PAX Centurion - Winter 2016 - 2017

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • Winter 2016-2017 • Page 27 The “Kid” is leaving By P.O. Denise DePina Reed T hirty-one years have passed and the woman from the class of 15-85 is about four months away from retirement. The woman leaving this job is remembering the day I first walked out of theAcademy and into District D-4. There I stood, 5’2”, 128 lbs., wide-eyed as I was being explained what a “4 & 2” schedule was and that I would work a “first and last.” While a blur I somehow managed to keep my schedule straight. I do remember staring at the ceiling many nights for lack of sleep as the body was unaccustomed to being up at night and sleep during the day. One of the many things they managed to tell us “newbies” was Captain Danny MacDonald’s son played for the “Vikings” and if you wanted anything from him, you needed to talk “football” with him. I didn’t know “squat” about football but I did know how to talk to a proud Dad. My training officer was Todd Hartgrove, no nonsense, “I expect you to get this the first time,” and I really don’t want to ride with this “ girl” kind of guy (smile) . I learned a great deal from Todd and gained a hard-won respect. I earned his respect the day I followed him up a scaffold after a suspect, and he knew I was afraid of heights. There was an art to booking prisoners on D-4 as most of them were “drunks” and I learned how to book from “Trigger” Burke . Since I was the new “kid” (33 years old) , I became heir-apparent to the coveted “hooker decoy” assignment. Marcie Perez and I would “stroll” Washington Street, Shawmut Avenue and W. Springfield Street while our back up crew Paul Mahoney, Billy Hartford, Mike Wozny, Paul Sanders and whoever was in the wagon would hide in the shadows nearby laughing their a&# off because some of our would be “johns” should’ve been ashamed of themselves. There was this one guy, named “Koala,” who used to hang around to watch and “tease” me. He said, “This was the low rent district, and that I was too well-dressed for this area. This assignment compliments of Captain John Ciccolo and Sergeant Freddy Daniels was a must at least twice a week. Details were plentiful at D-4 but I managed to only get the Pine Street Inn. I remember standing at the detail wall just looking at the sheets, daydreaming and this cop I didn’t know said to me, “It will get better, you don’t complain.” I didn’t know what he was talking about and I didn’t know him. The following week I went to the Board and I was assigned not the Pine Street Inn but the “A&P.” The next day I had the “Stop & Shop” and before the week was out I had a “Susi” Construction! I later learned that cop was the detail clerk, the late Frankie Benjamin, a much-missed, well-respected gentleman. I have fond memories of covering the desk at the D-14 substation with Patrolman Hank O’Toole, holding court with Vinny Adducci, Charlie Celluci, Richie Famolare, Mike Sparks, Danny O’Connor and Topper Rogers. The last time I heard from Hank he called me at the “Turret” to say, “ kid you’re doing good” . That meant everything to me. I spent three months on D-4 before I was transferred to C-11, God’s country because only God wanted to be there as told to me by the Clerk, Patrolman Jimmy Gallagher. To say it was different was an understatement. Nothing like today, all the brass want you to know who they are! Deputy Danny Flynn was never in uniform. So when he asked me a question and I asked, “Who the hell are you,” he introduced himself with a smile. I met Superintendent Mickey MacDonald the same way, walking a dog in Southie; but this time I was cautious, reserved there was something about him that said “brass.” I spent exactly one month on C-11 before they transferred me back to D-4 permanently. I was a member of the Drug Unit when Detective Sherman Griffiths was shot. I was a member of SPECDA/DARE Unit with George Noonan, Lisa Holmes, Dino Gonzales, KimGaddy, Nadine Taylor-Miller, Kenny Dorch, Richie Gannon, Tommy Settipani, and Bobby Tinker where we taught drug prevention in the Boston Public Schools. I have been a Boston Police Dispatcher in the “Turret,” worked on D-14, andA-7. I’ve had some great partners Brian Latson, Gloria Kinkead, Frank Armstrong, Cathy Doherty, Drew Smith (DCU) , DrewWest, and Carolyn Kennedy to name a few. There were two things I really wanted to do. I wanted to work in Deputy Robert Hayden’s Unit, but never got that chance, and I wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle. The late Eddy Eager gave me one of his smallest cycles; I was still too short – my feet could not touch the ground. Other than those things I feel I have done what I wanted and enjoyed my time, and through it all I’ve always felt like I was a “real” officer. There is this silly perception that the minute you book a prisoner or work the “front desk” you somehow stop being a “real” officer! I was asked what would I tell a new person coming on this job. One of the things I promised myself do not leave bitter, disillusioned, unhealthy and toxic to new officers. I am counting my time because I earned this day. Are there problems within the Department, of course, but there are problems in every walk of life. If I were talking to a young DePina Reed, I would tell her you have many options that I did not have. First and foremost make a friend out of the civilian clerk at the station; you would be surprised what they know. When I got to District 4, I met Debbie Fisher, Diane Lezama, Angie Richardson and Kathy Bagley. They were a great help. Take advantage of every course and seminar available, even those you have to pay for out of pocket. Never cease to learn. You have an opinion and do not yield it to anyone. Hold steadfast to your integrity, moral character and faith not necessarily in that order. Know the difference between friends and acquaintances, and remember you do not know everything; listen to those who have paved the way before you. There is a reason they are still here in one piece, many never having been a guest of “IAD,” their wise words may help you avoid pitfalls and save your life. With that said Congratulations, go and conquer the world. Correction/Addition to “Memories of BPD dispatcher” article,” Fall, 2016 I n last month’s article there was a piece entitled “Memories of a Boston Police Dispatcher.” It listed many of the Boston Police Dispatchers that “floated” through the “Turret” over the years. I apologized for not remembering some names but I realized that was not good enough. These officers were an integral part of “Operations” and my life while there. So with that said I want to salute those I failed to mention: Arthur Laurie, Kelly McCann, Diane Lezama Lashley, Bridget Kaskesi, Kathy Gaines, Yves Orne, Wayne Jordan, Michael Woodson, Paul Sullivan and Donald Golden. To you all my best wishes. – Denise DePina Reed