused one morning when their water was quite stiff and

unable to drink.  I never heard such language from my birds.  Aside from the birds, it was a fun winter.  We enjoyed our holiday visit with our family and their visits to our home here in Hernando Beach.  Our monthly breakfasts at the I-Hop Restaurant is still happening with a good group of people showing up to solve the world problems.  On one occasion, Tony Logallo and his wife Veroncia arranged a luncheon for the breakfast group and their ladies at the Wellington Country Club in Spring Hill.  Those attending had a great time.  Now let’s get on to a few of our Alumni who were kind enough to give us a run down on life in retirement.

RANDY RANDAZZO:  Randy entered the S.C.P.D. Academy in January of 1964.  His first assignment was the First Precinct and he was assigned to sector 111.  After a few years he was promoted to Detective and assigned to the First Squad Detective Unit.  During this time Randy also owned a garment cutter’s shop but sold it in later years.  He remained with the First Squad until his retirement in 1984.  Since retiring Randy and his wife Elaine have travelled to Italy and Germany at least five times.  He splits his time between two homes in New York and West Virginia.  In his spare time he is the Financial Secretary and Editor of the Newsletter for the Retired Detective’s Association.  Randy and his wife Elaine have three children:  Charlene is a teacher with the Center Moriches School System and is married to John, a software engineer, they have two daughters; Anthony is a retired New York State Trooper, married, no children, and lives in West Virginia; and Debra has two daughters, lives in Virginia, and is the owner of a gourmet shop.  Thanks for your story Randy.

THOMAS CAPPIELLO:  Now this is not your normal story I would be putting in the Reflections.  While at the Alumni Desk the phone rings, I answer it, and on the other side I hear, hello, my name is Tom Cappiello and I am not dead!  I said, oh, ok, how can I help you.  Tom reports that someone called him and said he saw Tom’s name on the deceased and missing Alumni list on our website.  Well, I assured Tom that the Alumni would be correcting their files to make Tom among the living again and advised him that I am glad he is well and enjoying life.  Tom joined  the S.C.P.D in 1968, was assigned to the Fourth Precinct, and later was transferred to the Plainclothes Section.  Tom was on the move again after being promoted to Detective and assigned to the Sex Crimes Unit until his retirement 1999.  Tom has three children, two boys and one girl.  Tom and his wife Deborah (also a retired S.C.P.D. Detective) do a lot of travelling and keep busy with the children.  Thanks for your story Tom.  It was great talking to someone that was resurrected, but in fact never left us.

GERARD KIRK:  Jerry was out of the Navy about one and a half years when he  was sworn into the S.C.P.D. on July 5th, 1965.  After eight weeks at the Academy, (then located in Brightwaters) he was assigned to the First Precinct Patrol Section.  Only one year on the job he was assigned to the North Amityville riots and was injured by a rock hitting his windpipe by a group of rock throwing youths.  He said he was between Pat Mahoney and Jack Friel, and being about five or six inches taller than both of them and failing to duck, caught the stone in the neck.  He remembers dropping like a rock to the ground, bleeding, and being carried off to an ambulance by Pat.  The medics tended to his neck and transported him to Lakeside Hospital in Copiague where he was admitted.  Jerry remembers that Commissioner Jack Barry came to check in on him and it was a one way conversation because he was unable to talk.  The Commissioner thanked Jerry for doing his job and assured him that it will not go unrewarded.  April 1970 Jerry was promoted to Detective and assigned to the First Squad, where he spent the next five years with several partners, Bob Hill, Charlie Leser, and Earl (the Pearl) Hansen.  During the Summer of 1974 he and John Bauer were assigned to Fire Island.  That was the last Summer the Department had permanent Detectives assigned to the beach.  Jerry was transferred to the District Attorney’s Office for a while and then it was back to the Third Squad.  He made his final move when the Fifth Precinct took over policing the east end of the Third Precinct in 1976.  Jerry remained at the Fifth Squad for the next twenty-two years.  He said he worked with a lot of great men, like Norm Rein, Bob Reichert, John Drew, Woody Pearsall, Don Mullins and his longest running partner, Joe Pfeffer.  He thought Joe would be his longest running partner until he started working with Margaret Maguire.  It turned out that Margaret became his bride when they married in 1997.  Jerry retired from the Fifth Squad in 1998.  Margaret is still on the job, assigned to the Special Victims Bureau (old Sex Crimes Unit).  Jerry and Margaret have one son who attends Sayville High School, soon to be off to college in the Fall.  They have a condo in Naples, Florida, and now use it three or four times a year.  When Margaret retires, they will make more use of their Florida digs.  Jerry is one of few that stepped up with his own story via e-mail.  Thanks for taking the time.  Come on gals and guys, get your story in to me.

FRANK WANSER:  Frank put four years in the Air Force and a couple of years with the Post Office before attending the Police Academy in 1968.  He was then assigned to the Third Precinct, Third Squad (remember the old four squad system).  He worked in patrol, Summers at Fire Island and Winters in various sectors at the First.  During 1975 he transferred to the Sixth Precinct.  While at the Sixth he was injured and worked in Administration.  He retired in 1991.  He returned to the Post Office for a few years but injured his arm and fully retired in 1999.  Frank and his wife Geri relocated to New Hampshire with Geri’s two children to a house that was built in 1785, with acreage and a river.  He is kept busy keeping the house up with original type material, and fishing.  At the time of this interview Frank had four feet of snow around his house.  He has had snow up to the top of his windows at times.  He has family in Maine and travels there frequently to visit his mother and father, who are ninety-five and ninety-eight years of age.  He also has a dock at the edge of a pond which is part of the river and a waterfall.  Here is where he catches his rainbow trout.  Thanks for your story Frank.

I thank everybody again for taking the time to give me your stories.  Anyone who wishes to e-mail me or write me about your life after S.C.P.D., your stories will be welcomed.  If I have any questions, I will call you.  I have made it a practice to randomly call Alumni for stories, so, get your facts ready, you may be next.  Until the next time, keep beating the system.

 Jim Woods
norajim@tampabay.rr.com
4400 Flexer Drive
Hernando Beach, Florida, 34607
352-596-9003