21st Precinct Sergeant Waters. Yeah, that's right. A verification of the ownership is what we want. Connecticut Registration 3-T for Thomas, 152. Well, what do you have? You are by transcription in the muster room at the 21st Precinct. The nerve center. A call is coming through. You will follow the action taken pursuant to that call from this minute until the final report is written in the 124 rooms at the 21st Precinct. We're holding a call on the occupant. Well, let me know as soon as you're here. All right. Okay. 21st Precinct. It's just lines on a map of the city of New York. Most of the 173,000 people wedged into the nine-tenths of a square mile between 6th Avenue and the East River wouldn't know if you asked them that they lived or worked in the 21st. Whether they know it or not, the security of their homes, their persons, and their property is the job of the men of the 21st Precinct. The 21st. 160 patrolmen, 11 sergeants, and four lieutenants, of whom I'm the boss. My name is Kennelly. Frank Kennelly. I'm captain in command of the 21st. I was working my day tour, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It was a bright, sunny morning. I arrived at the station house at 7.35, signed the blotter, and went into my office to change the uniform. Then I read over reports and communications that had accumulated since I was last on duty 24 hours earlier. Just before 8, I walked out into the marching room and around behind the desk. Shortly on the hour, Lieutenant Gorman, the desk officer for the oncoming tour, sounded the bell, and the 66 men who had patrolled the precinct on foot and in sector cars marched out of the back room on command of the patrol sergeant. The platoon halted, faced the desk, and the sergeant reported the men inspected. Then I called the roll, gave them special instructions and orders, and on the command, post your platoon, they marched out the front door. Among the men who turned out was patrolman Joseph A. Hearn, 27 years old, in the job four years, and assigned until 9 a.m. to school crossing duty at 81st Street and 2nd Avenue. There he directed traffic and assisted school children in crossing the street for nearly an hour. He was just about to leave for his regular post when he saw a car approaching the intersection driving east on 81st Street from 3rd Avenue, the wrong way in a one-way street. He stepped out into the street, waited for the car to approach, and signaled it to a stop. A man was driving, a woman sat alongside of him. I'm sorry, officer. Don't you look at the signs. I live in Brooklyn. I got a little bit mixed up. I didn't know it was one way until I turned in. Yeah, I saw the traffic going the other way and I said, uh-oh. Then I figured that it had been back out into 3rd Avenue. It would be safer to come all the way through to 2nd. You know what I mean, officer? Much safer. Yeah, yeah, sure. I know. I'm sorry. I'm not familiar with the neighborhood. I'll be careful. Just pull around the corner and traffic. You're blocking traffic here. Look, officer, what do you say? How about a break? Just pull around the corner. I'll walk over there. There, bum. That's his fault. If you'd look where you're going, these things wouldn't happen. Wait a minute. Wait for the light. Want to make it work? I could shoot down the avenue and lose them in a minute. Get you out of your mind. Send your ticket. Then they'll get you good. Take the ticket and set up. Ma'am, I'm carrying. You're a kidder. Send my top-cutter pocket. Take the gun and put it in your twist. Why would I want that? Take it. It won't bother you. Oh, right. Go ahead, it's green. You got it? I got it. I don't know why. Good. Good, baby. All right, let me see your operator's license and registration. Yeah, yeah, sure. Myra, look in the glove compartment there for the registration. Yeah. You could be a good guy. It's not like I did something. Here you are. Here's the license. Yeah. Myra, where's the registration come out, huh? I can't find it in here. Well, you said it was in there. Does this car belong to you? As a matter of fact, it don't belong to my brother. What's your brother's name? Arthur Hope. Where does he live? In Ellison, Connecticut. Where's that? It's up near Bridgeport. You used to live at this address? 