A Retired Sergeant's Unofficial History Of The Philadelphia Police Department

Broad & Liberty ran my piece today on a book about the history of the Philadelphia Police Department. You can read the piece via the link below or the below text:

Paul Davis: A retired sergeant’s unauthorized history of the Philadelphia Police Department

In my more than 30 years of covering crime and the cops in Philadelphia, I’ve come to know a good number of police officers; from patrolmen to detectives, from narcotics officers to bomb squad officers, and from sergeants to chief inspectors, deputy commissioners, and commissioners.

One recently retired sergeant that I’ve come to know is Gary Capuano (seen in the above photo). A lifelong South Philadelphia resident and decorated police veteran, he has often offered his take on crime and police issues here in my Broad + Liberty pieces. 

Capuano has recently published a book called The Unofficial History of the PPD, which covers the pivotal moments of the Philadelphia Police Department. I reached out to him and asked him why he wrote the book.

“I began compiling stories that I felt may be of interest to the public early on in my career,” Capuano replied. “While out of work due to an injury in 2016, I decided to write a history of the Philadelphia Police Department and self-publish. I didn’t see any books out there that took a stab at trying to chronicle the department’s history other than one book written way back in 1887 by Howard O. Sprogle, called The Philadelphia Police: Past and Present. The police department put together a book in 2012 for the 215th Anniversary, which was published by Acclaim Press. 

“In my opinion, the book was more of a yearbook that had many photos with few facts. Being injured, I had a lot of time on my hands and wanted to put the time to good use. Even though compiling all of the information was a task in and of itself, it was a challenge that I gladly accepted because I wanted to learn more about the organization that I chose to join and be part of almost twenty years prior.” 

Capuano said he utilized some books as well as old newspapers articles to accomplish his goal. He chose items he believed were interesting and would pique the reader's interest. He also said he learned quite a few things himself. He noted that there were days he wanted to quit, and then there were days that he worked all night and into the morning.

“The book consists of twelve chapters and touches on what I believe is the history of policing, local riots and infamous murderers as well as a chapter specifically dedicated to honoring the fallen officers,” Capuano said. “The one thing that truly intrigued me was the department’s influence in voting during the late 19th Century and how politics and policing go hand in hand. The Dick Anderson Squad (an elite African American squad) was also intriguing. The most surprising find for me during the writing of the book was a man by the name of William “Squire” McMullen. He was involved with the Volunteer Fire Department, and he was a war hero who would go on to become a successful business owner as well as an alderman. He was very influential in politics. 

“The one thing that troubled me during the writing of this book was how former Mayor and Police Commissioner Frank Rizzo is viewed by many as a racist. He was the one who helped fund the African American Museum. During Rizzo’s term as police commissioner, he started what is known as Operation Thanksgiving, which is still in effect as of today. Many of its recipients are African Americans. Rizzo surrounded himself with African American bodyguards that he trusted with his life, such as police officers James Turner and Tony Fulwood. I’m not sure exactly when Mayor Rizzo’s statue and mural became a target for the ill-informed, but if they conducted their own investigation and thought for themselves, they would learn that he was not a racist. Rizzo had a dislike for criminals of any race, color or creed.” 

Capuano said he tried to keep his personal opinions out of the book, but he will offer them in his soon to be released memoir, Behind the Badge: Policing, Politics and Pandering in Philly-A Sergeant’s Memoir. 

“My memoir chronicles my childhood growing up in South Philadelphia, my career in the police department, and my untimely retirement.” 

Capuano became a police officer in December 1997 and was assigned to the 4th District. In October 2000, he was chosen to work in the District’s 5 Squad’s stolen auto detail, in which officers worked directly for the District’s captain and were believed to need little to no supervision. In June of 2003, he was assigned to plainclothes duty and worked a burglary detail until September 2005. He was then promoted to detective and was assigned to Southwest Detective Division. He worked there from December 2005 until December 2007. 

“I resigned from the PPD for a short time and went to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office as a county detective from July 2007 until September 2007,” Capuano said. “My position there in the Felony Unit wasn’t as it was described to me, and I returned to the PPD. I was then chosen to lead the Southwest Detectives’ Fugitive Task Force as its Officer in Charge. I worked at that unit from December 2007 until January 2014. The majority of the time, I was the ‘breacher.’” 

Capuano was later promoted to sergeant, and he was assigned to the 3rd District, where he led the District’s “Dropback Squad,” which consisted of approximately twenty officers who supplemented the District’s 5 Squad officers. 

“I hope The Unofficial History of the PPD” will help people better understand the origins of the police department along with the heroes who sacrificed and gave their all for their city.”

You can purchase Gary Capuano’s Unofficial History of the PPD at Amazon and elsewhere.

Paul Davis, a Philadelphia writer and frequent contributor to Broad + Liberty, also contributes to Counterterrorism magazine and writes the “On Crime” column for the Washington Times. He can be reached at pauldavisoncrime.com.