NYPD Confronted Radical Islam In 1972

Now this is a story that needs to be posted on. It’s one that I, regrettably, had no idea about:

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has launched a probe into what is widely considered one of the most embarrassing episodes in NYPD history: the coverup of a cop killing in Louis Farrakhan’s Harlem mosque April 14, 1972.

Thirty-four years after he landed on the scene of the notorious Harlem mosque murder as a young sergeant, top cop Kelly told The Post he has assigned members of the Major Case Squad to reopen the investigation into the slaying of Police Officer Philip Cardillo inside a Nation of Islam mosque.

“There is a feeling in certain quarters that there are a lot of unanswered questions and if we can answer those questions, we have an obligation to do that,” Kelly said.

Cardillo died five days after he was shot in the mosque alongside three other officers who were badly beaten after the four of them responded to a phony 911 call saying an officer was in trouble.

Fearing a racial riot in an age when every city outside New York had been torn up by black mobs, the investigation was hampered by politics.

A book was recently written about it called “Circle Of Six”. Here is the description:

In 1972, New York City was plagued with protests, riots, and general unrest. It was during this defining year that one of the Police Department’s most scandalous cases occurred: the murder of Police Officer Phillip Cardillo. 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 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 Lindsey, 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.

Ahhhh, that peaceful loving religion called Islam…what would we do without it.

A little more detail here:

Patrolmen Phil Cardillo and Vito Navarra were riding in 28 sector George. They were the first RMP to respond to a ’10-13 on the second floor’ at 102 West 116 Street.

After arriving and entering the building, which was a mosque, they questioned about 10 muslims at the front desk about the call. Suddenly, the muslims shouted, “Allah Akhbar” more muslims came from rooms, then the officers were beaten and stomped by numerous black muslims.

A minute or two later Patrolmen Vic Padilla and Ivan Negron of the 25 pct arrived and when also badly beaten and knocked to the ground. Navarra was able to crawl to the front door which was then slammed shut by the muslims. He told the responding cops, that Cardillo was still inside. Thru a small window in the front door Cops could see Cardillo on the floor being kicked by the surrounding mob. Padilla was down and being stomped and his gun was taken. Ptl. Negron was being beaten and he was fighting off numerous hands that were attempting to rip the gun from his holster.

One of the muslims, six foot four and 260 pounds, Louis 17X Dupree grabbed Cardillos gun, ripped it from the holster and fired a round into Cardillo. The cops at the front door smashed the glass and afraid of hitting the fallen cops, fired five rounds over the heads of the muslims. Padilla, seeing Louis Dupree running with the gun, fired three rounds. More 10-13’s are called.

The cops broke in the front door. The seventeen muslims ran to the basement. Cops flooded through the door and chased the fleeing muslims down the stairs. The cops had them against the wall and began searching for the missing guns. Cardillo is removed to St. Lukes hospital. At the same time outside the mosque, a large crowd of about a thousand locals, begin to riot.

Cars were overturned, bricks are coming of the roofs, and cops and media people are being assaulted. While this is going on, Deputy Chief Inspector William Knapp arrives, and went into the basement and spoke with Inspector John Haugh the 28 pct CO. Insp. Haugh had responded to the 10-13. He told the cops to guard the prisoners.

Knapp called Commissioner Pat Murphy and advised him of the turmoil inside and outside the mosque. While Knapp is talking on the phone, he heard shouting. He turned and saw Louis Farrakhan and Charlie Rangel leading a large group of muslims down the basement stairs. Farrakhan is shouting that all the cops must leave the temple. Knapp tells Haugh to move to the street.

Now Deputy Commissioner Ben Ward arrives, with Farrakhan at his side, he shouts to the superior officers that the cops immediately leave the mosque. The crime scene was abandoned. Farrakhan and Rangel are shouting to the superior officers “if you stay, there is nothing we can do to protect you. You’ll be overrun. There’ll be rioting. People may be killed.” Farrakhan and Rangel ‘promise’ that the prisoners would come to the 24 pct. at five o’clock to be questioned. Do you think anyone showed up?

Phil Cardillo died six days later. Mayor John Lindsay and Commissioner Pat Murphy did NOT attend the funeral.

A few days after Cardillo was buried. Deputy Commissioner Ben Ward was quoted in the Amsterdam news: I believe that my investigation has pointed out, at least to my satisfaction, that there were some errors made on the part of the police. For the errors, and for the consequence of those errors, I apologize to minister Farrakhan.”

Recognize any names?

Some interesting comments from friends and loved ones of Officer Cardillo is here:

My Dad, Deputy Inspector John J. Haugh, was Patrolman Philip Cardillo’s commanding officer at the time of this criminal act. Dad retired from he force when, on the day Officer Cardillo was buried, he looked around in amazement to find that he was the highest ranking policeman present. Neither the police commissioner, nor the cowardly mayor,attended.

I responded to the mosque that faithful day @ rode with Phil to St Luke’s in a 26 Pct RMP. When I returned to the mosque there were 10 t0 16 men be guarded by PO. One had a turban (I believe this was Louis 17X Dupree who was subsquently arrested for Phil’s murder.) These individuals were told to meet the police at the 24th Pct. (FAT CHANCE) Inspector Deroma who I saw in the mosque later said he was directing traffic on Lenox Ave. There was no crime scene set up. Mayor Lindsay was on the Police radio stating there will be no riots in my city while Iam Mayor. Meanwhile ouside the mosque PO were being assaulted and Mike Oconnor from the 28Pct had his scooter set on fire. A reporter was also assaulted. Dupree was tried twice and the people lost 10-2 @ 11-1.

On Tuesday morning August 23, 2005 the wife of Officer Phil Cardillo, Joyce, was found to have passed away in her sleep. For those of you who did not know her, she was a wonderful and strong lady. She never remarried and raised her 3 children on her own.

I was a cop in the 28 Pct. from Oct. of ’69 to Sept. of ’78 (when I resigned from The Job). In the Spring of ’70 I was assigned to a Precinct Unit called, Mayor Lindsay’s Fourth Platoon. We worked Special Narcotic foot posts from 6pm to 2am–in uniform. That’s how I met Phil. I often worked with him. He was a great guy and a great street cop. We used to get on rooftops with binoculars and observe heroin sales on the streets below (many of them in front of Jimmy Daniel’s bar, which was only a few steps from the hallway where Phil was murdered), see where the dealers would hide their stashes, then lock them up. In the Fall of ’71 the 28 Pct. Anti-Crime Unit was created. Some of us from the Fourth Platoon took that assignment. Phil opted for a Sector car. On the day of Phil’s murder, I was working with Sgt. Jimmy Quinn on a stake-out in the 26 Pct. We were working an Unofficial Detail for Det. Sonny Grosso who was bending the rules to find BLA (Black Liberation Army) scum who had murdered Foster and Laurie in January of that year, and Piagentini and Jones in May of ’71. When we heard that Phil had been shot we went to St. Luke’s Hospital and were among the first to give blood. The politically motivated disgrace that followed Phil’s shooting, and his death days later, was mentioned by others, so I will spare you my still bitter memories.

Here is a picture of the scene that shows the chaos:

This is one book I am going to get. It appears that the officers who responded to that call in 1972 confronted terrorism at the hands of black Muslims, on our own soil, decades before 9/11.

Curt

See author page