736 Partridge Street, Brooklyn? Yep, that's right. When did your brother lend you this car? Uh, Sunday. Sunday, when we were up there to his house. Am I right, Myra? Sunday? Yeah, my husband used a car to sweep the business and his brother lent him his. Mm-hmm. He told me the registration was in the glove compartment. Weren't you there when he said that, Myra? Yeah, seriously, he said it was. Did you look good? It's not in there. All right, give me the ignition keys in a minute. What for? I want to check the license plate in the back. You don't need the keys for that, do you? Just give them here. Okay. I'll just sit there. We should have run for it, I told you. Now look at this. Give me back the gun. What do you want with it? Give it here. It's coming, it's coming. Well, I'm sorry, folks, but we're going to have to get down to the station house. Oh, now look, officer, why? We have to get straightened out of the ownership of this car. Oh, it's my brother's. I told you that. Oh, yeah? Well, we'll just have to make sure. Oh, uh, pull the seat up while getting back. What did you say? Pull the seat back. Oh, okay. I wish we could get this straightened out. We will. Here, do the keys. Yeah. Now close the door. Head the way you're going, I'll tell you when it's time. Can't you just give me a ticket and let it go at that? I'd like to save the time. You've already lost it, mister, so just get this thing going before you lose any more. Okay. For most traffic offenses, the law specifies that a police officer in the city of New York shall issue a summons answerable in traffic court on a specific day. For the offense of operating a motor vehicle without possession of proof of ownership, however, the driver is requested to accompany the officer to the station house where a check is made to verify ownership of the automobile. Officers confronted with such a situation are under instructions to be extremely cautious because the car may turn out to be stolen or the occupants armed and dangerous. The ride to the station house was without incident until they turned into the block on patrolman Ahern's instructions. All right, you see the station house up there? Yeah. Pull up in front of it. Okay. Yeah, parking that space. That's because we're there for police. We won't get a ticket for parking that too, Willie. Pull in. Okay. How am I, close enough? You're right on the curb. All right, let me get out first. Scoot up a little bit, my honor. How much you want me to scoot? No, all right, I can make it. Guess I better lock it up, huh? Yeah, you better. Okay, this way. How long have we been here? I couldn't tell you, lady. Come on, Addie. Come on, lock it up. Yeah. All right, it's locked. All right. Next time you'll know to get the registry. So I'll know. All right, I'll get the bill. Go ahead. Okay. Walk up to the desk there. This is going to kill the whole morning. I know it. My place is leaking, Sergeant. All right, this is good right here. Now, what have you got in there? Lieutenant, I thought I was going down the hole there. We've got CWSC on the line. All right, Sergeant. Okay, go ahead. Hello, this is Lieutenant Gorman, desk officer, the 21st. Listen, the patrolman on post reports a leaking fire hydrant at 93rd Street and Madison Avenue. Yeah, that's what he said. All right, okay. Yeah, he says he thinks there's something wrong with the shutoff now. Okay. Yeah. Sergeant, when Mike's who rings in tell him DWSP is on the way up to repair, all right? Yes, sir. Okay, Aaron. I stopped him for driving the wrong way in East 81st Street, Lieutenant. He had no registration for the car. It's my brother's car. He let me borrow it. Did he have an operator's license? Yes, sir, his name is Edward Holt, 736 Patrick Street, Brooklyn. His brother landed in the car all boxed at Alleride. Are you Mrs. Holt? That's right. What is your brother's name? Arthur. Arthur Holt. And what is his address? Rural Route 2, Elliston, Connecticut. Connecticut registration, I heard? Yes, sir. 1952 Chevrolet 2-door painted tan. Day, dear day. Registration number is 3T152. T for Thomas? Yes, sir. All right. Sergeant. Yes, sir. Communications Bureau on here. Yes. Hello, CB, Lieutenant Gorman at the 21st. Yeah. Now, look, we've got a man operating a motor vehicle with no registration certificate. His name is Edward Holt, 736 Patrick Street, Brooklyn. That's H-O-U-L-T-S. Yeah. He claims his brother is the owner of the automobile, and he is using it with the brother's permission. The brother's name is Arthur Holt. Rural Route 2, Elliston, Connecticut. Elliston. Yeah, that's right. The car is a 1952 Chevy 2-door