In a little-known chapter of New York City’s history, the name of police officer Phillip Cardillo is spoken in hushed, revered whispers. Though he was tragically killed in the line of duty back in 1972, the burning embers of his memory are still fanned by a passionate few who wish to finally obtain for the fallen hero the elusive recognition that he truly deserves.
At their Oct. 8 meeting in Mineola, the Nassau County-based Association of Retired Police Officers (ARPO) held a heartfelt ceremony, as both Cardillo as well as the driven NYPD detective who has fought for justice in his name for the past four decades, were honored as the true heroes that they are.
Oyster Bay resident Dave Fisher, an NYPD veteran and member of ARPO, is all too familiar with the infamous killing that occurred in 1972 when Officer Phillip Cardillo, a 31-year-old father of three, ran into a mosque in Harlem with three other policemen after responding to an allegedly fake call from an officer in distress. After entering, the doors of the mosque were locked and Cardillo and his fellow officers were set upon by up to 20 assailants who beat them horribly. Cardillo himself had his gun taken from him and was shot at point-blank range, dying six days later.
Fisher noted that the attack was believed to have been planned in advance by a group called the Black Liberation Army, which the New York Police Department had blamed for the deaths of multiple officers during the early 1970s, an especially dangerous and crime-plagued era in the city’s history, he said.
“It’s an unbelievable story, and a true one, and the detective who worked on that case—Randy Jurgensen—stayed on that case until, two years later, he was able bring in someone accused of Cardillo’s murder,” he said. “The problem was, the people in the mosque were arrested at the scene, but due to political mismanagement by the mayor, police commissioner, and others, those people were released, the crime scene cleaned up, the guns hidden, and because of all that, the suspect arrested two years later was acquitted due to lack of evidence.”
Jurgensen is a former NYPD detective, a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Korean War, and, later in life, an author and actor who has appeared in iconic films such as The Godfather Part 2 and Donnie Brasco. For years, he has attempted to both bring Cardillo’s killers to justice and illuminate the brave officer’s legacy. Unfortunately, he said that political pressure has thrown up nearly insurmountable roadblocks to achieving either goal.
However, Jurgensen said that won’t stop him from getting the truth out about one of the
blackest periods of NYPD history. To that end, he has written a tell-all book on the Harlem mosque incident entitled The Circle of Six, and has championed tirelessly to this day to have Cardillo’s memory etched in stone for all to see.
“The honor for me here tonight is to be able to speak about Phillip Cardillo…it’s his story, and I’m his spokesman. That’s the honor for me, to be able to speak about the sacrifice that he made,” he said. “I would eventually like to see something within the city of New York—other than his gravestone—with his name on it. A street, a school, a helicopter, a boat…anything. But so far, nothing has been named for this police officer in 43 years.”
Fisher and the ARPO, in front of a pack audience of fellow police retirees and local political dignitaries, presented Jurgensen with official proclamations and showered the admitted sports fan with personalized gifts from teams such as the New York Giants and the New York Rangers. Afterwards, Jurgensen took the microphone and gave a chilling recount of both the events leading up the 1972 death of Cardillo, and the political aftermath that has haunted the memory of his name ever since.
“He’s very interesting, and he does great presentations…he’s a cop’s cop,” said Fisher said of Jurgensen after the presentation was over. “He’s never forgotten the memory and sacrifice of Phillip Cardillo, who is a hero. He ran into a mosque to save somebody, and unfortunately paid for it with his life.”
Al Livoti, 34-year NYPD vet, ARPO board member, and Levittown resident, echoed Fisher’s sentiment, saying that he feels that police should always stick together and draw strength from one another…especially when there’s hardships involved.
“We thought that doing this tonight would be good idea, because we’re all one family,” he said. “This story has been going on for years, and it hasn’t really been told to many people. So, we hoped that, by telling this story, more people would know what the police go through.”
Senate Senator Jack M. Martins (R-Mineola) was one of the attendees of the event, and said that he was deeply moved by Jurgensen’s account a young officer killed while just trying to do the right thing.
“It’s very compelling…this is a story of police officers never forgetting their own, and investigating a crime right to the very end, even though there’s political pressure otherwise,” he said. “It really speaks to the dedication that the police officers have to each other and to society in general.”
Syosset resident Larry Vedder, a retired NYPD officer with 10 years under his belt, said that while he was very familiar with the Cardillo incident, it nonetheless never fails to affect him no matter how many times he hears the tale.
“I’ve seen Jurgenson’s presentation before, and I own his book,” he said. “The fact that we’re honoring both him and Phillip Cardillo here this evening is great…this is a story that needs more coverage.”
Paul Hersh of Massapequa, a retired member of the NCPD who had put in 20 years on the force, said that the difficulties faced in the harsh environment that was 1970s New York by both Cardillo, and heroic officers just like him, deserved to be celebrated for all to see.
“Having worked out here in Nassau back in the ‘70s, we were aware of what was going on in the city…it had a lot of problems back then, and I have no idea how the offers who worked there dealt with it every day,” he said. “Randy’s presentation tonight was amazing…I was stunned, and I felt like I was living that whole experience myself. But hopefully one day the political red tape will be cleared, and Phillip Cardillo—who selflessly ran into that mosque not caring about race, creed, or color, but only concerned for the well-being of his fellow officer—will be finally recognized as the hero that he was.”
