Customer Reviews

Chief!

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This book tells of a few of the many cases of Detective Chief Albert H. Seedman of the NYPD, a force second in size to the FBI. The Introduction briefly covers his career, no detective chief had ever left such an imprint. His legend rested on his performance: so many investigations with such originality, intensity, or good results. Seedman obtained his solutions by using his intelligence on the mundane information available in a record-oriented society (p.5), and his eye for fine detail (p.6). In all his years Seedman never fired his weapon in action, the situation had never gotten out of control. Some of these cases were widely publicized, and some were not. (You can read between the lines in some of these stories.)

"The Belt Parkway Case" was solved by detective work; they found a needle in a haystack. "To A Gold Shield" tells of his early life. Seedman tells of a 71-year old Frenchman who picked up dots and dashes by "his inner ear"; I suspect a tooth filling resonant to the frequency. "Brass" tells of his continuing career and promotions. "The Fallon-Finnegan Case" tells of his political knowledge: Seedman would not provide a solution until his own boss was there. "The Johnson-Genovese Case" tells of the detective work that starts immediately after a body is found. People saw the attack on Kitty, but no one called the police ("that late at night they just go back to sleep"). Page 141 tells of the intricate politics of a major arrest. "The Mays Case" tells how a department store was swindled: the mob found an inside man. It describes how organized crime collects its taxes. "The Girls in a Box Case" was solved by relentless investigations, and a seance! "The Melville Case" is about the terrorists who set off bombs in 1969 New York. An undercover FBI informer who previously belonged to the right-wing Minutemen infiltrated their group ("he was full of plots"). Typical agent provocateur?

"The Townhouse Case" tells about the explosion and fire on March 1970 in Greenwich Village. The SDS-Weathermen group were destroyed by their bombs. These rebels were mostly from well-to-do or wealthy families and grew up in the 1950s. "The Jewish Connection" tells of the JDL protest bombs. When Seedman met Kahane he noticed something wrong by the look in his eyes (p.315). Again, an inside informant was developed. Page 323 tells of a plan to use a model airplane to bomb a building. Another plan was to set off a car bomb in an underground garage. An incendiary device filled Sol Hurok's offices with thick black smoke, and a young woman died. "The Colombo Case" tells of their meeting; Seedman wanted help in solving two murders (most mob exterminations go unsolved). Joe Colombo formed the Italian American Civil Rights League to protest discrimination, and picketed FBI headquarters. But Colombo began to lose support from former backers, and the fundraising attracted envy (p.350). Colombo was assassinated at a public rally, and so was the alleged assassin. They were never solved. "The Gallo Case" explains the investigation into the murder of Joey Gallo; he was thought to be responsible for the murder of Joe Colombo. This chapter covers the remainder of Seedman's career. One was the change to "detective specialization" (to even the work load). But Seedman was removed from his position. The year before he accepted a free meal at the NY Hilton (p.464-472). No other wrongs were found, and he was named Chief of Detectives again. Seedman retired in 1972, the last of the Depression-bred generation. The new system had all rules in writing, it was like the other Civil Service jobs.

The book is an amazing record of true NEW YORK ctime cases. Could not put it down. Unfortunately New York doesnt have a man like this here anymore. AMAZING READ.WOULD RECOMMEND TO EVERYONE.

I have read true crime books; I have read detective fictions. This is one of the best book I have read in years.

Do not miss this true classics.

This book is published in 1974, and I have had this book on my shelf all this time and I just read it last month, and I wanted to kick myself.

It has very good stories ( supposed to be true!) and very good writing to go with the great stories.

I had the priviledge of meeting the Chief when I visited him at his home in Florida. He was nice enough to sign a copy of his book for me. "To Joe, it is flattering when a guy who was not on the job with me wants an autograph. Talking with you for a few minutes, the "cop" in you comes out. Good luck and good health to you and yours. It's been a pleasure. Chief Al Seedman 6-4-10.

Seedman joined the New York Transit Police Department in 1941, later taking a hiatus to serve in the Army during World War Two. He came back home to his old job, but shortly left to join the NYPD. It was not easy for a young Jewish police officer to go up in rank in what was then a predominantly Irish and Italian department. He was determined to be the best he could, especially by staying honest and giving credit to other cops, in a job that only took care of their own when it came favoritism.


One of the stories in his book that I found interesting was "The girl in the box case" A case in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn, where a man who came home from working a late shift noticed that someone had left an oversized cardboard carton in front of his basement apartment. He dragged the box out to the curb. He opened the top of the box and peered inside, finding a twenty-one-year pretty, olive complexion, Hispanic female. Sad to say, but back in those days as is today... the mainstream media did not give full attention to minority crime cases. The Hispanic media took more interest. This yong girl had been raped and strangled inside a tenement apartment. Chief Al Seedman was a cop's cop, and made sure this case was given full attention by assigning two Puerto Rican detectives to help solve this case. They did!


If you want to read True NYPD Crime Stories...read this book.



-Joe Sanchez Picon


Author with Mo Dhania of "Latin Blues" & True Blue: A tale of the enemy within.

I read this book many years ago and enjoyed the book. I was much younger at the time but the cases referenced in the book were much closer in time to reading the book. I loaned the book to someone and never got it back. I tried finding the book in old book stores for many years but finally got another copy. The book is broken down into individual cases so you can pick any story as a new beginning. Good book for a younger person to read to see how criminal cases were solved prior to computers, etc. I enjoyed the Belt Parkway case and the Townhouse case (since I am from New York).

This book covers a unique time in our country's history. From the Depression, World War II, the 1950's, and the turbulent 1960's. I had trouble putting the book down. Chief Seedman began his NYPD career as walking a beat and retired as the Chief of Detectives. He investigated a number of important investigations. He was a giant in the Great White Way.

I read this as my father's book when I was in school. Very interesting read.

Very good book. been wanting to read it for some time, but could never find a copy. Thank you Amazon.com!