painted tan. Connecticut registration 3T for Thomas, 152. All right. Yeah. All right, Mr. Holt, they're checking it out. Well, how long will it take? Well, they have to tell the time to the Connecticut State Police and wait for an answer. We might be here a couple of hours. I don't think it'll take that long. This is a fine thing, holding a stuff like this. I never heard of such a thing. All right. We'll try straight up then. Well, I heard the detectives are going to book a person. Now, would you take these people over there, please? Yeah. Come on, Joe, let's go. You haven't got all day. I got plenty of time. Let's go right over there, Mr. Holt. That right up the rail, Angle. He just said that we got to wait. He's going to jail. Listen, officer, how long do you think this will take? Really now? I mean, don't kid me. Soon as they're here, back from Connecticut. I don't see what they got to do up there. They have to verify ownership of the car. It's my brother's, I'm telling you. We'll get the word soon. Then what do I have to do? Well, you'll have to look here and call it later. I've got a write of summons for driving without a registration for you and going the wrong way on a one-way street. I forgot about that one already. Yes, Sergeant? Can I see you over here a minute? Yes, sir. You two stay right here. We've got no place to go. Be back in a second. What do you want? Why is this some mess? Listen, never mind the mess. I'm getting worried. Why should you be worried? Someone has it in my pocketbook. I'm getting worried because all these cops are on here looking at us, they're liable to start asking questions about other things in that car. I think you ought to get rid of the gun. What's the good in it? What am I going to get rid of it? Go to the ladies' home, put it in the wastebasket in the bottom. You out of your mind. You've got to get rid of it. You gave it to me, I know it. All right, all right. Oh. You people being taken care of, all right? Oh, yeah, thanks. We're waiting until they check on something. Oh, I see. I brought them in, Captain. Mr. Mitchell Colts, Captain Cannelly. Hi. How do you do? We got no complaint against this policeman, Captain. He was only doing what he was supposed to do, but I told him it was my brother's car, and we've got to wait around. We've got to wait around for who knows how long. He was driving the wrong way. In 81st, he had no ownership certificate. His brother said he left it in the glove compartment. He left it in the car. Well, what's taking us so long, huh? It's the Connecticut car, Captain. Oh. Listen, where's the ladies' room here? Well, there isn't any ladies' room in the station house. There isn't? No, not in this station house. Come on, you're kidding. All our female prisoners go to the 19th, please think, where the police women are. We have no facilities here. Sir Harry. Yes, sir? Bring those people back over here now. Yes, sir. Okay, folks. Hey, here we go again. Oh, what's going on, Red? Oh, it's pretty quiet, Captain. Let's hope it stays that way. I'd sure like to know what kind of a runaround I'm getting here. Oh, what do you mean? I asked him if I could go outside to get a cup of coffee, and he said no, I couldn't. I was the one who was driving the car. She didn't have anything to do with it. Why can't she go out? Because if that car turns out to be stolen, the law says that not only the driver is involved, every occupant is. The car is not stolen. It belongs to my brother. Mr. Holtz, right now we don't know that your brother owns the car. In fact, we don't even know that you have a brother. Sector car number three came by the house for me, and I went out on patrol of the precinct at 9.25 a.m. Twenty minutes later, however, the communications bureau instructed the desk officer of the 21st to assign temporarily to the 15th precinct one radio motor patrol car and its crew to assist in an unusual occurrence, the breaking of a water main and the flooding of the street and the subway station. In order that we not be left on demand on patrol, I returned to the station house and instructed patrolman Farrell, the operator of sector car number three, to pick up his recorder, patrolman Meister, who had been assigned to a fixed post and resume patrol of his regular sector. I got out of the car in front of the station house, crossed the sidewalk, walked up the stone steps, and into the muster room. What are you first preaching, Sergeant