CONTINUING EXCERPTS FROM THE twenty-four-hour tape, NYPDCC-31AUG-1SEP.
3:14:32AM.
O’NUSKA: Lieutenant, we have a report from Officer Meyer in car George Three. He got onto the roof of the building at five-three-six East Seventy-fourth Street. He says shades are drawn in all the apartments at five-three-five East Seventy-third. Lights are on in several apartments. The service staircase in the rear of the building is also lighted. There is an unshaded window on the service staircase at each floor. Meyer says he saw masked men carrying objects down the stairs and placing them in the truck parked in the service alley.
FINEALLY: How many men did he see?
O’NUSKA: He says at least five different men, maybe more.
FINEALLY: Five men? My God, what’s this going to be—the shoot-out at the O.K. Corral? Get the tactical squad moving. Red Alert. Tell them to park on Seventy-second near the river and wait further instructions. You got those three other cars?
O’NUSKA: Yes, sir. Standing by, within a block or so.
FINEALLY: Seal off East Seventy-third Street. Put one car across the street at East End Avenue and another at York Avenue.
O’NUSKA: Got it.
FINEALLY: Tell George Three to stay where they are. Send the third car around to join them.
O’NUSKA: Right.
FINEALLY: Let’s see now—there’s got to be tenants in there.
O’NUSKA: Yes, sir. It’s the holiday weekend and some of them’ll be gone, but there’s got to be someone—the super, the doorman, the kid who sent out the shortwave call. Others probably.
FINEALLY: Get me the duty sergeant at the Two fifty-first. You know who he is?
O’NUSKA: Yes, sir. He’s my brother.
FINEALLY: You kidding?
O’NUSKA: No, sir. He really is my brother.
FINEALLY: What kind of a precinct is it?
O’NUSKA: Very tight. Captain Delaney lives right next door in a converted brownstone. He’s in and out all the time, even when he’s not on duty.
FINEALLY: Don’t tell me that’s “Iron Balls” Delaney?
O’NUSKA: That’s the man.
FINEALLY: Well, well, well. Will wonders never cease? Get him for me, will you? We need a commander on the scene.
O’NUSKA: Right away, Lieutenant.
3:19:26AM.
DELANEY: I see. … What is your name?
FINEALLY: Lieutenant John K. Fineally, sir.
DELANEY: Lieutenant Fineally, I shall now repeat what you have told me. If I am incorrect in any detail, please do not interrupt but correct me when I have finished. Is that understood?
FINEALLY: Yes, sir.
DELANEY: You have reason to believe that a breaking and entering, and a burglary and/or armed robbery is presently taking place at five-three-five East Seventy-third Street. A minimum of five masked men have been observed removing objects from this residence and placing them in a truck presently located in the service alleyway alongside the apartment house. Four Sector George cars are presently in the area. One is blocking Seventy-third Street at East End Avenue, and one is blocking the street at York Avenue. Two cars with four officers are on Seventy-fourth Street, in the rear of the building in question. The duty sergeant of this precinct has alerted two patrolmen to stand by their telephones and await further instructions. The Tactical Patrol Force bus is presently on its way with a complement of twenty men, under Red Alert, and has been instructed to stand by on Seventy-second Street to await further orders. Inspector Walter Abrahamson has been alerted and is on his way to the scene of the suspected crime. I will proceed to the scene and take command of the forces at my disposal until such time as the inspector arrives. I will enter the premises with the forces at my disposal and, with proper care for the life and well-being of innocent bystanders, forestall the alleged thieves from escaping, place them under arrest, and recover the reportedly stolen objects. Is that correct in every detail?
FINEALLY: You’ve got it right, sir. In every detail.
DELANEY: Is a tape being made of this conversation, Lieutenant?
FINEALLY: Yes, sir, it is.
DELANEY: This is Captain Edward X. Delaney signing off. I am now departing to take command of the forces available to me at the scene of the reported crime.
[Lapse of six seconds.]
FINEALLY: Jesus Christ. I don’t believe it. I heard it but I don’t believe it. Were you listening to that, Sergeant?
O’NUSKA: Yes, sir.
FINEALLY: I’ve heard stories about that guy but I never believed them.
O’NUSKA: They’re all true. He’s had more commendations than I’ve had hangovers.
FINEALLY: I still don’t believe it. He’s something else again.
O’NUSKA: That’s what my brother says.