Waters? Captain. Yes? This is for you, Lieutenant King. Oh, I've come to hold on. As soon as I've signed the blotter. Yes, sir. He just came in the station house, Lieutenant. He'll be with you as soon as he signs the blotter. Now he's got nobody with him. Okay, Sergeant. I'll take it in my office. Yes, sir. He's going to take it in his office, Lieutenant. I want to talk to the captain. That's what's the trouble. The captain can't help you, Mr. Holtz. Well, I can ask him. All right, I'll be with you in a minute. I've got a phone call waiting. I'm waiting too. 21st, please, scene, Captain Cannelly. Lieutenant King, Captain. Yes, Matt. Captain, do you remember that boy who tried to cut his wrists on the bar at the cell last December? Yes, Matt. What about him? Well, he's going to bat on that murder charge next week. The District Attorney thinks his lawyer might call you as a defense witness. Oh, what do they want me for? Well, you made the investigation at the time. They think they can establish insanity by reason of the fact that he attempted suicide. Oh? I'm going downtown for a conference with a trial assistant this afternoon. I want to know if you can come along. All right, Matt. What time? Well, I'm going to go down there at 1. I'll leave there about 12.30. OK, you'll meet me in my office. Yes, ma'am. Thanks. That's OK. There he comes. All right, now what's the trouble? We're just waiting for word, Captain. That's right. We're getting off the car. It's turning around here. Well, all right, I'll see what I can do. We'd certainly appreciate it. You know, it's one thing if I did something really out of the ordinary, but it's my brother's car and my wife is willing to vouch for that. Yes, we know all about that, Mr. Hawes, but it takes time to check these things out. We've been here for time. We've been here for plenty of time. All right, I'll see what I can do. Well, we'd certainly appreciate it, Captain. 21st Precinct, Sergeant Waters. Hey, Red, how come you haven't heard on that Connecticut car yet? Well, we're waiting, Captain. Well, we're shorthanded on patrol this tour. I'd like to get a hon back on the job. So would I, Captain. We've just been dragged down to CB. They haven't had any word from the Connecticut State Police yet. Why don't you send them upstairs? Let the detectives worry about it, okay? All right, Heron. Yes, sir? Would you come over here with Mr. and Mrs. Holts? Yes, sir. Oh, how are they doing on that break in the water main downtown? You think we'll get our car back soon? Well, they've got the trouble located. It's a problem of traffic now, Captain. Oh, good. Are we going to be able to go now? We haven't had any word yet, Mrs. Holts. Listen, do you know how long it's been? Do you know how long we've been waiting around here trying to get you out as fast as we can? Well, it certainly doesn't look like it. That's all I can say. Well, we're going to send you up to the detectives and let them get it straightened out. The detectives? Mm-hmm. Well, what have they got to do with it? Listen, Captain, I'm a guy with a lot of patience, but after all, we've been hanging around here almost an hour. And now with the detectives, all I ask you to do is be reasonable. Yeah, well, all we ask you to do is comply with the law and have a registration certificate with you when you operate an automobile. Who's catching up there, Sergeant? Hello, hello, Captain. This sure is a fine way to do things. I'll be in my office, Ren. Yes, sir. I'm going to go out to get a cup of coffee. It's hot in my nose. Sergeant, give me a good look on here. Yes, sir. I think you did something. All right, my, all right. Hello, lab, this is Lieutenant Garnard. Yeah. Look, I'm sending a herring up with a couple. Well, we're waiting for verification of ownership of the car he was driving. Hmm? Oh, all right, yeah, hold on. Herring. Yes, sir. Go on upstairs with them and see the look of them. Okay, Lieutenant. Come on. Where the post? You know what I mean? I know what you mean. Okay. All right, through there. Oh, the name is Hall. Well, look at this. Why couldn't we sit in here if they're standing out there? This is the back room. It's the police officers. Are they better than people? Up the stairs, yes. Oh. Wait a minute. What's the matter? I don't have enough. Now I've got to get a run in my stock. Well, that's my fault too. Here, hold my pocketbook. What do I want it? Hold it. All right. I thought I sold it rare. Ah, you're always feeling things. You got a wife like that? No, I'm not married. Smart. Kind of crack as that. Let's go upstairs and, here, take back your purse. Will it kill you to hold it a minute? It might. You never can tell. Here. All right. In there. This is going to take very long. It all depends when we hear about the car. OK. Walk right over there. Are they here with me? Yeah, that's right. Oh, love, this is Mr. and Mrs. Holt. Oh, yeah. Lieutenant Coleman told me about them. Now, look, folks, I'm going to make another call down to the communications bureau and see if they have some Connecticut yet. Wouldn't the best thing be to call Connecticut? Well, everything has to be cleared through C.D. Now, I want to finish this thing up, and I'll get right on it. Now, why don't you go over into that bench for a minute? Over there? Yeah, make yourself comfortable. Oh, you want to get some coffee? He'll call luncheonette for you. I'll send it over. No, that's all right. I don't feel like it now. The fact of the matter is, she does feel like it. Only she doesn't like coffee out of a paper cup. Look, why don't you be a good guy and let her go out to the luncheonette? I told you about that. We can't let either of you go out until we get an answer on the car. Sit down. There's no sense standing up anymore. Yeah. What a way to run a railroad. All right, can I see you a minute? Yeah. I'll be right back. We're not going anyplace. We'll be here. Now, give me what you got on these people. I'll get right on it. Yeah. He was coming down the moon with three... So why didn't you take it when you had my purse? Take what? What do you think? Don't you think I'm crazy? They're going to start anything in here that couldn't take two cents. Oh, I'm stuck with it. You're not stuck with it. What do you mean I'm not stuck with it? I got it. I'm the one that got the beef of it. There won't be no beef because they ain't going to find it. They won't look. We can leave their minds. Now, what's all the conversation over there? Look, we're married to each other. Aren't we allowed to talk even? Well, as long as I can hear what you're saying, you can, yeah? Nothing is personal. Concentration can't. There's nothing personal in a police station, lady. Can I see your operator's license, Mr. Holtz? They looked at it downstairs. Well, I'd like to look at it up here. Here. Here you are. Would you take it out of the wallet? I'm going to sit. There. Mm-hmm. This is where you reside at the present time? 736, Partrick Street, Brooklyn? Yes. You ever been arrested, Mr. Holtz? Yeah, I went through a red light about a year ago out in Forest Hills. Says I haven't a license yet, don't it? That means we're crime. No, what do you think I am? Do you have any other identification besides this? How about this, my social security card? Want me to take that out, too? No, I can see it, fine. Do you have any identification on you, Mrs. Holtz? Look, she's my wife. I identify her. I'd like to identify her. I'd like her to identify herself. Do you have anything in your purse? Like what? Wanker driver's license. I don't drive. Social security card, anything? No, I got nothing. Couldn't you look and see? I know I got nothing. I know what I carry in my purse. I carry a little bit of money and a lipstick and a handkerchief. Also a comb and a contact, and that's all. Well, why don't you take a look? Maybe you've got a letter or something in there. I know what I've got. I've got nothing. But she told you she's got no identification. Why don't you leave her alone? She's got nothing to do with it anyway. I was driving the car. That doesn't make any difference. Want me to get that one? No, I'll take it. Oh, sure. 21st squad, Detective DeLuca. No, no, he's not here. Yeah, he's working, but he's out on an investigation. Yeah, yeah, sure. Who? Yeah, yeah, all right, I'll tell him. Yeah, I'll tell him. You say you've got no identification. I told you I didn't. Well? DeLuca. Yeah, Lieutenant. Where's Goldman? Down at the Grand Jury, Lieutenant. Oh, yeah. Is the 6th ring in yet? No, sir, not yet. If it rings in, it comes in. Let me know when I've got a little job to be done. Well, Scanlon and Vitaly are out on patrol. Shall I put a call out for them? No, it's not that important. How do you do? Oh, this is Mr. and Mrs. Holtz, Lieutenant King, commanding officer 21st Detective Squad. A hind stop them for driving the wrong way in a one-way street, Lieutenant. They have no registration for the car. Is it your car? No, it's my brother's. He lent it to me. We're getting some run around here, Lieutenant. They're taking forever to find out about it. We've just been sitting around. Well, it'll get straightened out. I know it will, but when? That's the point. Now, look, Mr. Holtz, why don't you stop complaining? You were the one who was at fault. We're doing the best we can. I'll bet you are. Red. I'm sitting here like an idiot. Nobody does anything. Red, now cut it out. I won't cut it out. I've got to write the tort. Mr., you'd better take your wife to fight. Now just calm down. Listen, uh, what's the use? Okay, let me know when you're here for somebody. Yes, sir. You ought to take it easy, mister. That's not going to get you any place. That's what I said. I'm not. Everybody tells me to take it easy. I'll get it, Aaron. Okay. I'll be right back. Yeah. What's the matter with you? Nothing. You've just made big trouble for yourself. That's all you're doing. Yeah. So you don't fall in anyway. Don't lecture me. Will you, Maya? I'll see you. That's what I said. You've got yourself in a jam. You've given me a hard time. Okay, Bob. Hmm? We got the word. Everything's all right. You got the word? Yeah. The Communications Bureau got a teletype. The Connecticut State Police spoke to your brother at his job. He confirms he lent you the car. Okay, you see? What did I tell you? Well, we can go on downstairs now. What, you mean we got something else to do? Oh, come on, it's a call out loud. You're not going to call out loud me, will you? You've called out loud me enough today. I didn't, but you had it coming. Okay, okay. I have plans. I have plans. I have plans. You've got to bring like a peanut. Okay, you spoke to me like that. I'm warning you. Let's cut it out, huh? What do you mean you're warning me? I'm warning you. That's what I mean. You've still got to bring like a peanut. Peanut, huh? Yeah, peanut. I'm going to do it now. I'm going to do it. Peanut? What? What? I'm going to do it. Quiet down. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. Quiet down. All right, cut it out. All right. You hold her. What's this all about, huh? Is everything under control? Yeah, Sergeant, it's okay. They started slugging away at each other, Kevin. I'll get her home. I'll kill her. Yeah, that's what you said. All right. Once she hit him with, look at the welts on his face. A pocketbook, I think. I hammered my pick. Let's see that pocketbook. Lord, Captain, it's all over. It's all things over. Just what do you say we forget it? Happens all the time. And we still love each other. Am I right, Myra? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. And we still love each other. Am I right, Myra? Step over here and empty that purse on the table. Look, let's just forget it. I want to see what's in that purse. Go on. Walk over to the table. I told you. Like I'm not. Captain, will you listen a minute? Open the purse and dump out the content. Look, Captain, it's just a little family fight. Open it up. All right. Myra. What's the matter? What do you mean, where did I get it? You passed it to me. I never seen it before in my life. All right, just step back. You never seen it before in your life? Not even last week when you stuck up that long society with it? Oh, baby. Looks like you made yourself a good collar, huh? Dumb luck, that's what it was. Dumb luck. Yeah. Well, whatever it was, here you are. And that's what counts. Twenty-first briefing, Sergeant Waters. Now, where's this? Yeah? Yeah? Well, who's at that site? Oh, you don't, huh? Where's the man with the knife? Where? And so it goes. Around the clock, through the week, every day, every year. A police precinct in the city of New York is a flesh and blood merry-go-round. Anyone can catch the brass ring, or the brass ring can catch anyone. Twenty-first precinct transcribed, the factual account of the way the police work in the world's largest city, is presented with the official cooperation of the Patrolman's Benevolent Association, an organization of more than 20,000 members of the police department, city of New York. Everett Sloan in the role of Captain Kennelly, Ken Lynch as Lieutenant King, Harold Stone as Sergeant Waters. Featured in tonight's care were Frank Marce, Elsteth Eric, John Larkin, Mandel Kramer, and John Silvester. Written and directed by Stanley Ness, George Bryan Segal. Thank you.
